We celebrated Advent Sunday with our Christingle Service led by Rev. David Willis and our puppet
team. Sue Fox lit the candle of hope, the first on our Advent wreath. Rosalind Chatburn spoke of
the anticipation, joy and amazement of the first Christmas. With the children ringing bells we sang
Long ago prophets knew Christ would come. Penelope Lomas read to us from Matthew 5, a light
held high; Pam Baddeley read from John 8 – Jesus the light of the world. Ros introduced the day’s
theme, follow the light, and, as the children with their glove puppets showed us the actions to the
song, we sang My lighthouse shining in the darkness.
David spoke of the scariness of darkness and the power of a candle shining in it, power that is
magnified greatly when we all shine together. The Christingle represents Jesus’ promise of joy,
hope and his constant presence. We too can bring light to others through self denying kindness,
forgiveness and a smile. David prayed for light and hope for the strife torn and those in difficulty
known to us and we sang Christ be our light.
The puppeteers then mimed to the nun’s choir from the film, Sister Act, singing I will follow
Him, after which we formed a circle and lit our Christingles. We sang Shine Jesus Shine and David
gave a blessing before we extinguished them.
