It must be at least half my lifetime ago, possibly longer, that I first encountered Christingles, which is scary, because two years ago I introduced them to third different congregation I have known.

Notably missing from the photo is oranges, which will be provided by a local supermarket... thanks to a church member who is employed by them! 

It's been interesting thinking back over more than two decades of leading such services (before that I attended them)... thinking of the magic of singing 'way in a manger' whilst candles are held by small people, watched over by slightly anxious adults... thinking of folk whose dementia led to them eating the oranges (a logical behaviour it has to be said) and the children who blew out the Advent candles... thinking of Victorian churches (Anglican and Baptist) and draughty halls... of those who have grown up and grown beyond such things... and those who have rediscovered them... and of the simplicity and complexity that meet in this simple symbol.

Looking forward to tomorrow's Christingle and the memories it will create.