Christingle

Opening Verse of Scripture

I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. John 12:46

Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray

Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Commentary

At my first Christingle service I found decorating oranges a bit strange and wondered what on earth was going on. It didn’t take long for me to realise that this was actually a great way to tell others and remind ourselves of some important truths. The first Christingle (a candle wrapped in ribbon) was introduced by Bishop Johannes de Watteville in Marienborn, Germany, in 1747 as a way of explaining to young children the importance of Jesus and it is just as helpful today for children and adults alike. The celebratory Christingle service is usually held between Advent (late November) and Candlemas (early February), we usually celebrate at the beginning of December. In 1968, John Pensom of The Children’s Society adapted Christingle and introduced the symbol we use today—an orange encircled by red ribbon holding a candle, dried fruit and sweets.

Christingle remains a great way to visualise important spiritual truths because the symbolism of the orange and the candle is a powerful one. As the Christingle candle burns over the orange it represents the light of Jesus over the world and reminds us that Jesus was proclaimed not only the ‘light of the world’ but also that those who followed him would not walk in darkness.

It is in this season of Advent, amidst the darkness of our world that we are reminded of the enduring promises of God. Jesus was born into circumstances equally uncertain and dark, and his birth bears witness to the enduring reliability of God’s promise. Today we remember words spoken by John the Baptist and others across generations who have recognised in Jesus God’s unrelenting commitment to our world.

During this season of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas, we prepare for and celebrate the arrival of Jesus, who is God incarnate (God ‘in the flesh’). Jesus brings light and hope into a world of darkness, and we are entrusted to listen and respond to the message he brought so that our lives can be transformed and we can help bring that message to others.

In the darkness of our world John the Baptist called God’s people to bear fruit worthy of repentance, this is how God brings his light into the world to help dispel the darkness. John calls us to make the necessary changes in our lives that will allow that "kingdom of heaven" to take root and flourish. It’s time, John insists, for us to look at the world around us and do something. On a personal level it is about asking God to show us how we may be changed for the better, ‘healed’ in the sense of being more complete people at peace with ourselves and one another. As a community we need to consider those larger issues which are of importance not just to us but our world. How can we allow people to be hungry when we have food, displaced children to be refused a home ? When John urges people "Repent!" he means that they have to be sorry for the past, but also that they cannot sit on the side-lines waiting for somebody else to do what they should be doing themselves. When Jesus blessed the peacemakers he was issuing a call for his followers to be actively involved in making peace. He calls us today to be his agents for change in the world.

Prayers - Service

We have come together in the presence of God to rejoice in the gift of Jesus to us as the light of the world. In this service we hear and receive the story and message of the coming of Christ, and we offer to God our thanksgiving in prayer and song.

                  Lord Jesus, the light of the world, you came down from heaven  and entered our world as a child, born of the Virgin Mary.

All:             Open our eyes to see your light today.

All         We confess those times when we have failed to bring light          into the world around us. We are sorry for those things                   which we have done which have hurt others or damaged   the world in which we live.

Minister  You were born for our salvation.

   Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

   You came as Saviour to bring wholeness and peace.

   Christ, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.

   You come to bring light into the darkness of our lives.

   Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.

     The minister will declare God’s word of forgiveness  

With the help of the Holy Spirit of God, take this Christingle as a reminder of the light of Christ in your home. Take the light of Christ within you, and seek to share that light in the places where you go. Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory     to your Father who is in heaven. 

All   Father of all, may we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world. Alleluia, thanks be to God

A Prayer of Blessing of the Christingles

Lord Jesus, Light of the world,

I hold this Christingle as a sign of your love.

The candle, planted deep within the world,

as a sign that you made your home among us,

that you lived with the poorest and most neglected.

The ribbon, wrapped around the earth,

a sign of your blood poured out on the cross,

enfolding the whole world with your saving love.

The fruits, a sign of all the good things of creation

given to us that we might share them fairly

so everyone can delight in the life you have given them

and the world you have made.

Lord Jesus, Light of the world,

as I hold this Christingle

and think about your great love for me,

help me to become a light

bearing that love to others.

Final Prayer

                    Jesus Christ is the light of the world;

All               Jesus is our Way.

                    With Jesus even dark places are light;

All               Jesus is the Truth.

                    In Jesus we shall live forever:

All               Jesus is our Life.

The Blessing

  May the Lord pour out his Spirit upon us all

  that we may light up the world with the love of Jesus Christ.

  And may Almighty God bless you and watch over you,

  this day and evermore.

All  Amen.

     Go in peace in the light of our Lord to love and serve him.

All      In the name of Christ. Amen.

Hymns

• Round Orange Round Orange
• Light your Christingle
• The trumpets sound
• Shine Jesus shine
• Christ is surely coming
• It's rounded like an orange

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Additional Resources