Today is one of the best days of the year in parish ministry - Christingle was yesterday afternoon (and was very well recieved and attended) and is over again for another year. Never really worked about what it is that I dislike about Christingle, and have been accused of liturgical snobbery more than once.
1. Quite happy with the idea of lots of people joining in without really understanding what the whole is about - what a previous Vicar called "crass participation" -
2 after all its too much to expect them to understand the whole when I don't really know why we do it
3. Still dislike people focusing on Christmas when Christians are keeing Advent
4. Cringe a little when carols slip into the music or people say its not the same without "Away in a Manger" and yet don't want to seem grumpy by saying now we can't sing it.
5. Have already broken the annual promise that I will make debrief notes the same day to help with planning next year - so next year will a similar slightly shambles
6. Still feel a little uncomfortable and exploited by Charities such as the Children Society exploit this act of worship for fundraising - and how incredibly inefficient and uncommitted it is as kids put their 10ps in the collection plate alongside the fivers of committed Children Society folk.
7. Will I pluck up courage to move it Candlemas in 2007 - with all the aggro which would be associated - and make into a mid-winter celebration?
O well its good to get on with Advent!
I'm right there beside you in being mystified about what Christingle is all about. You capture pretty well all the irritants I find in the service.
Posted by: Caroline | 05 December 2005 at 20:30
Hallelujah! I too have never taken to the Feast of the Holy Orange - and yet I'm sitting here googling for ideas for The Talk (the bit where we explain what all the bits mean. again.) a bare 36 hours before the first of 3 this season.....
Posted by: Alice | 12 December 2005 at 07:53
Dang! googling for Christingle Talk ideas, this was the first thing that came up. I agreed with OP. I laughed with the 2nd comment, hurrah, someone on my wavelength! ~ then I discovered that it was me. 4 years on. 21 hours to go and still looking. Plus ca change.
Merry Orange.
Posted by: Alice | 22 December 2009 at 18:06
everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightening strikes
does it ever make you stop and wonder
Posted by: Jordans 4 | 19 July 2010 at 03:40