The
Christingle Service
Wednesday 20th
December
Welcome
Carol: Once in
Royal David’s City 1,2,6
The Meaning of
the Christingle
The
Christingle Carol – It’s rounded like an Orange (CH4 292)
The
people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those
who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
For
a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority
rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful
Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9
In
those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus
that
all the world should be registered.
This
was the first registration
and
was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
All
went to their own towns to be registered.
Joseph
also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to
the city of David called Bethlehem,
because
he was descended from the house and family of David.
He
went to be registered with Mary,
to
whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While
they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
And
she gave birth to her firstborn son
and
wrapped him in bands of cloth,
and
laid him in a manger,
because
there was no place for them in the inn.
Carol: Still
the night, holy the night
That
carol was written by Franz Gruber in the Austrian town of Hochburg. Last Sunday
they will have had their annual celebration of the carol and their town and one
of the choir was a boy called Tobias Flaschner. A scout, Tobias is also a keen
youth member of the local fire brigade. This year he was chosen to go to
Bethlehem, to the Church of the Nativity, and to light the first lantern in
what was to become a chain of lanterns that has spread out through Europe and
is this evening going to arrive here at the front of our church.
It’s
the International Peace light and it comes each year with a Peace Message
The Peace
Message
“World
wide community and international friendship is a special concern of all Scouts
and Guides. We are convinced that peace will only become a reality, as soon as
each individual has their own peace, shares it with their community, their
neighour and the environment.
According
to the ideas of Scouting and Guiding we want to remove the borders and barriers
between nations and peoples through personal contacts to promote a peaceful and
fear-free living together with different races, religions, cultures and
political ideologies.
The
chain of lights is not only a symbol for actively lived charity but also
frankness, warmth and family. By passing on the Peace light from Bethlehem we
want to help to overcome the darkness caused by hate, egoism, materialism and
resignation and to give happiness and participation.
The
last message of our founder Baden-Powell states -
Try
to leave the world a little better than you found it.
According
to our Motto 'Once a Scout, always a Scout' and with the blessing of God we
hope to do a little step to fulfil this motto by distributing the Peacelight
from Bethlehem"
A Peace Prayer
May
the kindly spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide,
So
all the world may feel the glow, of this Holy Christmastide.
So
may this light of peace today that has travelled many miles,
Bring
joy and hope to many, and fill each face with smiles.
So may
every heart and home continue through the year,
To
feel the warmth and wonder of this season of good cheer.
And
may it bring us closer to God and to each other,
With
every stranger known as friend, whether Sister or a Brother
Collect the
Peace Light as we sing … O little town of Bethlehem, 1,2,4
A
friend of our church, Paul Clarke, is in Bethlehem for three months as an
ecumenical accompanier, working for peace and for justice in supporting the
ordinary people of Bethlehem today. In an email for our Christmas services he
writes
"O
Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie" couldn't be further
from the truth at the moment…. It is such a great privilege to be in Bethlehem
as Christmas approaches. Please pray for the situation here…. In the words of a
lovely Palestinian Christian I met very recently:- "As you pray, peace
will fill your heart and His light will be in your heart. Amen."
Jesus
said:
I
am the light of the world.
Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life
Jesus
said:
You
are the light of the world.
let
your light shine before others,
so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
We stand in a
circle around the church ready to light the Christingles
Once lit we
say together
The Peace
Message
Our Life Is A Daily Search For Peace
"We gladly receive the light as a
sign of our willingness to be channels of peace,
by our words and actions …"
We blow out
the candles and sing … We wish you a merry Christmas
No comments:
Post a Comment