Back in December 2015 we led the Christingle at Fen
Ditton in Cambridgeshire UK. It is such a wonderfully symbolic service but judging
by many compliments it went particularly well. This was partly due, it would
seem, to four elements we have gradually incorporated into this very special
service over several years. I pass them on as they could still be incorporated
in any Christingles still to take place
Suggestion
1 ‘Construction bags’ rather than complete Christingles.
Instead of making up the Christingles in
entirety, we made up bags, handed out at the beginning of the service,
containing:
·
The orange with the red ribbon
fixed round its middle.
·
The four cocktail sticks with
the fruit/ sweets already on them
·
The square of kitchen foil
·
The candle with 2 half cocktail
sticks sellotaped firmly to the bottom of the candle (See Suggestion 4 below)
This means the leader can guide the
children (and adults) into building up the Christingle as the various symbols
are explained, The Christingles have a better chance of remaining intact than
when they are handed out complete!
Suggestion
2 Using the interactive story ‘The Shepherds’ Tale’
(There is a link to it at the bottom of this post). Yesterday, about 80% of the adults present joined
enthusiastically in this story/game. When the story is over, the message of the
shepherds being on the fringes of society but very important to God’s plan, makes
a good link for making the parallel of vulnerable children being on the edge
but loved by God.
(For
after Christmas Christingles, The Wise Men’s Tale might work better though it
will need a different end message. Link at end of this post)
Suggestion
3 Making the blowing out of candles a special part of the service.
As already happens in many Christingles, everyone
is placed around the four sides of the church with their candles lit to sing
first and last verses of ‘Away in a Manger’ (no sheets needed for this). AFTER THIS get each person to blow
their candles out one by one around the circle. We’ve seen and done this 3
times now and each time there has been an amazing stillness as it is done (we
guess because everyone has to concentrate to make sure they blow their own
candle out at the right time). This can be given added symbolism by the leader
reminding people of how easy it is for us to let our lights stop shining in the
world. Everyone is then invited to return quietly to their seats, reflecting on
this, for the final prayer and dismissal.
Suggestion
4 Don’t cut the tops of the orange!
A practical tip already mentioned above - and
vital if you’re going to have ‘construction bags’ but a much better idea
anyway. Fix two half cocktail sticks firmly to the bottom of the candle with
sellotape. There’s a bit of a knack but it means the oranges don’t have to be cut
into with all the stickiness that creates. It also means that any unused
oranges will not deteriorate nearly so quickly and can be used other ways. The
candles will be perfectly stable when ‘stabbed’ into the top of the orange through the silver foil (see below)
I hope these ideas might be helpful and
that any Christingle you organize will be a truly blessed occasion. Trevor.
The Shepherd’s tale can be found HERE
The Shepherd’s tale can be found HERE
The Wise Mens’ tale can be found HERE
PS This also gives me an opportunity to pay
a personal tribute to my late colleague, John Pensom, who instinctively recognized
the potential of the Moravian Christingle to raise both funds and the profile of
the Children’s Society. Thank you and RIP John.