This week we had a christingle service where both young and old joined together to worship.
The history of the Christingle
The history of the Christingle
The custom of the Christingle began in the Moravian Church and was
first used as part of a Christmas Children's Festival in the Marienborn
Congregation in Germany on the 24th December 1747, this service was
conducted by Bishop John de Watteville.
No one knows for certain when the word "Christingle" was first used or
from what it derived, but wherever the Moravians went in the great
outreach of missionary evangelism in the 18th and 19th centuries they
took with them the custom of the Christingle.
The symbolism gradually developed and today in the Moravian Church in
Britain, the Christingle consists of an orange representing the World,
with the candle inserted in the centre and lit to represent Christ the
Light of the World. The candle used to be held on a goose quill, part of
which was split into fronds, on which were impaled nuts, fruits, raisins
and sweets. These stood for the created order over which Christ is
King, and for the fruits of the earth and the benefits that come to our
lives through God's bounty and goodness. Today we use cocktail sticks
on which to impale the fruit, the wood still being part of God's created
order. The red ribbon reminds us of Christ's Passion, through which
our redemption has come.
The Christingle Service is usually held on the Sunday before Christmas
but it can take place at any time up to Candlemas.
The Children’s Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968
and it is now a popular, much-loved family event. Accordingly, our
collection today will be sent to support the work of this charity.
first used as part of a Christmas Children's Festival in the Marienborn
Congregation in Germany on the 24th December 1747, this service was
conducted by Bishop John de Watteville.
No one knows for certain when the word "Christingle" was first used or
from what it derived, but wherever the Moravians went in the great
outreach of missionary evangelism in the 18th and 19th centuries they
took with them the custom of the Christingle.
The symbolism gradually developed and today in the Moravian Church in
Britain, the Christingle consists of an orange representing the World,
with the candle inserted in the centre and lit to represent Christ the
Light of the World. The candle used to be held on a goose quill, part of
which was split into fronds, on which were impaled nuts, fruits, raisins
and sweets. These stood for the created order over which Christ is
King, and for the fruits of the earth and the benefits that come to our
lives through God's bounty and goodness. Today we use cocktail sticks
on which to impale the fruit, the wood still being part of God's created
order. The red ribbon reminds us of Christ's Passion, through which
our redemption has come.
The Christingle Service is usually held on the Sunday before Christmas
but it can take place at any time up to Candlemas.
The Children’s Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968
and it is now a popular, much-loved family event. Accordingly, our
collection today will be sent to support the work of this charity.
Here are a few photos from 2011's Christingle Service!
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| A few of the regulars and the vicar preparing the christingles. |
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| More christingles being made by helpful helpers. |
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| Music group warm up!! |
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| Matthew (The Vicar) starting the sermon. |
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| Younger members getting involved |
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| Matthew explaining the chistingles. |
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| Server helping the youngsters to add the fruit. |
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Spreading the light of christ throughout the congregation.   |
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