Christingle Service
at
St. Augustine's

December 24 2006

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 blessed name of the Lord Jesus, Whose birthday we celebrate tomorrow.

No collection will be taken during this service. If you would like to leave a donation, you'll find a box at the back for this purpose.

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

Please stand to sing the hymn
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing".

1.  Hark! The herald angels sing
   Glory to the new-born King,
   Peace on earth and mercy mild,
   God and sinners reconciled.
   Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
   Join the triumph of the skies;
   With the angelic host proclaim,
   "Christ is born in Bethlehem."

Chorus :
   Hark! the herald angels sing
   Glory to the new-born King.

2.  Christ, by highest heaven adored,
   Christ, the everlasting Lord;
   Late in time behold him come,
   Offspring of a virgin's womb.
   Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
   Hail, the incarnate Deity!
   Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
   Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Chorus

3.  Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
   Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
   Light and life to all He brings,
   Risen with healing in His wings.
   Mild, He lays His glory by,
   Born that man no more may die,
   Born to raise the sons of earth.
   Born to give them second birth.

Chorus

Narrator Please sit.

In that last verse, we called Jesus the "Prince of Peace", and on the curtain behind the altar it says "Peace be with you". There's also the Hebrew word "Shalom", which is often translated into English as "Peace" or "Peace be with you", but it means much more than that; it means wholeness, wellness, comfort, safety, tranquillity etc., and when used as a greeting it means "May all that is good and wholesome be in you." We hope that this service will say all those things, and more, to you.

Many things that we traditionally do or see or hear around Christmas time are symbols, and all of these symbols have a special meaning.

One of these symbols is the Christmas tree. This year we've decorated our tree with doves, a symbol of peace.

Tonight we will be making Christingles, and these are symbols too.

These are made up of four parts : (hold up assembled Christingle and point to each part.)

  • The orange, which represents the world which God created;
  • The red ribbon around the whole world which represents the blood of Jesus given for all people;
  • The candle to remind us that Jesus said, "I am the light of the world";
  • The four arms with the fruits; some say they represent the four seasons of the whole year, and some say they represent all four directions of the compass, north, south, east, and west, and some say they represent God's bounty and goodness to us in providing the fruits of the earth, but all agree that they're about the wholeness and wholesomeness of God's provision for us. Tonight we will be using them to represent yet another sort of wholeness; God's protection, peace, provision and purpose.

As we introduce each part of the Christingle we will sing the Christingle chorus -

Organist's name will play it for us now. ( Organist plays Christingle chorus. )

Now let's try singing it :

ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator Good, just one more time -
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator That's great !

The first part of the Christingle is the orange.

Helper 1 brings on the demonstration Christingle orange and puts it on the Christingle stand.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator The orange represents the wonderful world that

God created.

As we sing this next hymn I invite us all to picture in our imaginations all the beautiful sights, sounds and smells of God's wonderful world.

Please stand to sing the hymn
"God created",
to the tune of "Frère Jacques".

Omitted for copyright reasons; further details.
Narrator Please sit.
Reader Let us remember that the Bible tells us that God looked at everything He had made, and He was very pleased.
Narrator Let us share God's peace with each other by turning and saying to one another "Shalom", "Peace be with you".
ALL (Turning to their neighbours) "Shalom", "Peace be with you".
Narrator Part of the meaning of "Shalom" is comfort and safety and so we have chosen to label the first arm "PROTECTION"
Helper places the "protection" arm on the Christingle.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Adam and Eve ready at back.
Narrator And for our protection God gave to His people certain boundaries or rules.

Listen to this story about Adam and Eve, adapted from Genesis Chapters 2 and 3.

Reader Adam and Eve lived in

the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve come down centre aisle and walk together in the garden, in front of the altar.
  It was a beautiful place full of fruit trees and with a river flowing through it.

For their protection God had given Adam and Eve one boundary, or rule : they were not to eat any of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ( point to tree ),

but they could eat fruit from any of the other trees in the garden.

Adam and Eve pick imaginary fruit from imaginary trees and eat it.
  Adam and Eve lived in the garden and took care of it,
Adam and Eve look after the garden.
  and they enjoyed talking with God in the cool of the evening.
Adam and Eve walk up and down in front of altar as if talking to a third person.
  One day Eve stood looking at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Eve stands staring at tree.
  She thought the fruit looked lovely to eat. She knew God had told them not to eat that fruit, but she was tempted. She knew she should turn away and do something else, but she didn't. She just stood there staring and thinking how lovely the fruit looked, then instead of turning away and busying herself with something else, she reached out her hand,
Eve reaches out and takes the fruit.
  and took a fruit from the tree, she broke it in half and ate one half, then she turned to Adam
Eve breaks the fruit in half, pretends to eat a piece and turns to Adam and gives him the other half of the fruit.
  and gave him the other half of the fruit and he ate it too.
Adam pretends to eat his fruit too.
  That evening when they heard God in the garden they hid from Him.
Adam and Eve run and hide behind Christmas Tree.
  But God found them, and sent them out of the Garden of Eden;
Angel comes from organ seat and shoos Adam and Eve out of garden.

Adam and Eve go out through centre and down centre aisle.

  and God placed a cherub on guard to keep people out of the garden.
Angel closes altar rail and stands on guard.
Narrator Through their disobedience, Adam and Eve lost the comfort and security of living in the garden of Eden and life became hard for them.

Lord, help us to turn away from and resist temptation.

ALL Help us, Lord, to turn away from temptation.
Angel opens altar rail and returns to chair by organ;
stage hand removes little tree and table.
Narrator Many years passed; the Jewish people were now slaves in Egypt, and they cried out to God for help. He sent Moses to lead them out of slavery and into the Promised Land.

After they escaped from Egypt they all assembled at Mount Sinai and God gave to them, through Moses,

the Ten Commandments,

another set of rules to help them stay safe, secure and protected within the boundaries of God's love.

God said to them :

Helper brings on "I AM the Lord your God", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.
Reader I AM the Lord Your God.
Helper sticks it on the altar and returns to seat.

Helper 1 brings on "Worship no God but me", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 1. Worship no God but me.
Helper 1 sticks it on the altar and returns to seat.

Helper 2 brings on "Do not make idols or worship them", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 2. Do not make idols or worship them.
Helper 2 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 3 brings on "Use My name with respect", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 3. Use my name with respect.
Helper 3 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 4 brings on "Rest on the seventh day and remember me", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 4. Rest on the seventh day and remember me.
Helper 4 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 5 brings on "Respect your father and mother", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 5. Respect your father and mother.
Helper 5 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 6 brings on "Do not murder", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 6. Do not murder.
Helper 6 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 7 brings on "Husbands and wives be faithful to one another", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 7. Husbands and wives be faithful to one another.
Helper 7 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 8 brings on "Do not steal", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 8. Do not steal.
Helper 8 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 9 brings on "Do not tell lies about anyone", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 9. Do not tell lies about anyone.
Helper 9 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.

Helper 10 brings on "Do not envy other people or want what belongs to them", and holds it up in front of the altar facing the congregation.

Reader 10. Do not envy other people or want what belongs to them.
Helper 10 sticks it on front of altar and returns to seat.
Narrator Help us, Lord God, to follow Your ways.
ALL Help us, Lord.
Narrator Yet more years passed, and some people followed and tried to keep within God's boundaries, and others didn't.

All through these years prophets kept promising that God was going to send a special King, a Saviour who would be Lord of all.

Please stand to sing the hymn
"O Little Town of Bethlehem".

1.  O little town of Bethlehem,
   How still we see thee lie;
   Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
   The silent stars go by -
   Yet in thy dark street shineth
   The everlasting light;
   The hopes and fears of all the years
   Are met in thee tonight.

2.  For Christ is born of Mary;
   And, gathered all above,
   While mortals sleep, the angels keep
   Their watch of wondering love.
   O morning stars, together
   Proclaim the holy birth,
   And praises sing to God the King,
   And peace to men on earth.

3.  How silently, how silently,
   The wondrous gift is given!
   So God imparts to human hearts
   The blessings of His heaven.
   No ear may hear His coming;
   But in this world of sin,
   Where meek souls will receive Him, still
   The dear Christ enters in.

4.  O holy Child of Bethlehem,
   Descend to us, we pray;
   Cast out our sin, and enter in:
   Be born in us today.
   We hear the Christmas angels
   The great glad tidings tell;
   O come to us, abide with us,
   Our Lord Emmanuel.

Narrator Please sit.

The Birth of Jesus

Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-7.

Reader In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his home town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Mary and Joseph come down centre aisle and settle themselves in the stable.
Reader While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first-born, a son.

( Mary gets baby out. )

She wrapped him in cloths

( Mary wraps baby in cloths. )

and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Narrator Thank You, Lord, for protecting Mary and Joseph and finding a quiet, sheltered place for Jesus to be born.
ALL Thank You, Lord, for quiet, sheltered places.
Narrator Please stand to sing
"Away in a manger".
Stage hand brings camp fire to centre and turns it on

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 You, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
   And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

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

Narrator Please sit.

Back to our Christingle.

Part of the meaning of "Shalom" is peace and so we have chosen to label the second arm "PEACE".

Helper places the "peace" arm on the Christingle.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator

The Angels visit the shepherds

and tell them of the birth of Jesus and of God's peace.

Luke Chapter 2 verses 8-20.

Reader And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, watching over their flocks at night.
Shepherds come to front and sit round the campfire.
  An angel of the Lord appeared to them -
Angel comes from organ seat and stands by the shepherds.
  and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them -
Angel Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: He is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Reader Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel -
Angels come flying down centre aisle.
  - praising God and saying :
All angels Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom His favour rests !
Reader When the angels had left them -
Angels sit behind the shepherds.
  - the shepherds said to one another -
Shepherds (to one another) Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.
Reader So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
Shepherds hurry off to stable and kneel by the manger.
Reader When they had seen him they spread the word about the Child, and all who heard were amazed.
Shepherds move back to centre and sit in front of angels.
Narrator Thank You, God, for the peace that comes from knowing and trusting You.
ALL Thank You for Your peace.
Narrator Back to our Christingle.

Part of the meaning of "Shalom" is provision and so we have chosen to label the third arm "PROVISION".

Helper places the "provision" arm on the Christingle.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator

The Wise Men visit Jesus.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 1-2, 11-12

Reader After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem.
Wise Men come down centre aisle and stop at first step, turn and ask the congregation :
Wise Men Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
ALL He was born in Bethlehem !
Reader They went on their way.
Wise Men move towards Christmas tree and up to stable ( which is now Mary and Joseph's house ).
  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him.
Wise Men bow down and worship Jesus.
  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold -
Wise man 1 gives gift of gold to Jesus.
  frankincense -
Wise man 2 gives his gift of frankincense to Jesus.
  and myrrh.
Wise man 3 gives his gift to Jesus.
  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Jerusalem, they returned to their country by another route.
Wise Men go out by Christmas tree along in front of altar rail and sit in front of shepherds.
Narrator Thank You, God, for Your bountiful provision.
ALL Thank You, God.
Narrator Please stand to sing the hymn
"The First Nowell".
At beginning of this hymn ALL ACTORS stand up. Mary and Joseph with Jesus come and stand in front of Wise Men. During the LAST verse of this hymn actors move down centre aisle :

Mary and Joseph in front,
then Wise Men,
then shepherds,
then angels.

1.  The first Nowell the angel did say
   was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
   in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
   on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Chorus :
   Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
   born is the King of Israel.

2.  When they looked up they 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
   and reverently, upon their knee,
   they offered there in His presence
   their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Chorus

6.  Now let us all with one accord
   sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
   who brought forth heaven and earth from nought,
   and with His blood mankind has bought.

Chorus

Narrator Please sit.

Back to our Christingle.

Part of the meaning of "Shalom" is well-being and wholeness, and for people to be whole they need a purpose in their lives, so we have chosen for our fourth arm "Purpose".

Helper places the "purpose" arm on the Christingle.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator Jesus had a very definite purpose to fulfil, one of His tasks was to teach people about God.

Listen to this passage from the Bible; it can be found in Mark Chapter 12 verses 28-33

Reader

The Greatest Commandment.

Jesus comes to front down centre aisle and stands in front of the altar.
  One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus discussing spiritual issues with some people.
Teacher comes down centre aisle and stands by front pew.
  Noting that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him :
Teacher moves up closer to Jesus and asks -
Teacher Of all the commandments, which is the most important?
Jesus The most important one is this

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no commandment greater than these two.

Teacher Well said, teacher, You are right; to love God in this way is more important than anything else.
Jesus and Teacher go to back down centre aisle talking to each other.
Narrator Lord God, help us to fill our lives with purpose : the purpose of loving you and loving others.
ALL Fill our lives with love for You and others. Amen.
Narrator Back to our Christingle -

The red ribbon placed around the whole world represents the blood of Jesus given for all people.

Helper places the red ribbon around the Christingle.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator Another purpose that Jesus fulfilled was the giving of His life on the Cross that all who believe in Him and choose to follow Him will receive eternal life.
Reader This reading is from John Chapter 3 verses 15-21.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

But whoever lives by the truth, comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

Narrator Which brings us to the final part of the Christingle - the candle which represents

Jesus as the light of the world.

Helper places the candle in the Christingle and lights it using the centre Christ candle from the Advent Wreath.
ALL (sitting)
Christingle, Christingle,
Pretty little ball -
telling us of Jesus
And His love for us all.
Narrator Thank You, Lord, for the light of Jesus that shines through His people.
ALL Thank You, Lord.
Narrator May we be people who reflect Your light too.
ALL Amen.
Narrator Please stand to sing
"Joy to the World".

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.
Leader Explain Christingle and how to make it, using the Christingle kit.
On screen need Creation, then protection, then Peace, then, provision, then purpose, then sacrifice, then light as the Christingle is explained.
Helpers ready to hand out Christingles.
  Making the Christingle;

Lighting the Christingle.

Leader explains procedure, with warning that candles BURN.

Two helpers at front : Hand out Christingles starting at front and return to front ready to light Christingles. You may also want to make Christingles for yourselves; light these LAST!

Two helpers at back : Hand out Christingles starting at back and return to front ready to light Christingles. You may also want to make Christingles for yourselves; light these LAST!

Leader lights taper from centre candle on Advent Wreath;

Helpers come to front to have their tapers lit, then go to light Christingles at end of each row,
Two starting at the front, centre aisle, and two starting at the back, centre aisle.
Just light the candles at the end of each row, then the people in the rows light each other's candles.

When all candles lit, Stagehand turns main lights off.

Leader As Christmas is the time when we celebrate His birthday please stand, hold up your Christingles, and sing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" twice.
ALL Happy Birthday to You;
Happy Birthday to You;
Happy Birthday, dear Jesus -
Happy Birthday to You ! ( twice )
Leader Bless the Christingles.
Stagehand turns on main lights.
Leader Please blow the candles out and return to your seats.

Please sit or kneel for the prayers, which we shall end by singing the Lord's Prayer.

Pray-ers come to lectern.
Pray-er 1 Protection

Lord God, we thank You that You have given us, for our protection, rules to follow. Help us to live our lives in ways that are pleasing to You. Amen.

Pray-er 2 Peace

Lord God, we thank You that You offer to Your people the gift of peace. Teach us how to receive this peace and to use it to help others find Your peace too. Amen.

Pray-er 3 Provision

Lord God, we thank You for the great variety of food you give us. We thank You for our homes and families. May we this Christmas time share all we have with others. Amen.

Pray-er 4 Purpose

Lord God, we thank You that You have given us a purpose to live for. May we be people who love You with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength and love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Amen.

ALL 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.
Pray-ers return to seats.
Leader Please stand for our final hymn
"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, love's pure light;
   Radiance beams from Thy holy face,
   With the dawn of redeeming grace,
   Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
   Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Leader Please remain standing for the blessing.

BIessing.

We wish you all a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year !

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

Those taking part :

Adam, Eve, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Teacher, Wise Men ( 3 ), Leader, Narrator, Reader, Angels, Shepherds , Pray-ers ( 4 ), Helpers ( 11 ), Stagehand.

Numbers given are those identified in the script. Except for the Wise Men, these are flexible; adjust them according to your resources.