At 4.0 p.m. on
Christmas Eve the church was packed with
children and families, as they gathered for the Annual Crib and Christingle
service. Children playing Mary and Joseph stood in the stable that had been
recently built while videos were played that had been recorded by members of
our young people’s group, giving the feelings of the individuals in the
Christmas story.
The Christingles
– oranges representing the world that God created, with cocktail sticks bearing
fruits representing the four seasons with a red ribbon representing Christ’s
death on the cross, and a central camera representing Christ as the light of
the world – were then distributed and lit, while the lights were turned off.
Then we send the carol “O Little town of Bethlehem” which includes the line “In
the dark street shineth the everlasting light.”
After drinks and
biscuits the adults and youngsters went home to await Christmas.
