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<Insert Church Name Here>
Christingle Service
Thank you from The Children’s Society
It is a painful fact that many children and young people in Britain today are
still suffering extreme hardship, abuse and neglect. Too often their
problems are ignored and their voices unheard.
In Support of The Children’s Society
Welcome
At The Children’s Society, we make it our mission to support these young
people during life’s most difficult moments.
The Children’s Society is a national charity that runs local projects, helping
children and young people when they are at their most vulnerable, and
have nowhere left to turn.
Opening Prayer
Leader: Jesus, who left behind unimaginable riches and came to find us,
All: Jesus, you are here. We share in God’s love.
We also campaign for changes to laws affecting children and young
people, to stop the mistakes of the past being repeated in the future.
Leader: Jesus, who came and walked alongside us to demonstrate God’s
love for us,
Our supporters around the country fund our services and join our
campaigns to show children and young people they are on their side.
All: Jesus, you are here. We never have to walk alone.
By being a part of the Christingle service today, you personally have done
something to change the lives of thousands of children in this country
today. We cannot thank you enough for the difference you have made.
On behalf of all of the children and young people who would have nowhere
to turn if they weren’t supported by The Children’s Society, we express
heartfelt thanks to you.
Thank you for your support.
Leader: Jesus, who showed us how to love all your children, especially
those with no one else to turn to,
All: Jesus you are here. Together, we can reach out and care for one
another so all are included.
Leader: We make this prayer, in your name.
All: Amen.
Hymn: O Come Immanuel
Verse 1
Refrain
O come, O come, Emmanuel
Rejoice! Rejoice!
and ransom captive Israel
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear
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O come, thou Wisdom from on high
Verse 4
O come, thou Dayspring, come and
who orderest all things mightily
cheer
to us the path of knowledge show,
our spirits by thine advent here
and teach us in her ways to go.
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
Verse 2
and death's dark shadows put to
Refrain
flight
Verse 3
Refrain
Prayer
All: Lord Jesus, I stretch out my hands and receive this gift, and I hold it
tight because it is mine.
My Christingle.
Light, fruit, sweets, colour, but so much more precious than this.
I hold in my hands a picture of your love.
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
Lord Jesus, help me to remember those who have not known your love,
and do not have anyone to turn to.
thine own from Satan's tyranny
from depths of hell thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Today, as I hold my Christingle and remember you, I pray that you would
make me someone, like you, who will reach out my opened hands to give
and love like you do.
Amen.
Reading: Matthew 1.18-23
Blessing
Talk/Sermon
May the light that is Jesus lead you always. May your heart be more for
the people around you than yourself.
May your resolve be to reach out in love and come alongside those in
need with God’s generous compassion.
Megan’s Story
And may your life be a witness of the blessing that comes with giving, for
the sake of all God’s children, and for the glory of God’s name.
Prayers of Intercession
Amen.
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Leader: Lord Jesus, who gave up untold riches for us, we offer you back
today this small reflection of your love.
Leader: We pray for children growing up in families which are broken and
frayed by abuse and neglect.
We ask you to bless this money and the practical care and genuine love
that it will help resource. We pray that every child helped through The
Children’s Society as a result of this generosity will receive a rich
demonstration of your love.
Lord Jesus, it hurts to think about this. Part of us would rather not. We’d
rather look away. Help us to reach out, and come alongside them. We
thank you for the Christingle and the ribbon that represents your loving
sacrifice, wrapping itself around the world.
All: Amen.
We ask you to wrap your loving arms around each child in need today.
Be close to each one who has not experienced the feelings of safety, love
and companionship we expect from family; who is avoiding telling a parent
or carer the things that are hurting them; or who is frightened of what might
happen or of people finding out how hard things are at home.
Lighting of Christingles
We ask you to keep opening our eyes to see them and help them, directly
in our communities, and through the work of The Children’s Society
throughout our country.
Song: Shine Jesus Shine
Verse 1
Lord, the light of your love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon
us;
Set us free by the truth you now bring
us,
Shine on me, shine on me.
Verse 2
Lord, I come to your awesome
presence,
From the shadows into your radiance;
By the blood I may enter your
brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my
darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me
Chorus
Shine, Jesus, shine,
Fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze,
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow,
Flood the nations with grace and
mercy;
Send forth your word,
Lord and let there be light
Verse 3
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell your
story.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Come, Lord Jesus.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for the work of The Children’s Society.
Bless their projects to help children and to champion their rights to our
government.
Help them to continue to challenge us to care, give and speak up on
behalf of others. Bless every area of their work. Uphold their staff in your
love and may every child who comes into contact with them continue to
receive the love and practical care they need.
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Come, Lord Jesus
All: Amen.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for the research and campaigning work of The Children’s
Society striving to raise awareness about those in difficult situations, and
encouraging all to see things through the eyes of a child.
Help us all continue to speak up for children who don’t have a voice. And
help those with power to hear what we are saying and prioritise children
and their childhoods above power, popularity or money.
Collection of Gifts
Leader: Thank you, Jesus, for leaving heaven’s beauty and splendour to
come to find us.
All: We praise you, Lord Jesus! You came to find us.
Come, Lord Jesus
Leader: Thank you, Jesus, for coming alongside us and drawing us back
into the fullness of God’s love.
All: Hear our prayer.
All: We thank you, Lord Jesus! You come alongside us.
Leader: We pray also for ourselves. We cannot love like you do in our
own strength, we are quick to focus in on ourselves again and slow to
remember those we cannot easily see, or whom we would rather not
remember. We ask that you would keep filling us up so we can keep
reaching out and coming alongside, just as you do.
Leader: Thank you, Jesus, for showing us how to seek out and help all
who are on the edge.
Come, Lord Jesus
All: We trust you, Lord Jesus! Yours is the perfect way to follow.
Leader: Thank you, Jesus, for the work of The Children’s Society and for
every child they help, especially those who have not received the love and
care all children deserve.
All: Hear our prayer.
All: We glorify you, Lord Jesus! You lead us to love like you do.
Leader: Lord Jesus, who gave up untold riches for us, we offer you back
today this small reflection of your love.
We ask you to bless this money and the practical care and genuine love
that it will help resource. We pray that every child helped through The
Children’s Society as a result of this generosity will receive a rich
demonstration of your love.
Leader: Thank you, Jesus, that you give us all the chance to join you in
reaching out to these children.
All: We worship you, Lord Jesus! We want to give like you do.