Christingle Service
at
St. Augustine's

December 24 2009

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

NarratorWelcome !

We welcome you here in the blessèd 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.

Our theme for today’s service is

“God loves us so much that He gave...”

Please stand to sing the hymn

“All things bright and beautiful”.

Helper 1, Helper 2, Helper 3, Helper 4, Helper 5 ready at back with their parts of the demonstration Christingle.
Chorus :
  All things bright and beautiful
  All creatures great and small,
  All things wise and wonderful,
  The Lord God made them all.

2.   Each little flower that opens,
  Each little bird that sings,
  He made their glowing colours,
  He made their tiny wings.

Chorus

3.   The cold wind in the winter,
  The pleasant summer sun,
  The ripe fruits in the garden,
  He made them every one.

Chorus

4.   The tall trees in the greenwood
  The meadows where we play,
  The rushes by the water
  We gather every day

Chorus

5.   The farmers’ sheep and cattle,
  The dogs and cats we love,
  The rats and mice and possums,
  All come from God above.

Chorus

6.   He gave us eyes to see them,
  And lips that we might tell,
  How great is God Almighty,
  Who has made all things well.

Chorus

NarratorPlease sit.

Tonight we will be making Christingles ( hold up real Christingle and point to each part ). These are made up of four parts :

  • The orange, which represents the world which God created;
  • The four arms traditionally represent the variety of the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter - BUT this year we have chosen instead to think of the variety of living things - flowers, birds, trees and animals;
  • 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 Orange.

God loves us so much that He gave us this beautiful world to live in.

The first part of the Christingle is the orange.

Helper 1 carries the orange from back to between altar steps, turns round, and shows it to the congregation.
Helper 1The orange represents the wonderful world that God created.

Let us remember that in Genesis Chapter 1 verse 31 the Bible tells us that God looked at everything that He had made, and He was very pleased.

Helper 1 puts orange on the stand.
 Let us pause for a moment and think of some of the wonders of God’s creation.
Pause ( count slowly to 10 ).
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Helper 1 returns to seat down side aisle.
Narrator

The four arms

.

This year we are using the arms of the Christingle to represent various parts of God’s creation.

Helper 2 carries flower arm from back to between altar steps, turns, and shows it to the congregation.
Helper 2The first arm represents the wonderful variety of the flowers of this world.

Let us remember how Jesus compared the flowers to King Solomon, who was a very rich and gloriously, opulently, richly, expensively, extravagantly-dressed King in the Old Testament.

Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 6 verses 28-29 : “Look how the wild flowers grow : they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.”.

Helper 2 puts the flower arm on the Christingle.
Helper 2Let us pause for a moment and think of the many different flowers in our world and how beautifully they are made.
Pause ( count slowly to 10 ).
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Helper 2 returns to seat down side aisle.

Helper 3 carries bird arm from back to between altar steps and shows it to the congregation.

Helper 3The second arm represents the wonderful variety of the birds of this world.

Let us remember that Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 10 verse 29 : “Not one sparrow ( What do they cost ? Two for a cent ? ) can fall to the ground without your Father God knowing it.

And the very hairs of your head are all counted. So don’t worry ! You are more valuable to God than many sparrows.”.

Helper 3 puts the bird arm on the Christingle.
Helper 3Let us pause for a moment and think of the many different birds in our world and how beautifully they are made, remembering their songs, their colours and the beauty of their flight.
Pause ( count slowly to 10 ).
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Helper 3 returns to seat down side aisle.

Helper 4 carries tree arm from back to between altar steps and shows it to the congregation.

Helper 4The third arm represents the wonderful variety of the trees of this world.

Let us remember that David in Psalm 1 verses 1 and 3 said “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked... for he is like a tree planted by streams of water”.

Helper 4 puts the tree arm on the Christingle.
Helper 4Let us pause for a moment and think of the many different trees in this world - of their shade and their fruits and their majesty and beauty and their usefulness in providing nesting places, food, fuel and shade.
Pause ( count slowly to 10 ).
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Helper 4 returns to seat down side aisle.

Helper 5 carries animal arm from back to between altar steps and shows it to the congregation.

Helper 5The fourth arm represents the wonderful variety of the animals of this world.

Let us remember that Isaiah says in Isaiah Chapter 11 verses 1 and 6 that : “A shoot will come up from the root of Jesse.... and the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lamb and the yearling; and a little child will lead them”.

Helper 5 puts the animal arm on the Christingle.
Helper 5Let us pause for a moment and think of the loving pets we have cared for and of the other wonderful animals that live in this world.
Pause ( count slowly to 10 ).
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
NarratorPlease stand to sing the hymn

“O little town of Bethlehem”.

During this hymn :
  • Helper 5 returns to seat down side aisle.
  • Narrator goes to back ready to be Mary.
  • Narrator comes to lectern.
  • Joseph ready at back.
  • Innkeeper ready beside organ.
  • Shepherds with sheep ready at back.
  • Head Angel ready behind lectern.
  • Angels ready at back.
  • Wisemen ready at back with their gifts.
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.

NarratorPlease sit.

The Red ribbon

God loves us so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.

Helper 6 carries the red ribbon from back to between altar steps and shows it to the congregation.
Helper 6The red ribbon represents the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s Son, Who willingly gave His life for all people everywhere.
Helper 6 wraps the red ribbon around the Christingle and returns to seat down side aisle.
Narrator

Jesus’s birth,

adapted from Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-7.

NarratorIn those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.
Joseph ( from the back )Look ! Mary ! Look !
I can see Bethlehem over there !
We’re nearly there !
MaryWhere ? Where ?
Oh yes - I can see it too.
I do hope there’s somewhere to stay. I’m so tired !
JosephI’m sure we’ll find somewhere. But it’s very late, and everyone else has hurried past us.
Joseph and Mary walk slowly up the aisle.
JosephLook, here is an inn. I do hope they have room for us !
Joseph knocks on the altar rail;
Innkeeper comes hurrying from beside organ.
Innkeeper ( as he comes )No room, no room, everywhere is full ! Truly, we’re full up.
Innkeeper reaches Mary and Joseph and notices how tired they are.
InnkeeperYou both look exhausted. But really I have no room. What can I do ? ( scratching his head and thinking out loud )
I know - the stable !
That will be warm and comfortable and private.

( to Mary and Joseph )
The only place I can think of is the stable.
Would that be all right ?

MaryThat sounds lovely ! Please, Joseph, can we go there ?
JosephWhat a great idea !
The Innkeeper leads Mary and Joseph around end of organ side of altar rail and into the "stable".
InnkeeperHere you are !
Mary and Joseph sit on the chairs.
Innkeeper ( walking back to organ )I’m so glad I thought of the stable !
NarratorWhile they were there the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her Son.
Mary gets "baby" ( a doll ) from behind manger and holds him up for everyone to see.
NarratorShe wrapped Him in cloth and placed Him in a manger.
Mary places the baby in the manger.
Innkeeper comes from organ side looks at baby.
InnkeeperIsn’t He beautiful ?
ALLYes !
Innkeeper stands behind Joseph.
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHis Son was born in a humble stable to indicate that He is available to all people everywhere.
Stagehand turns on camp fire.
Shepherds come down Hospital aisle and sit round camp fire.
Narrator

The shepherds and the angels,

adapted from Luke Chapter 2 verses 8-20.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby ( points to the shepherds ) keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Shepherd 1It’s so cold and still, tonight.
Shepherd 2Yes - and the stars are so bright !
NarratorAn angel of the Lord appeared to them.
Head Angel comes and stands behind the campfire.
Shepherd 1 ( looking frightened ) What’s that ! Can you see it ? It looks like an angel !
Shepherd 2Yes - I can see it !
Head AngelDo not be afraid ! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you : He is Christ the Lord. You will find the Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Angels come flying down centre aisle as Narrator says -
NarratorSuddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and singing -
Angels stand around the Shepherds and all sing -
ALL singAll glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease.
Head Angel and angels fly to stand behind manger.
NarratorWhen the angels had left them the shepherds said to one another :
Shepherd 1Let’s go to Bethlehem !
Shepherd 2- and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.
Shepherds stand up and hurry to the stable, coming past the Christmas tree, around the congregation side of the altar rail, and up to the manger.

Stagehand turns off campfire.

NarratorSo they hurried off and found the Baby in the manger and knelt down and worshipped Him.
Shepherds kneel down in front of stable ( count slowly to 10 ) stand up and stand behind Joseph.
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe sent His angels to announce His Son’s birth to a group of ordinary shepherds.
Narrator

The visit of the Wisemen from the East,

adapted from Matthew Chapter 2 verses 1-12

Wisemen from the East came to Jerusalem and asked :

Wiseman 1 from backWhere is the One who has been born King of the Jews ?
Wiseman 2 from the backWe saw His star in the East.
Wiseman 3 from the backAnd have come to worship Him.
Narrator“In Bethlehem in Judea”, was the reply.
The Wisemen travelled on to Bethlehem.
Wisemen come up centre aisle and stop by front pew.
Wiseman 1Look ! ( pointing to the manger ) there is the star over that house there.
Wiseman 2Wow ! We’ve found the house !
Wiseman 3We’ve done it ! We’ve found Jesus !
NarratorAnd they went in and knelt down and worshipped Him.
Wisemen go up to manger and kneel down in front of it Pause ( count slowly to 10 ). then stand up and stand behind Mary.

Wiseman 1 moves to stand in front of manger, holds up his gift, and shows it to the congregation.

Wiseman 1I have brought gold for this precious King.
Wiseman 1 turns to manger, bows, gives the gold to Joseph, then returns to stand behind Mary.

Wiseman 2 moves to stand in front of manger, holds up his gift and shows it to the congregation.

Wiseman 2I have brought frankincense for this special King.
Wiseman 2 turns to manger and bows and gives the frankincense to Joseph, then returns to stand behind Mary.

Wiseman 3 moves to stand in front of manger, holds up his gift and shows it to the congregation.

Wiseman 3I have brought myrrh for this King who is born to be Saviour of the world.
Wiseman 3 turns to manger and bows and gives the myrrh to Joseph, then returns to stand behind Mary.
NarratorPlease stand to sing the hymn

“The First Nowell”.

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.    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

Organist quietly plays the tune again whilst Mary, carrying the baby, and Joseph, carrying the gifts, walk slowly to back
followed by the Innkeeper,
followed by the Shepherds,
followed by the Wisemen,
followed by the Head Angel,
followed by the rest of the Angels.
NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.
Actors sit quietly at the back, angels let go of the elastic round their hands.
The Preacher presents

the Message.

NarratorWhich brings us to the final part of the Christingle - the candle, which represents Jesus as the light of the world, and also represents the shining lights of God’s people in this world.
Jesus comes up centre aisle with the demonstration Christingle candle and lights it from the central candle of the Advent wreath ( the Christ candle ), then stands in front of altar near altar rail.
JesusThis central candle of the Advent wreath represents Jesus.

I light this candle from the centre candle of the Advent wreath.

Jesus stands to Hospital side of centre of altar rail.
NarratorJesus said in John Chapter 8 verse 12 :
JesusI am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.
Each actor collects an unlit taper from box and carries it up the centre aisle; as they pass Jesus they light their tapers and stand in the altar area facing the congregation.
NarratorPlease stand to sing the hymn

“Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light”.

Narrator also lights a taper and stands facing congregation.
1.    Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
  Like a little candle burning in the night:
  In the world of darkness, so we must shine;
  You in your small corner, and I in mine.

2.    Jesus bids us shine first of all for Him;
  Well He sees and knows it if our light grows dim:
  He looks down from heav’n to see us shine;
  You in your small corner, and I in mine.

3.    Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around;
  Many kinds of darkness in the world abound -
  Sin, and want, and sorrow; so we must shine;
  You in your small corner, and I in mine.

NarratorGod loves us so much that -
ALLHe invites us to join His family and become His light in the world.
Pause ( count to 10 )

Narrator and Actors blow out their tapers and return to their seats.

LeaderPlease sit.
LeaderExplain Christingle and how to make it.
Distribute the Christingle kits;
Make the Christingles;
Light the Christingles;
Helper turns off the main church lights;
Leader blesses the Christingles;
Helper turns on main lights.
LeaderPlease blow out the candles !
Leader returns to seat.
PriestPlease sit or kneel to sing the Lord's Prayer.

Prayerfully we sing :

ALL SINGOur 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.
PriestPlease stand for 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, 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.

PriestPlease remain standing for the blessing :

Blessing.

Pause
PriestWe wish you all a blessèd Christmas and a happy New Year !

Those taking part :

Angels, Head angel, Helpers ( 6 ), Innkeeper, Jesus, Joseph, Leader, Mary, Narrator, Shepherds ( 2 speaking ), Stagehand, Wisemen ( 3 )

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