Christmas and Advent special services 2009

Advent service of light | Christingle | Carol service
Crib service | Midnight mass | Christmas morning

Advent service of light and vigil

"The King and His Kingdom"

Advent Sunday - 29^th November - 6.30pm

This service of Light dates back to the time of the early Christians. Its use at the start of the season of Advent is appropriate as we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

» read more about Advent

Christingle Service

Sunday 6^th December - 4.30pm

Christingle services are festive celebrations bringing together family and friends of all ages.

As well as at the service, cardboard collection candles will be available at St Mary’s from the beginning of December for you to contribute to this worthwhile cause, or envelopes if you prefer. Collection candles will also be distributed to primary schools. These can be handed in at the Christingle service or any time over Christmas. In 2007 almost £340 was raised.

Help make the Christingles

We plan to make up the Christingles during the morning of Saturday 13^th December and will be pleased to receive assistance – 10.00am in St Mary’s.

The history of Christingle

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Christingle was established by the Moravian Church in 1747 as a symbol of Christ's light and love. The Children's Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968 and it has since become a popular family and community event.

read more on the Children's Society website

What is a Christingle?

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The Christingle itself is made up of a lighted candle (symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World), mounted on an orange (representing the world), and a red ribbon or tape around the middle of the orange (indicating the blood/ love of Christ). Four cocktail sticks bearing dried fruit and sweets are also stuck into the orange to signify the four seasons and the fruits of the earth.

read more on the Children's Society website

Improving the lives of disadvantaged children

Raising money for the Children's Society

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Christingle services are an important source of funds for the vital work of the Children's Society with children whose childhoods have been stolen; children forced to run away from home or care who may find themselves sleeping on the streets this winter; young refugees fleeing conflict and war; those caught in a cycle of crime and detention; or children marginalised through disability. Any money raised through Christingle will help improve the childhood of thousands of children such as these.

a view at the 2006 Christingle service - the church is lit by lights on Christmas trees and the Christingles and other candles

Carol service

Sunday 20^th December - 3.30pm

Followed by wine and mince pies in the Vicarage Schoolroom

St. George's Chapel, Langham There is also a carol service at Langham at 6.00pm on Wednesday 9th December

Crib service

The service at which the crib is assembled and blessed

Christmas eve - Thursday 24th - 4.30pm

The story of Jesus' birth it told, with youngsters carrying the crib figures to the crib at the appropriate points. The story and assembly of the crib is interspersed with the singing of carols.

Collection for
the Children's Society