On Sunday 16th December over 100 people gathered for our
Christingle service.
The GAP children
had helped to prepare for the service –
Sunday GAP had made some of the
Christingles and 
Friday Gap helped make a giant model of a Christingle.
Sallly-Ann used this to remind everybody of
the Biblical significance of the Christingle – with help Sally who read from the Bible.
Tim nobly held the giant Christingle as it was constructed and the
Biblical significance was explained:
1st the
orange – which represents God’s world.
As, in psalm 89 v 8a and 1, the psalmist says - “O Lord God of
hosts ….. The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; you founded the world
and all that is in it – you have founded them.”
2nd the red ribbon – which represents the blood of Christ.
As, in John 3 v
16-17, Jesus said - “‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life.
‘Indeed, God did not
send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
might be saved through him.’”
3rd the candle – which Represents Jesus – the Light of the
World
As, in John 8 v 12,
“Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’”
4th (after the hymn, Lord the light of your
love is shining) the 4 sticks – which represent the four
seasons.
As in Genesis 8 v
22 God made this promise to Noah after “The great flood” -
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold
and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
5th the fruit and
sweets - which represent
all God’s gifts to us
As, in Matthew 6 v
31-33, Jesus said, “…do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What
will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” … … your heavenly Father knows that you need
all these things. But strive first for
the kingdom of God
After we’d sung
“All things bright and beautiful”, everybody went up to collect a Christingle
and make a large circle around the church before the lights were switched
off.
Then, by the light of the Christmas
Trees, Jeremy lit the first of the Christingles before passing the light which
was gradually passed round from person to person until the church glowed in the
candle light. This was an amazing
representation of the light of Jesus being passed from person to person and
being reflected by each one.
As, in Matthew 5 v
14-16, Jesus said -‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a
hill cannot be hidden. No one after
lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it
gives light to all in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” so we figuratively let our lights shine as we
sang Away in a Manger.
The service ended
with prayers (especially for the work of the “Church of England Children’s Society” (for whom a special
collection had been taken), the singing of O little town of Bethlehem
