Barlow Church of England School

Christingle 2015

Narrator 1:
Welcome to our Christingle service, we hope you enjoy yourselves today. In a moment we will sing our first song. But first.
ALL:
Have you ever wondered exactly what this is?
(hold up a completed Christingle Orange)
Narrator 2:
The tradition of Christingle is an ancient one. It dates back to 1747 from a Moravian Church in Germany.
Narrator 3:
It was devised by the Pastor of the Church, John de Wattville. Like us he used an orange, ribbon, fruits and a candle.
Narrator 4:
Today we will explain each part of Christingle. We start with.
ALL: An orange
(someone holds up a giant orange and with the help of an adult pins this to our display board)
Narrator 4 continues:
The orange represents our world. Our first song is called, 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' please join us in our song.
Song 1:
All sing Ding Dong Merrily on High.
Narrator 5:
Around our orange we place a red ribbon.
(Another child hold this up and is supported attaching this to our display)
Narrator 5 continues:
The red ribbon represents Jesus' life and death, circling the world and joining us together. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We will now sing a favourite song of ours 'Midnight'.
Song 2:
Midnight
Narrator 6:
Already our orange has a red ribbon around it. Now we add four small sticks with food on them.
(Two children take up their pretend sticks of food to place on the display with help)
Narrator 6 continues:
These represent the four seasons we are blessed with in order for the land to produce harvests.
Narrator 7:
The final part is the candle which we place in the centre.
(final candle is added to our display completing it)
Narrator 7 continues:
The candle represents Jesus as the light of the world. Christingle means 'Christ-light'. We will now perform for you the Nativity about the birth of Jesus Christ.
(Nativity places, Mary on the alter)
Narrator 8:
Two thousand years ago, God sent he angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a young woman named Mary who was engaged to a man called Joseph.
(Gabriel entering from the back of the church to Mary kneeling on the later looking towards to audience)
Gabriel Greetings - the Lord is with you - do not be afraid. You will give birth to a son, who will be the Son of God. He will be a king and his Kingdom will never end.
Mary:
How can this be?
Gabriel:
God will send his Holy Spirit
Mary:
I am God's servant - let it be.
Narrator 9:
In those days, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census e taken. So Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem to register. The time came for the baby to be born, but there was no room for them at the inn, so she gave birth to Jesus in a stable. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.
(Mary and Joseph travel to the back of the church and back again, eventually settling and picking up the doll to begin building the Nativity scene.)
Narrator 10:
Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem and asked.
(At the front, Herod and the WM gather)
Wise Man 1:
Where is the King who has been born? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship Him.
Narrator 10 continues:
When Herod heard, he was worried, and gathered the leaders together.
Herod:
Tell me what you know about Jesus Christ,
Wise Man 2:
He will be born in Bethlehem, as the prophets have foretold.
Wise Man 3:
"Out of you, Bethlehem, will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel"
Herod:
Search for the child so that I too can go and worship Him.
(Wise men walk away towards the back of the church and then return to the tableau)
Narrator 11:
The Wise Men followed the star until it stopped over the stable. They were overjoyed, and worshipped Jesus. They opened their treasures and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They didn't tell Herod that they had found Jesus, for they were warned not to in a dream.
Narrator 12:
Meanwhile there were shepherd living out in the fields around the stable watching their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The shepherds were scared.
(Shepherds rise at the front and huddle together in fear as the angle appears)
Angel:
Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy for all people. Today a Saviour has been born to you - he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you 0 you will find him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Narrator 13:
Suddenly a host of heavenly angels appeared and started praising God.
(Gathering of angels appear and raise their hands in prayer)
ALL:
Glory to God in the highest
And peace to all mankind!
Narrator 13 continues:
When the angels had left, the shepherds hurried to the stable in Bethlehem and they two worshipped Jesus. They spread the news about Him everywhere they went.
ALL:
Glory to God in the Highest - And peace to all mankind.
Narrator 13:
We will now sing 'Christmas Calypso'.
Song 3:
Christmas Calypso.
Narrator 14:
The Christingle service has been popular in our country from 1968. It was introduced by the Children's Society'. Their motto is 'Shining light into the darkness'
Narrator 15:
The Children's society is a charity dedicated to helping children in many different ways, including those who are bullied, or lonely. They try to bring light into dark situations.
Narrator 16 (or Mrs. Watkin takes over)
and explains about our collection for the Children's Charity, and our lighting arrangements for the Christingles. We could only light a few with adults holding them, have them on the tables at the front and light them all together but with no one holding them.
When we are all collected with the lights dimmed.
Narrator 16:
Please join us as we sing 'Silent Night'
Song 4 (final song) Silent Night.
Service ends with a prayer.