Every year, all across the country, Christingle celebrations bring people together to celebrate light, hope, and community. They create a space to stop and reflect on the birth of Jesus and why he came.
The Christingle itself is a symbol that tells the story of Jesus – you can find out what the different parts mean during our Christingle Service, which this year will be online and available from Monday 21 December. It will include the making and meaning of a Christingle, and the puppets will be coming along to help – including Flicker the Candle and his friends!
What you will need to make your own Christingle
To be able to join in and make a Christingle whilst you watch the service, you will need to make sure you have the items listed below:
- An orange
- Red ribbon or tape (or even a piece of red string or wool)
- A small candle (it needs to be inserted into the orange)
- Four cocktail sticks
- Sweets (e.g. Dolly mixtures, jelly sweets, or Liquorice Allsorts work well) or dried fruits to add to the cocktail sticks – both need to be soft enough to push a cocktail stick through
- Scissors or a knife to make an incision in the orange to push a cocktail stick through
You should be able to find all this items easily. However, if you would like a white candle and a piece of the red tape that we usually use, you can come along to the Link on Wednesday 16 December between 4pm and 5pm. These items will also be available at our open air carol singing next Saturday 19 December at 5.30pm.
Christingle Prayer Card
The Children’s Society, for which Christingle raises money to help with their work, has also designed a Christingle Prayer Card for you to colour and place in your window. This is attached (in the email) with this newsletter so that you can print it off, or I will have a few available to be picked up with your candle and tape.
Lastly, don’t forget to invite friends and family to join us online for the service – it’s a great way to spread the message and Light of Jesus!
Caz Gatehouse, children’s minister