Spend an Hour for Aberlour: Christingle Toolkit

Spend an Hour for Aberlour: Christingle Toolkit

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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

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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!