In our first video for this year’s #SouthwarkAdvent we visited Christ Church School in Purley to join their Year 1s as they made Christingles and learned about Jesus.
The first use of Christingles to encourage children to think about Jesus dates back to Germany in 1747, but was popularised in the UK in 1968 by The Children’s Society. At Christ Church School one of the ways pupils learn about Jesus in the curriculum is by making Christingles, and we were able to join a class in “the Spinney” – a forested area of the school site for outdoor classes.
There was something moving about the children lighting their Christingles and pausing for prayer or silent thought outside in nature. Advent falls in the darkest and most stark period of the year, and yet for Christians it is a season of reflection and hope as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. The excitement of the children as they made and then lit their candles was catching, and what could have been a cold and muddy winter afternoon was full of joy.
“Hope of Heaven, in our darkness, You came to earth bringing peace and life.
Hope of Heaven, full of kindness, Come shine your light in this candle that I hold.”
Without giving too much away, music has been a recurring theme in this year’s #SouthwarkAdvent filming, and during our visit the children at Christ Church Purley performed Hope of Heaven by Mark and Helen Johnson. The lyrics explain the symbolism behind Christingles, and end in a call for a greater closeness with Jesus.
Christmas Unwrapped at Christ Church, Purley
Across the road from the school is Christ Church Purley, one of the churches we visited in last year’s #SouthwarkAdvent Calendar. During our visit we learned about Christmas Unwrapped – where schools are invited into church to learn more about the Christmas story in an interactive way. We weren’t able to share this as part of last year’s campaign, but it was one of the reasons for this year’s focus on the ways children, schools and churches engage in Advent, Christmas and the Christian faith. Find out more about Christmas Unwrapped below:
