All Saints’ Church Renhold Bedfordshire, England
Christingle Service : Epiphany 2024
We say together the words printed in bold font
Welcome and the Gathering
Jesus, Light of the world, shine in the darkest of places.
Jesus, Light of God, reveal your love to all.
Jesus, Light of love, draw us ever closer to you.Amen.
Hymn— PP 13 – Colours of day
Let us Pray
Almighty God, who revealed your great love and light in Jesus Christ to the Magi, and to those who witnessed his Baptism, reveal your love to us through our saviour Jesus and make our hearts lights to shine on the darkest places of the world and reveal your glory and love to all whom we meet. Amen.
We say sorry
Father God, we are sorry for the things we say and do which make you sad, and for not thinking of others before ourselves.
We are sorry for the times when we have seen people in need and ignored them and walked on by.
Please forgive us and help us to love you and other people, so we too may bring light and hope to the world.
May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our Saviour, forgive us our sins, and make us holy to serve him in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
The Collect for the day
Creator of the heavens, who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-child: guide and sustain us that we may find our journey’s end in Jesus Christ our Lord.—Amen
Bible Reading Matthew 2: 7-12 Good News Translation
So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: “Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him.Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
Magi to our manger Scene. – Placing figures at the Crib and blessing the scene
At the offering of gold
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As gold in the furnace is tried
and purified seven times in the fire,
so purify our hearts and minds
that we may be a royal priesthood
acceptable in the service of your kingdom.
All Blessed be God for ever.
At the offering of incense
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As our prayer rises up before you as incense,
so may we be presented before you
with penitent hearts and uplifted hands
to offer ourselves in your priestly service.
All Blessed be God for ever.
At the offering of myrrh
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As you give medicine to heal our sickness
and the leaves of the tree of life
for the healing of the nations,
so anoint us with your healing power
that we may be the first-fruits of your new creation.
All Blessed be God for ever.
Talk—
What is a Christingle and where did it come from etc?
Hymn— PP 46 – Lord the light of your love is shining
Collection taken in aid of the Children’s Society
Offering of gifts prayer
God of all goodness and grace. Receive the gifts we offer and grant that our whole life we may give you glory and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers ………...Followed by the Lord’s Prayer:
THE ORANGE
Explanation of the symbolism of the orange – the world
Few moments to think about what part of creation are you particularly gratefulfor? A special place, a creature, another person?
Holding your orange and thinking of all the parts of creation
Thank you, God,
for creating the world and all that is in it.
Help us to see the goodness of creation
and to protect and care for the planet
and all who live on it.Amen
THE RIBBON
Explanation of the symbolism of the ribbon
Take a few moments to think about the people and places you know of, that need to know the love and hope of Jesus around them, at the moment.
Holding the orange, focusing on the ribbon wrapped around it
Loving God, thank you for opening wide your arms of Love
and wrapping them around the whole worldand everyone in it.
Help those we know of, and those who have no one to pray for them,
who feel alone and in trouble, to feel the warmth and light of your hope and love surrounding them during this Christmas season and always. Amen.
STICKS AND FRUIT
Explanation of the symbolism of the sticks and fruit.
Take a few moments to think about all the good things that each season brings. Think about the abundance of God’s care, especially as you eat the sweets later!
Holding the orange, with ribbon and sticks/sweets, in your hand
Generous God, we thank you that your love for us overflows and is more than we could ever hope for.
We thank you for the good things that each season of the year, and each season of life, brings to us.
Where we have more than enough, help us to share with those who do not.
Where we are in need, help us to reach out for help from you and from others.
Amen
CANDLE
Explain the symbolism of the candle – Jesus Light of the world
Take a few moments to thinking about the people and places who have shone the light of love and hope into your life, this year.
Holding the completed Christingle in your hand:
Jesus, Light of the World, you are the Light that shines for all people, a light which can never be snuffed out.
Help us to protect the flame of your love and hope, for ourselves,
and to reflect its light for others, in the way we live our lives.
Amen
Bringing all of our prayers together let us pray as Jesus has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lighting of the Christingles—Please take care!
Lord Jesus, Hope for the world,
I hold this Christingle as a sign of your hope.
May we share your light in the darkness.
The candle, planted deep within the world, as a sign that you made your home among us, and lived with the poor and neglected.
May we share your light in the darkness.
The ribbon, wrapped around the earth, a sign of your love shown on the cross,
enfolding the whole world with your saving love.
May we share your light in the darkness.
The fruits and sweets, signs of all the good things you have made,
given to us that we might share them fairly so everyone can have enough.
May we share your light in the darkness.
Lord Jesus, Light and hope of the World,
as I hold this Christingle and think about your great love for me,
help me to take this light out into the world
and to share your love and hope with others, especially those who need it most. Amen.
The Christingle Hymn – Tune Sing Hosanna
1. The Christingle begins with an orange,
telling us of the world God made.
For creation is full of his glory;
all around we see his love displayed.
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!
Sing Christingle, it’s the light of Christ.
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!
Sing Christingle, light of Christ.
2. Every year we give thanks for the seasons,
and the fruits of the earth to share.
The Christingle is here to remind us
that the love of God is everywhere.
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!…
3. God of love, we give thanks now for Jesus;
we remember his birth again.
But the red ribbon round the Christingle
tells the story of his cross and pain.
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!…
4. To complete the Christingle: a candle,
shining out in the darkest night.
Jesus promised to lead us and guide us;
come and celebrate the world’s true light!
Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!…
Blessing
May God the Father keep you in all your days.
May God the Son shield you in all your ways.
May God the Spirit bring you healing and peace.
May God the Holy Trinity drive all darkness from you
and pour upon you blessing and light.
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you alwaysAmen
We hope you have enjoyed your time with us this afternoon. Our monthly “Family worship” takes place at 11:00am on the second Sunday of each month , where Everyone is very welcome
Copyright acknowledgement: Some material used in this service is copyright The Archbishops Council; Common Worship and New Patterns of Worship 2006;
CCLI Number 804157