spend an hour for aberlour: christingle toolkit · celebrations are the perfect event for children...
Post on 28-Jul-2020
3 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Spend an Hour for Aberlour: Christingle Toolkit
Spend an Hour for Aberlour: Christingle Toolkit
2
This toolkit includes lots of ideas for holding a memorable Christingle service this
Christmas as well as a safety poster and a poster you can use to promote your
celebration. The funds you raise will help us stop children in Scotland suffering, and
we are truly grateful. We would love to see your photos on social media (please
tag with #SpendAnHour) or by email to hello@aberlour.org.uk.
Fifty years of Christingle
Fifty years ago, Christingle, a traditional German service, was introduced to
Anglican churches by The Children’s Society. Since then, Christingle has enabled
the charity to change the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and young
people in England.
Since 1968, many Episcopalian churches in Scotland have celebrated Christingle
and Aberlour has been fortunate to have benefited from many collections and
donations marking this occasion.
We are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of Christingle in the UK by creating
brand new fundraising resources for churches in Scotland, and we hope many
congregations will get involved in this anniversary year. Your donation will help us
support more children and families in Scotland who are living with poverty, mental
ill health, disability and other adversities.
The clock is ticking. Stop children suffering, before it’s too late.
The difference you will make
We help over 7,500 children and families across Scotland,
however there are many more that need our help and
support. We need to get there sooner.
We want to reach Scotland’s vulnerable children as early as possible to stop
damage being done, before families reach crisis point, before it’s too late. Taking
action quickly, significantly improves long-term outcomes for children and young
people.
The funds you raise will help Aberlour to reach children faster, by providing
personalised support by skilled, trained workers. Because every child deserves the
chance to flourish. Thank you!
You will be helping children like Kasha, who now lives with Aberlour full time at our
‘Options’ service in Elgin. Kasha says,
“I am in care. I got taken away from my mum when I was little. I’ve moved around
my whole life, but I’ve been here now for three years. Frances feels like a mum and
Sheena keeps me safe. I have lived somewhere before when I didn’t feel safe. I
didn’t feel safe at my gran’s, but I feel safe here.”
What is a Christingle?
The Christingle celebration is named after the Christingles that are lit during the
service. Christingles are made from an orange decorated with red tape/ribbon,
sweets and a candle. Your Christingle celebration is an opportunity to bring your
community together and to experience the job and wonder of this well-loved
Christmas tradition.
The symbolism of Christingle
Each element of a Christingle has a special meaning:
The orange represents the world
The red ribbon or tape symbolises the love and blood of Christ
The sweets and dried fruit represent all of God’s creations
The lit candle represents Jesus’s light in the world, bringing hope to people living
in darkness
How to make a Christingle
Make your Christingle as close to the service as possible, as they don’t keep for
very long.
1. Fasten a red ribbon/tape around an orange
2. Cut a small cross into the top of the orange and place a square of tin foil
over it (to catch the candle wax as it drips)
3. Place the candle on top of the foil and push it firmly into the orange
4. Load a mixture of dried fruit/sweets on to the cocktail sticks, ensuring the
points are covered
5. Insert the sticks around the base of the candle
6. Store upright in a cool place
What happens at a Christingle celebration?
There is no one way to hold a Christingle celebration and it can take place
anywhere at any time of day, as long as the relevant person has given permission.
The service usually includes prayers, readings, hymns and carols, and of course the
lighting of the Christingles. Christingle was created with children in mind, and the
celebrations are the perfect event for children and families and can be enjoyed
by people of all ages, especially if they don’t regularly attend church.
Getting organised
1. Choose a time and date for your service and get permission from the
relevant person. Celebrations usually take place between Advent (2
December) and Candlemas (2 February.)
2. Decide how many helpers you need and recruit your team. Make sure
everyone knows what their jobs are.
3. Make a plan for keeping your event safe. Candles should always be
treated with care!
4. Spread the word to your congregation and local groups. You can use social
media, newsletters, emails and posters.
5. If you would like any support with holding your event, or if you would like to
request Aberlour collection envelopes and balloons, contact us at
hello@aberlour.org.uk or by calling 01786 450 335.
6. Ask local suppliers if they will consider donating oranges, candles, red
tape/ribbon, sweets and cocktail sticks for your Christingles.
7. Consider holding a ‘Making your Christingle’ gathering before your service
and invite people to come together to enjoy carols and mince pies while
they make their Christingles.
8. Enjoy your service while hosting a collection for Aberlour.
9. Pay in your funds – see below. Remember to send us completed donation
envelopes to us so that we can claim Gift Aid and increase the value of the
donation by 25% at no extra cost to the donor.
Your collection
You can increase the amount you raise by letting the attendees know the huge
difference their contribution to your collection will make.
If you would like a speaker from Aberlour to attend, please contact us on 01786
450 335 or email hello@aberlour.org.uk and if we can arrange this we will be
delighted to do so.
People can donate at your celebration by using our collection envelopes or can
give £5 by texting SANTA to 70660.
Celebrate!
Christingle is 50 so here are some ideas to make your celebrations extra special:
Turn your celebration into a birthday party by selling cakes, making party bags
and decorating
Try a retro or vintage Christingle party theme
Create a Christingle time capsule to open at a future service
Ask young people to help you plan or lead your service
Paying your funds in
Once you’ve collected your funds, you can pay them to Aberlour in a number of
different ways, depending on what’s most convenient for you:
Visit www.aberlour.org.uk and click on Donate now! to pay online by credit or
debit card
Call us on 0800 085 6150 to pay by credit or debit card over the phone
If you would like to pay the funds you have raised directly into our bank
account, call us on 0800 085 6150 to request our bank details
Send a cheque made payable to Aberlour to Aberlour Child Care Trust, 36 Park
Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2JR.
Top tips for a
safe Christingle
1. Children should hold their candle upright and away
from their bodies
2. If children have long hair, ensure they tie it up
3. Be careful when putting out the candles – hot wax
can burn
4. Make sure there is plenty of space between each
child
5. Children should not walk or move around after
candles are lit
Aberlour Child Care Trust, 36 Park Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2JR Scottish Charity no: SC007991
Guarantee Company no: SC312912 Tel: 0800 0856150 / 01786 450335 Fax: 01786 473238
Section 4 - Heading 1
7
Christingle
Celebration Fifty years of Christingle
1968-2018
Location:
Date:
Time:
Aberlour Child Care Trust, 36 Park Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2JR Scottish Charity no: SC007991
Guarantee Company no: SC312912 Tel: 0800 0856150 / 01786 450335 Fax: 01786 473238
Get in touch We are here to help if you have any questions or would like any suggestions or advice about your fundraising. Contact us by phone on 01786 450 335 or email hello@aberlour.org.uk. The clock is ticking. The funds you raise will help Aberlour to stop children suffering, before it’s too late.
Thank You!
top related