Christingle

Orange - God made the World

vv 1-13; 3 vv 16-21

Christingle reminds us what Christmas

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Glow Stick - Jesus is the light of the world

is TRULY all about …………… about Jesus.

It’s easy to ge lost in the stress and mess of Christmas, or if you’re a kid, then to get lost in all the presents and food!

Leanna and I have a running joke that very time something if a hassle to sort out for Christmas we say;

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

‘I hate Christmas’ to each other. We find ourselves saying it several times a day!

Ribbon - Jesus died for us

Ribbon - Jesus died for us

So,

Christingle is a useful visible reminder

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

about the HEART of Christmas,

before we get lost

Fruit - Eternal life

in all the presents and the stress of it all.

Fruit - Eternal life

And there is ….. ϑ ……whatever our age …

a message for all of us.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Let’s look at what makes up the Christingle….

1 - First is the Orange.

The orange … is a reminder that God made our world.

Just like my watch (show)

if you found it on the ground you wouldn't think it had fallen from the sky,

it was designed and made:

so our world is not here, just by chance, either.

it had a Designer, a MAKER, a CREATOR.

In fact, what the writer John wants to tell us

At the beginning of his Gospel is that:

JESUS …. made our world.

JESUS had a hand in making it.

You see, the extraordinary thing is:

before Jesus ever came to this earth

to be born as a human being, He existed…………

John begins his gospel about Jesus

with these famous words:

‘In the beginning was the Word

And the Word was with God, And the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.’ (1: 1-2)

And we are told: ‘the world was made through him’ (1:10)

And Jesus was not just involved

in the creation of OUR world

but in the creation of ALL things:

So things BEYOND our world.

'Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (1:3)

ASK, what did he make?

‘He also made the stars’. ()

It is God’s world, Jesus’ world that we live in.

Not only does God provide us with somewhere to LIVE, the world and all that is in it

.

2 - He also provides for us with things to EAT.

He gives us fruits of the seasons which we enjoy

In all their variety.

Apples and oranges, bananas, strawberries.

Even the sprouts children so love at Christmas………

(You have sweets on YOUR Christingle,

They remind us that Jesus sustains the world.

He gives us seasons, food and work.

(Stick on fruits on sticks)

3 - Light of the world

But Jesus is much more than our Creator and Sustainer,

or even the Power behind the Universe.

(Insert Candle)

Jesus actually came into our world as a Man,

Some 2000 years ago.

We read in

‘The true light that gives light to every person

was coming into the world.’ (1:9)

God came to our world to make Himself known

In the person of His Son, Jesus, 2000 years ago.

What happened?

The writer John tells us:

‘He was in the world, and though the world was made

through him, the world did not recognise him.’ (1:10)

The world did not want to receive Jesus;

did not want to know him.

Don’t you think that is amazing?

That God stepped down into our world.

But something more amazing than that:

that when God did enter our world,

the reception he received was not very warm!

He was not welcomed.

Why on earth was that?

Well, perhaps this illustration will help……………

(move)

ϑ Have you ever wondered why lighting in restaurants

is the way it is?

~ the lighting in posh restaurants, I mean! ϑ

Not burger bars!

Where your mum and dad might go for a posh meal?

What kind of lighting do they have in nice restaurants?

How are those sorts of places lit? Anyone know? (ask)

Soft lighting !

romantic lighting !

candlelight if v smart hotel or restaurant !

Ever wondered why that is?

I’ll tell you.

- SO EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD.

TURN OFF LIGHTS

See, we all look better!

In soft light, everyone looks good !

That’s the problem with light.

Light ……,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,EXPOSES.

It shows up flaws.

The Bible tells us that in regard to Jesus:

‘… Light has come into the world ,

But men loved darkness instead of light

Because their deeds were evil. (3:19)

‘Everyone who does evil hates the light

And will not come into the light

For fear that his evil deeds will be exposed.’ (3:20)

The light of Jesus, shows up our bad behaviour. Sin.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world”

And so that is what the candle

in the Christingle stands for: Jesus, the light of the world.

4 - (Put on ribbon)

Because we have sin, we live in the darkness, we need the light.

But somehow we need to be made good as well.

Which tells us really why Jesus came.

Jesus came to be born, to die

So that we CAN be accepted by God.

Jesus died to PAY for God’s judgement on OUR sin.

JESUS paid the penalty – death –

to be cut off from God, so we don’t have to be.

So the red ribbon stands for Jesus’ blood

shed in his death on the Cross.

‘For God did not send his Son into the world

to condemn the world but to save the world through him.’ (3:17)

In Jesus, God offers us forgiveness

of our sins and eternal life to us.

That is the PRESENT God offers to us in Jesus.

The best present of all:

To live FOREVER with God.

SO we turn away from our darkness, to Jesus the light,

And find forgiveness because of His blood he shed.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son

that whoever believes in him will not perish

but have eternal life.’ (P) ()

{Let’s pray together}