Christingle

 

The Moravian Brethren have an interesting custom at Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany in which they take a orange, place a taper candle in it, wrap a red ribbon around the orange, and four tooth picks with sweets to help it stand. The candle represents Christ, The Light of the World, the orange represents the world, the four toothpicks represent the four gospels, and the ribbon symbolizes Jesus blood, reminding us that his love flows for the whole world. This custom is called The Christingle. Christingle derives from germanic word Christkindl, which means “Little Christ Child.” 

During the holidays the Moravians say holding the Christingle a lovely prayer, “We give thanks together for Jesus, the Light of the World. Glory to Christ, Son of Mary, born as a child, you are one with us: Glory to God in the highest. Glory to Christ, Son of David; born to rule, you reign in our hearts: Glory to God in the highest.”  

Another lovely Christingle prayer: 

“The orange represents the world. We pray for our world, that men and women boys and girls can live together peacefully and that there will be no more wars. We pray for children who are sad and lonely in the world, especially refugees in our country.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

The red ribbon reminds us of Good Friday when Jesus died at Easter time. We pray that you will bring an end to suffering and that people all over the world may be able to choose their religion and practice it freely. It is sad when people die, please comfort those who are sad because a relative or neighbour has died, and please look after children whose parents have died.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

The cocktail sticks remind us of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. We love to kick leaves in autumn, to make snowballs in winter, to see the gardens grow in spring and to play in the sun in summer. Thank you for your world. Please keep safe and warm homeless children who are scared and frightened.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

The sweets or dried fruit on the cocktail sticks remind us that the things we have come from God, who made the world. Thank you for the sun and the rain which make crops grow, we pray for children who are hungry because bad weather has spoiled the food their family were growing. We pray for people who won't receive any presents this year, look after them this Christmas.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light no darkness can quench. We remember before God those who have died and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope.

We remember. ................ . You tum our darkness into light, in your light shall we see light.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.” 

The Emphasis on Jesus as The Light of the World derives from the Scripture in which our God and Savior says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  This light of life that comes from Christ is mentioned in the first chapter of the gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5) . 

This emphasis on Christ as the Light not overcome by darkness is timely for this Christmas. It seems the shadows are engulfing, from plague (Covid 19 Variants), the rise of witchcraft (I have seen a bookstore expand the whole store with magic, Wiccan, and tarot), and shows telling people on Netflix and other streaming services  to embrace darkness while these programs ridicule the Light. The darkness has grown great, but we carry the Light inside us, and we shall let it shine, even if it seems little at this time in comparison to the growth of shadows; for Christ foretold it would be so, “when Son of Man returns will I find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). We must endure in our faith (keeping it) if we are but little lights in the darkness. The point is no matter how the darkness seems to grow, and outnumber us, it will never overcome Christ who is in us! (Romand 8:10) Do not despair! Hold the candle and endure this present darkness, for it shall pass and our Savior shall come on the clouds, His face shining like the sun! (Revelation 1:16). So if you’d like, make a Christingle to remind you in these times that Jesus is The Light of the World and darkness shall never overcome him, but he has overcome the world, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). We can weather the troubles, for He who has overcome lives in us. Amen.