CHRISTINGLE: It's that time of year again

Here we are again at the start of the Christingle season (500 glowsticks at the ready this end of the wire) and as is my custom, you will find a powerpoint version of the Christingle Orange to use HERE (This has been updated and is not the same as that found on this blog last year).

Being able to add a projected version of the orange is one of the best things I have taken the time to produce and it is something I use many times over the Advent run-in: No oranges found under the car seat months later (wondered what the smell was!) and no being spiked by cocktail sticks either. Bliss!

As ever, here are the start and end images:

Feel free to share this with anyone you know who needs such a graphic for their Christingle service this Advent and help to support the work of the Children's Society.

THANK YOU

Here's a short clip to show the orange in use:

This movie just shows the movement
the real thing has a stages working

I have taken to using glowsticks (for which each year I am berated for not being traditional) BUT:

i. The lighted Christingle is taken from the church (or other building) the service is held in and arrives home still lit: The Christ Light has been successfully taken and delivered - don't get that with candles!

ii. Having had a woman lose her hair when her grandchild waved their lit Christingle near to the hairspray enriched thatch causing it to 'flash' and disappear in a cloud of awfully smelly smoke, I find this to be a much safer bet thank you very much, and

iii. There's no wax to remove (so no moaning from the wardens and other helpers) and there are no burns or singed clothing or claims to the Ecclesiastical Insurance to be made once the fire brigade and ambulance have left!

But whichever you chose - may you have a blessed run in to Christmas.

Pax

Postscript
Following a few requests I have added a simple Christingle service powerpoint file to the folder. You can find it and the component slides (and, perhaps oddly, all the funeral hymns too!) here


Just added an infant's Christingle service outline which you will also find  here

Christingle on Powerpoint

One of the things I find the season of Advent calls me to use a great many times is a projected version of the Christingle Orange, ribbon, candle and cocktail sticks,

So I made my own a few years back and this has, slightly modified over the time, served me well - and so I offer it to anyone who might find it useful as a resource.

Here's the first and final images:

and the powerpoint file for them (and the stages between) can be found HERE

Feel free to share this with anyone you feel might benefit from it and help to support the Children's Society this Advent.

Here's a short clip to show the graphics in use:

Pax

Postscript
Following a few requests I have added a simple Christingle service powerpoint file to the folder. You can find it and the component slides (and all the funeral hymns too oddly!) here

Glowstick Christingles

Well, it has begun.

Yesterday we had the Clergy Christmas lunch (Buzzard's Valley, near Tamworth) and today the Christingle services began.

So often we don't get to applaud the backroom team and this year I thought I'd let them take a bow before the pressure starts to tell on them. So here they are:

They are (left to right) - Roland (the organist AKA Roland MT-9) and Mac (the data manager).

The guest projector was already there (so ours went off for a mince pie and hot chocolate).

All in all we managed to get through some 350 glowsticks; use them instead of candles and:

1. There are no burns, candle wax incidents or building fires,

2. Theologically, the Christ-light is lit during the service and, still lit, taken home (an important part), and

3. You can stick them in your ears during the service (which always lowers the tone and raises the noise and engagement).

Here two of those we made earlier:

As the Carol services, Christmas assemblies and Christingle season begins - please pray for those who will be delivering them, those who will be attending them and the teachers (and parents) who are working so hard to made this yet another Christmas to remember.

And thank God that we have a nation who still does Christmas too!

Happy Adventide

ps. 'Thank You' Children's Society (now - where's my red tape and other stuff?)