Christingle Service
at
St. Augustine's

December 24 2003

Key :

directions
instructions for congregation
movements during service
prayers and readings
sections of the service

Other information  :

There are some notes on our production of the service.

A rough plan of the church is available.

A note on copyright.

THE SERVICE

St. Augustine's Christingle Service

Narrator Welcome !

We welcome you here in the name of the Lord Jesus; may His love surround each one of us this Christmas time.

Some "house keeping" information -

If anyone would like the music for our hymns today, please put up your hand and we will bring it to you;

Toilets are behind the church, between the church and the hall;

If anyone is new here and would like to be added to the Church list, which entitles you to receive the Messenger three or four times a year, and other benefits, then please fill in the card at the end of the seats and hand it to one of the helpers after the service.

There will be no collection taken during this service. If anyone would like to leave a donation there is a box at the back for this purpose.

"For God loves the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal Life." : John Chapter 3 verse 16.

Please stand to sing the carol

"Joy to the World".


( During this carol -
narrator, side-table server, and projector operator take their places;
Helpers also at side table;
Picturehanger at back ready to receive pictures and give to Picturehanger to hang on line;
Someone at door guarding line. )

1.   Joy to the world; the Lord is come !
  Let earth receive her King.
  Let every heart prepare Him room,
  And Heav'n and nature sing,
  And Heav'n and nature sing,
  And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2.   Joy to the world; the Saviour reigns !
  Let men their songs employ;
  While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
  Repeat the sounding joy,
  Repeat the sounding joy,
  Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3.   He rules the world with truth and grace;
  And makes the nations prove
  The glories of His righteousness
  And wonders of His love,
  And wonders of His love,
  And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Narrator Please sit.

Later in the service we will be making our own Christingles to take home with us.

The Christingle is a custom that started in Moravia, and has now spread to many other parts of the world.

It is made up of four parts -

( Narrator shows Christingle and points to each part as it is described. )
 
  • The orange to symbolise God's love shown to us through His creation;
  • The red ribbon to symbolise God's love shown to us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus;
  • The fruits to symbolise God's love shown to us through His provision and His blessing;
  • The candle to symbolise God's light that shines through the life and witness of Jesus and of all His followers.

During this service we will be putting up a red ribbon to remind us of Jesus's birth, life, death and resurrection.

The orange

to symbolise God's love shown to us through His creation.

Adapted from Genesis Chapter 1.

In the beginning God created :

light and darkness;

( Two helpers show pictures of light and dark and take to back down centre aisle and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line", then return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back. )
  water, land and sky;
( Three helpers show pictures of water, land and sky and take to back and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line" then return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back. )
  the plants, grain and fruit;
( Three helpers show pictures of plants, grain and fruit and take to back and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line" then return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back. )
  the sun, the moon and the stars;
( Three helpers show pictures of the sun, moon and stars and take to back and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line" and return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back. )
  The creatures that live in the waters and the birds that fly in the air;
( Two helpers show pictures of water creatures and birds and take to back and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line" and return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back. )
  all creatures both large and small.
( Two helpers show pictures of large and small creatures and take to back and give to Picturehanger to hang on "washing line" and return down side aisle to table.
Narrator pauses until 'pictures' have reached the back.
Picturehanger raises "washing line". )
  Then He created human beings and put them in charge of the fish, the birds and all the animals.
Pause until washing line is up; Narrator points to washing line.
  Then God looked at everything He had made and it was very good.
Leader Please stand to sing the hymn
For the beauty of the earth.
( During this hymn Ribbonlinker goes to front for Manger scene. )

1.   For the beauty of the earth,
  For the beauty of the skies,
  For the love which from our birth
  Over and around us lies,
  Lord of all, to You we raise
  This our grateful hymn of praise.

2.   For each perfect gift of thine,
  To our race so freely given,
  Graces human and divine,
  Flowers of earth and buds of heaven.
  Lord of all, to You we raise
  This our grateful hymn of praise.

Leader Please sit or kneel for the prayer.

Thank You, Lord God, for the wonders of Your creation.

People Help us to be good stewards of this world.
Leader Thank You for Your Son Jesus, Whose birth we are celebrating.
People Help us to be like Him.
Leader Thank You for Your provision and blessings.
People Help us to use and share all things wisely.
Leader Thank You for the wonderful love that You have for all peoples.
People Help us to share Your love with everyone we meet.
Leader Teach us to be Your light shining wherever we go.
People Teach us, Lord.
Narrator Please remain sitting for the reading.
Reader

The red ribbon

to symbolise God's love shown to us through the birth of His Son Jesus - born in a stable at Bethlehem.

Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-7.

The Birth of Jesus.

At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own town.

Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to the town of Bethlehem in Judaea, the birthplace of King David.

Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David.

( Helper gets Joseph from the side table and places him on the manger table, then returns to the side table; Ribbonlinker links the ribbon from the candle to Joseph's feet. )
Reader He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him.
( Helper gets Mary from the side table and places her on the manger table, then returns to the side table; Ribbonlinker links the ribbon from the candle to Mary's feet. )
Reader She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her Baby. She gave birth to her first Son, wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger -
( Helper gets "Baby" from the side table and places him in the manger, then returns to the side table; Ribbonlinker links the ribbon from manger to Mary's ribbon and to Joseph's ribbon. )
Reader - there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

Please stand to sing the carol
"Away in a manger".

1.   Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
  The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
  The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
  The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2.   The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
  But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.
  I love Thee, Lord Jesus ! Look down from the sky,
  And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3.   Be near me, Lord Jesus : I ask Thee to stay
  Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
  Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
  And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

Narrator Please sit.

The red ribbon reminds us that the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.

( Ribbonlinker links red ribbon from angel to candle. )
Reader And there were shepherds in the fields nearby.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around.

The angel said

"Fear not, a Saviour has been born and He is Christ, the Lord".

after the shepherds hurried off to Bethlehem to find the place where Jesus was born.

( Helper brings sheep from side table, comes to the stable and bows to manger, places sheep on the altar in front of organ-side candle, and returns to table; Ribbonlinker links red ribbon from curtain to candle. )
Reader Months later the Wise Men were led from the East by a star. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus.
( Three helpers bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh from the side table, bow to the manger and place their gifts in front of the Hospital-side candle and return to the table. Ribbonlinker links the red ribbon between the tree and the angel. )
Reader The red ribbon also reminds us of Jesus's life on earth.
( Ribbonlinker links red ribbon from tree to candystick. )
Reader When Jesus was about thirty He left His home in Galilee and came to the River Jordan to be baptised by John the Baptist.

And as soon as Jesus was baptised and He came up out of the water, the heaven was opened to Him, and He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and landing on Him.

And a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son Whom I love".

Matthew Chapter 3 verses 13, 16-17.

( During the above passage Ribbonlinker helper brings picture of Jesus's baptism to front, comes down centre aisle then across the back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and picture to fishing line between candystick and window. Ribbonlinker helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  The people were so eager to be with Jesus that large crowds followed Him wherever He went. Sometimes His disciples would find a boat for Him to be in so He could continue to talk to the crowds without being crushed.

He taught them many things about God, often illustrating His message with stories.

Mark Chapter 3 verse 9.

( During the above passage Helper brings picture of Jesus teaching from a boat to front, comes down centre aisle then across back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and picture to fishing line between two windows. Helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  Many people came to Jesus for healing.

One such person was a woman who had been ill for twelve years.

She came up to Jesus and touched the hem of His cloak and was immediately healed.

Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20-22.

( During the above passage Ribbonlinker helper brings picture of Jesus healing the woman to front, comes down centre aisle then across back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and picture to fishing line between window and flag. Ribbonlinker helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  Other people who came to Jesus for healing were told that their sins were forgiven, and to go and sin no more, and were healed.
( During the above passage Ribbonlinker helper brings picture of Jesus saying "Your sins are forgiven" to front, comes down centre aisle then across back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and pcture to fishing line between flag and window; Ribbonlinker helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  Jesus wanted people to live in peace with one another.

Just before He died on the Cross He told His disciples this : "My peace I leave with you."

John Chapter 14 verse 27.

( During the above passage Ribbonlinker helper brings picture of Jesus saying "My peace I leave with you" to front, comes down centre aisle then across back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and picture to fishing line between windows; Ribbonlinker helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  He showed us by His example the way to live.
( During the above passage Ribbonlinker helper brings picture of Jesus to front, comes down centre aisle then across back and up side aisle to help Ribbonlinker fasten red ribbon and picture to fishing line between window and star. Ribbonlinker helper returns to back down side aisle. )
  Please stand to sing the carol

"The first Nowell".

( Ribbonlinker goes to front to be ready to attach the ribbon to the cross, etc.. )

1.   The first Nowell the angel did say
  Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
  In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep,
  On a cold winters night that was so deep.

Chorus :

  Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
  Born is the King of Israel.

2.   They lookèd up and saw a star,
  Shining in the east beyond them far,
  And to the earth it gave great light
  And so it continued both day and night.

Chorus

3.   And by the light of that same star
  Three wise men came from country far;
  To seek for a king was their intent
  And to follow the star wherever it went.

Chorus

4.   This star drew nigh to the north-west
  O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
  And there it did both stop and stay
  Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Chorus

5.   Then entered in those wise men three,
  Full reverently upon their knee,
  And offered there in His presence
  Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Chorus

6.   Then let us all with one accord
  Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord,
  That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
  And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Chorus

Narrator Please sit.

The ribbon is red like blood to remind us of Jesus's sacrificial love as He willingly died on the Cross that our sins might be forgiven

Listen to the part about Jesus in the Apostles' Creed which we read at many of our church services as an affirmation of our faith -

Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

( Red ribbon between curtain, cross and loudspeaker is raised by Ribbonlinker. )
  The red ribbon goes all round the orange to remind us that God's love is available to all people everywhere.

God's love is available to every race.

( Red ribbon between loudspeaker and 'tree' - Ribbonlinker. )
  God's love is available to every nation.
( Red ribbon from tree to angel - Ribbonlinker. )
 

God's love is available to every person.

( Red ribbon angel to lamb - Ribbonlinker. )
  God's love is available throughout all time.
( Red ribbon from lamb to corner - Ribbonlinker. )
  As the red ribbon which represents the blood of Jesus is now linked up all round this church, so we, the followers of Jesus, are linked together in His love; therefore, let us greet each other by introducing ourselves to the people around us.
( Short pause while people greet each other. )
Narrator Please sit or kneel for the prayer.

The fruits

to symbolise God's love shown to us through His provision and His blessing.

Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful provision,

Thank You for food and shelter; in the midst of our plenty we remember and pray for those who are hungry and without shelter. Teach us how to share our goods with others.

Thank You, Lord, for families and friends; help us to be people who reach out to those who are friendless.

Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful blessings of love, joy and peace; help us to be peacemakers in our families and community.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Son Jesus Whose birthday we celebrate now; may we learn to know Him better.

Amen.

Please sit.

The candle

to symbolise God's light that shines through the life and witness of Jesus and of all His followers.

Finally the candle is placed in the orange to remind us of the wonderful light that Jesus brings into the lives of all who love Him and desire to follow Him.

The red ribbon

.
PreacherStory about a red ribbon.

The Christingle.

Narrator Please stand for

the Christingle song.

Chorus :

  Christingle, Christingle, pretty little ball,
  Telling us of Jesus and His love for us all.

1.   The orange so round is the world that God made,
  All people and creatures, the sun and the shade -
  A beautiful orb in God's limitless space,
  Its future ensured by God's limitless grace.

Chorus

2.   The ribbon so red that encircles the ball
  Is the blood Jesus shed through his love for us all
  When He died on the cross that our sins be forgiven
  So that we might at last be His children in heaven.

Chorus

3.   The good things to eat bring us joy with each bite
  As the love Jesus gives fills our hearts with delight;
  We pass on that love in the kindness and care
  We show to all those whom we meet everywhere.

Chorus

4.   The candle above is the wonderful light
  Jesus brings to our life leading us to the right
  He was born to bring hope to all people on earth -
  Thank God for our Lord at the time of His birth !

Chorus

Narrator Please sit

Making the Christingle

Leader 1. Explanation

2. Handing out the Christingles -

( Helpers hand them out then when they are made up please come and help pass the 'light' around. )
Leader Lighting and blessing the Christingle.
( Main lights out. )

Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday dear Jesus -
Happy Birthday to You.

- twice

Leader Candles out !
( Main lights on. )
Leader Please sit or kneel for the prayer.

Thank You, Jesus, for all that You have done for us; teach us to follow You.

Thank You for our friends and families; help us to love and support each other throughout the coming year.

We pray for those who are less fortunate than ourselves, remembering those who are sick, in need or in trouble; may they know Your peace, comfort and healing.

We pray for war-torn areas. We ask that You would raise up peacemakers who would be able to work for peace wherever it is needed.

Help us, Jesus, to be Your peacemakers wherever we are.

Amen.

Remain sitting or kneeling as we sing the Lord's Prayer :

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth, as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and for ever. Amen

Narrator Please stand to sing the carol

"Silent Night".

1.   Silent night, Holy night,
  All is calm, all is bright,
  Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
  Holy Infant so tender and mild,
  Sleep in heavenly peace;
  Sleep in heavenly peace.

2.   Silent night, holy night,
  Shepherds quake at the sight,
  Glories stream from heaven afar
  Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia;
  Christ the Saviour is born,
  Christ the Saviour is born.

3.   Silent night, holy night,
  Son of God, loves pure light,
  Radiance beams from Thy holy face,
  With the dawn of redeeming grace
  Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
  Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Narrator Blessing

We invite you to join us for a cuppa in the Hall ( behind the church ) at the end of this service.

Those taking part :

Leader
Narrator
Reader
Ribbonlinker
Side-table server
Picturehanger
Projector operator
Helpers