KILWARLIN Moravian Church will
be holding their annual Christingle Service this
Sunday December 21 at 4pm. |
The children of the Church, located at, Kilwarlin Road,
Hillsborough, will perform the service.
The custom of Christingle began at a
children's festival in a Moravian congregation in Germany on
December 20 1747. The Minister spoke of the happiness that
had come to men from the birth of Jesus and gave each child
a lighted candle with the prayer "Lord Jesus kindle a flame
in these dear children's hearts, that theirs like thine
become".
During the 18th and 19th centuries of
Missionary outreach, the Moravians took the custom of
Christingle to Labrador and Pennsylvania, to the Tibet and
Surinam to the Caribbean and South Africa and each part of
the world adapted it for their own use. Where it is observed
at the climax of the service of readings and carols, each
child receives a lighted candle in the darkened church and
in this magical moment the visual symbol tells the truth
that in the darkness of the world there has shined a great
light.
This unique Christmas celebration has now been widely
adopted by churches of many denominations, thus testifying
to the pow( and potency of its symbolism - the lighted
candle in the orange representing Christ the light of the
world, the fruits and sweets. God's Bounty to us while the
red paper frill reminds us of the passion of Christ.
Ulster Star
19/12/2008
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