Christingle Service 2010

Since 2004 we have been holding a Christingle service in Gilead chapel.

Children from the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides practice together during the weeks beforehand learning Christmas songs, poems, playing solos on the piano, clarinet, flute and violin and play acting some “Nativity” scenes. So far though, we have not included camels or donkeys.

Then we light the Christingles to remind us and celebrate the light of Jesus coming into the world: but no one is really sure how the Christingles came into being.

There are several stories told of how the custom was started. There is an ancient Welsh service called a 'Celenig' where Christingles are used and the Moravian Church (part of the Czech Republic) has held Christingle services for over 200 years.

This is how some Czech people think the first Christingle might have been made:

Many years ago, children were asked to take a gift to put beside the crib in Church. One family had no money for gifts but were determined to take something. They found an orange but were disappointed to find it was going mouldy at the top.

However, they thought they would scoop out the bad bits and put a candle in the top and turn it into a lantern. Thinking that it looked a bit ordinary, one of the girls took a red ribbon from her hair and tied it around the middle. They had difficulty getting it to stay in place, so fastened it with four small sticks, on the ends of which they put a few raisins.

They took their lantern to church but were afraid of the reactions of the other children. However, the priest acknowledged their gift and told the congregation how special it was for the following reasons:

The lighted candle, pushed into the centre of the orange, represents Christ, the Light of the world. Jesus said,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”.’ (John 8 v 12).

For many years churches all over the world have made Christingles to remind them that Christ is the light who came into the world at Christmas. This is a wonderful way to share the Good News of the Son of God coming into this to save people like you and me.

All the members of Gilead Chapel would like to wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Pastor Keith.