On Sunday afternoon, we gathered together as a Church and as a Community to celebrate Christingle.
Christingle is far more than just an orange with sweets and candles sticking out of it although the sweets are understandably a firm favourite amongst our younger church family! Each component of the Christingle stands for a different aspect of our incredible God.
The first thing everyone pulled out of their construction packs was an orange, this symbolised the world, all that is within it and all that God has created! Of course this was followed by the spectacular entrance of our human Christingle! (Who can be seen arriving in the video below).
The second step of Christingle construction is the cocktail sticks and the sweets! Some argue that the cocktail sticks represent the points of the compass whilst others say that they are representative of the seasons, these sticks are then topped with sweets and dried fruit as a symbol of God's provision for each of us.
Part three is the addition of the candle, this is because Jesus is the light of our world (John 8:12).
The final part of Christingle construction is the addition of a red ribbon or piece of tape around the centre of the orange, this reminds of the blood that Jesus shed for us when he died on the cross because he loves each and every single one of us so much.
Christingles are celebrated during the Christmas season because we are celebrating that Jesus was God's gift to the world, a gift for everyone regardless of your chaos, He was sent for you!
"For God so LOVES the WORLD that He sent his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Abi Bates Kids Pastor