Wednesday, December 20, 2017

A Christingle Service welcoming the Peace Light from Bethlehem


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



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