Isaiah 65:17-18 NLT

'Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy.'

There is one more important celebration before we enter Christmas week. It is making our own Christingle. This great tradition was started within the Moravian Church in 1747. The minister, John de Watteville, gave children a lighted candle with a red ribbon around it to represent both Jesus’ sacrifice and God as the light of the world. It was celebrated the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve itself. Light is the theme and the Moravians have a traditional song that accompanied it. The impact of the Moravians was immense. They were responsible for the conversion of John Wesley and in 1727, the Moravian Community of Herrnhut in Saxony began a 24-hour ‘prayer watch’ that continued for more than 100 years. In recent history, the Children’s Society has taken hold of the Christingle to draw attention to the plight of children in our world.

The Christingle, meaning God’s light or God’s angel, comprises an orange, a red ribbon, four cocktail sticks, fruit, sweets and nuts and a candle. The orange represents earth. The red ribbon that is wrapped around the orange reflects the shed blood of Jesus for the redemption of humanity that removes all barriers between peoples (Galatians 3:28). The four cocktail sticks represent both the four seasons of our year as well as the four points of the compass; God is everywhere. Fruit, sweets and nuts are pushed onto the cocktail sticks to represent the fruits of the earth which are God’s provision. Finally, the candle is the light of the world that burns brightly, exposes darkness and lights our path.

Around a special tea, it is wonderful for all ages to make their own Christingle while someone explains the significance of the different elements. It is an opportunity for a brief time of prayer and reflection around the significance of God’s light breaking into the world this Christmas.

QUESTION: What signs do you see that God’s light is breaking through the darkness?                  

PRAYER: Lord God, I pray that this Christmas many will turn to the light of the world, your Son, Jesus Christ.