Carols and Candles: Flowery Field Church holds Christingle Service praying for the war-torn world

Following their Christmas Fair last month, the non-denominational church on Newton Street, Hyde, celebrated love, humanity, family, and community with prayers to the Lord Jesus in a beautiful Christingle Service.

“The custom of giving Christingles began in the Moravian Church of Marienborg, Germany, in 1747 at a Children’s Service conducted by John de Wattville. The symbolism gradually developed, and today, the Christingle consists of an orange, representing the World, with a candle lit to represent Christ – The Light of the World.

The red ribbon around the orange symbolises the sacrifice of Jesus for the whole world. There are four ‘season’ sticks on which the impaled nuts, raisins and sweets signify the created order of Nature over which Christ is King and for God’s bounty to us in providing the fruits of the earth,” shares a church spokesperson.  

The visual symbol tells the main essence of Christmas – that in the darkness of the world, there has shined a great light.

Several local families attended the service; children took part in reading from books like ‘The Grinch’ and ‘Edible Angels’. A fascinating reading of ‘The Grumpy Owl’ by church member Karen made the little ones and their grown-ups listen with rapt attention. These engaging readings were interspersed with some of the most beautifully sung carols, ending with the ‘Silent Night' and a lovely reception.