St Mary's Church, Dymock

The church exists first to offer worship (honour) to God and to thank him for the gifts he gives us, and secondly to honour and support each other, because we're all fellow creatures of God and so by honouring each other we honour him too.

As well as the Seasons and Major Festivals which help us worship God, the church celebrates several 'Special Days' throughout the year to remember, honour and support each other and our work in God's world. Celebration of the "Special Days" is usually optional, Christians chose which they want to remember, not all churches celebrate all these days....

Christingle Service

The Christingle Service began in 1749 when the people in the Moravian Church in the German town of Marienborn wanted a Service to depict Jesus, the light to the world. They used a white candle to symbolise his purity and red ribbon to symbolise his blood.

The Church of England Children's Society adopted the idea in 1968 as a way to communicate the Christian message in an understandable way.

In the modern Christingle Service: The orange represents the world. The lighted candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World who showed us God's love. The red ribbon round the orange is a symbol of the blood of Jesus which was shed for our sins and is also a symbol of forgiveness. The dried fruit and sweets represent the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and the fruits of the earth of young people. (Some say the four points of the compass of North, East, South and West to represent the good things the world provides).

Christingle Services are frequently held in schools as well as in churches, either just before or just after Christmas. A typical Service will include the singing of Christmas Carols, an informal talk, possibly a presentation or play by some of the Children, distribution of the Christingles, lighting of the candles, and a collection - usually either for a local charity or for the work of the Church of England Children's Society.
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