It’s been a day full of light today. On a very gloomy morning, we held a Christingle Service at Allhallowgate in Ripon, the first one they’d had for at least 13 years. It was lovely to see adults engage with making them and reflecting together on how a single candle is a protest in a dark world saying the darkness cannot win. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot put it out.
I used two you tube clips in the service. I love the words of Light Up Your World by Chris Rice:
Carry your candle, run to the darknessSeek out the helpless, confused and tornAnd hold out your candle for all to see itTake your candle, and go light your world.
We are to be candles in the darkness. One small candle can make a difference.
We lit the second candle on the Advent ring this morning. It was suggested we did not light it in solidarity with the people of Gaza as often the second candle is for peace and the world isn't at peace today. I understand the idea but I chose to still light it. We are meant to be light in the world and we light a candle to pray for peace not say there isn’t any.
While we put all the bits on the Christingle I played The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood on the screen. The song had an accompanying video of the nativity story.
The power of loveA force from aboveCleaning my soulThe power of loveA force from aboveA sky-scraping dove…
Flame on burn desireLove with tongues of firePurge the soulMake love your goal.
One of my stewards laughed and said it was the first time he’d ever heard Frankie Goes To Hollywood in a church service! I didn’t play Relax or Two Tribes! Welcome to the pleasure dome is a banger of an album! Anyway… One little candle can make a difference. How will you light up your world today? Where will you carry your candle? How will you make love your goal?
This afternoon we attended the local hospice Light Up A Life service at Ripon Cathedral. We were encouraged to give thanks for those whose light shone in our lives who now rest in the church triumphant. Families were invited to put a star on a lit up Christmas tree. It was very moving to see so many families doing this. We celebrate those who have blessed us with their light.
This morning we prayed for Gaza and Israel and Ukraine and Russia and the forgotten places of the world and for those who dwell in a land of darkness that on them light might shine.
This Advent we need to carry our candle maybe more than ever —- bringing light to the world one person at a time. Don’t we?
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