Christingle Service
Christingles are distributed to the Congregation at a Christingle Service just before Christmas each year.
The Christingle has its origins in a Moravian children's service held in a castle in Germany on Christmas Eve in 1747. A Christingle is made up from an orange with a candle, a red ribbon and small pieces of fruit (or jelly babies) on cocktail sticks. The orange represents the world, the candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World, the red ribbon represents his blood given for us, and the pieces of fruit represent the Fruits of the Earth.
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Ladies of the parish make up many Christingles the day before the service, so that there is one for each member of the congregation.
During the offertory hymn, adults and children bring forward gifts for needy children in Northern Ireland. The gifts are laid in front of the Holy Table.
The Christingles, which have now been lit, are also brought forward. The trays are placed on the Holy Table.
After the hymn, the congregation and choir come forward to receive a Christingle each.
The congregation then form a ring around the outer aisles of the church, the lights are dimmed and, holding their lighted Christingles, they sing the carol 'Away in a Manger'.
After the carol, the minister says:
Now let the Christingles be very carefully extinguished. But let the light of love remain. So may we share in the light and joy of fellowship in Christ.