Why do we eat CHRISTMAS CAKE?
These rich fruit cakes were a sensible celebratory food as they didn't spoil quickly, and could therefore be made in advance to have in ready for guests whenever they arrived, or could be taken on a journey to give as a gift, in days when travelling was a slow process. The fruitcake as we know it today evolved from plum cake recipes in England.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Monday, 29 November 2010
Christingle
What is CHRISTINGLE?
The first Christingle service was held in Marienborn in Moravia in 1747, when the pastor, John de Wattville, wanting to find a new way of telling the Christmas story to children, gave each child a lighted candle tied with a red ribbon. He asked them to relight them at home and place them in their windows to show the Light of Christ to passers by. The tradition was kept alive by the Moravian church and in the United Kingdom was adopted by the Children's Society in the 1950s as a way of raising awareness of their work. Many churches and schools now hold Christingle services any time from Advent to the end of the Epiphany season. Each child is helped to take an orange (representing the World) and insert four cocktail sticks into it (representing the four seasons). Fruit, nuts and sweets can then be attached to the cocktail sticks to represent the fruits of the Earth. A red ribbon is then tied around the centre of the orange as a reminder that Christ died for us all. Finally, a small lighted candle is placed on top to symbolise Jesus Christ, Light of the World.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
The first Christingle service was held in Marienborn in Moravia in 1747, when the pastor, John de Wattville, wanting to find a new way of telling the Christmas story to children, gave each child a lighted candle tied with a red ribbon. He asked them to relight them at home and place them in their windows to show the Light of Christ to passers by. The tradition was kept alive by the Moravian church and in the United Kingdom was adopted by the Children's Society in the 1950s as a way of raising awareness of their work. Many churches and schools now hold Christingle services any time from Advent to the end of the Epiphany season. Each child is helped to take an orange (representing the World) and insert four cocktail sticks into it (representing the four seasons). Fruit, nuts and sweets can then be attached to the cocktail sticks to represent the fruits of the Earth. A red ribbon is then tied around the centre of the orange as a reminder that Christ died for us all. Finally, a small lighted candle is placed on top to symbolise Jesus Christ, Light of the World.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Carols
Why do we sing CAROLS at Christmas?
Singing to and about their gods was part of all pagan festivals, including the winter ones. When Christmas was established on the 25th December in the fourth century, the church initially tried to stop people singing these pagan songs, but then changed track, and decided to encourage the singing of Christian Christmas themed songs in their place. By the late medieval period the singing of Christmas carols had become a tradition. St Francis of Assisi (around 1220AD) promoted the use of carols to spread the Christmas message by translating songs sung in Latin into languages spoken by ordinary people in Europe for use in formal church services.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Singing to and about their gods was part of all pagan festivals, including the winter ones. When Christmas was established on the 25th December in the fourth century, the church initially tried to stop people singing these pagan songs, but then changed track, and decided to encourage the singing of Christian Christmas themed songs in their place. By the late medieval period the singing of Christmas carols had become a tradition. St Francis of Assisi (around 1220AD) promoted the use of carols to spread the Christmas message by translating songs sung in Latin into languages spoken by ordinary people in Europe for use in formal church services.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Friday, 26 November 2010
Candles
Why are CANDLES a Christmas symbol?
Because Jesus is the "light of the world"! In the pre-Christian mid-winter festivals sun gods were worshipped, and the candles were a symbol of the needed light of the sun.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Because Jesus is the "light of the world"! In the pre-Christian mid-winter festivals sun gods were worshipped, and the candles were a symbol of the needed light of the sun.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Boxing Day
What is BOXING DAY?
In medieval times, the day after Christmas churches used to distribute the money that had been collected in the "almsbox" (charity box) to the poor and needy. This evolved into the tradition of giving tradesmen a "box", meaning a gift or money, on the first day of the week after Christmas.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
In medieval times, the day after Christmas churches used to distribute the money that had been collected in the "almsbox" (charity box) to the poor and needy. This evolved into the tradition of giving tradesmen a "box", meaning a gift or money, on the first day of the week after Christmas.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Advent wreath
What does the ADVENT WREATH represent?
The circle of the wreath reminds Chrisitans of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Chrisitans have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolise hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday. A fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
The circle of the wreath reminds Chrisitans of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Chrisitans have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolise hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday. A fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Advent Calendars
Why do we have ADVENT CALENDARS?
They were designed to help children focus on the coming of Jesus by having a "window" to open each day from December 1st to December 24th with a picture behind it of something related to the nativity. "Jesse Trees" were used in this way too - see Christmas Decorations and Christmas Tress. But modern day Advent Calendars are often a countdown to Christmas devoid of anything to do with Jesus, and instead have pictures of cartoon charaters and contain chocolates.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
They were designed to help children focus on the coming of Jesus by having a "window" to open each day from December 1st to December 24th with a picture behind it of something related to the nativity. "Jesse Trees" were used in this way too - see Christmas Decorations and Christmas Tress. But modern day Advent Calendars are often a countdown to Christmas devoid of anything to do with Jesus, and instead have pictures of cartoon charaters and contain chocolates.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
why do we thank God for food? (drama sketch)
Michelle: There’s no need to go into details! I was thinking more along the lines of sun and rain, like in the song, “We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land..” (starts singing) “but it is fed and watered by God’s Almighty hand. He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain...”
Derek: “The cow pats and the horse dung, the poly-ure-thane!”
Both: “All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all his love” Amen!
Michelle: This is cold now, I’ll zap it in the microwave (picking up both plates and walking off stage)
Derek: Do we have to thank God for microwaves?
Michelle: I’ve only got an hour for lunch, I haven’t got time to explain!
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Derek: “The cow pats and the horse dung, the poly-ure-thane!”
Both: “All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all his love” Amen!
Michelle: This is cold now, I’ll zap it in the microwave (picking up both plates and walking off stage)
Derek: Do we have to thank God for microwaves?
Michelle: I’ve only got an hour for lunch, I haven’t got time to explain!
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
why do we thank God for food? (drama sketch)
Derek: So what are we thanking God for?
Michelle: For creating seeds in the first place
Derek: Oh. And cows.
Michelle: Cows?
Derek: Yes, cows don’t grow from seed
Michelle: I never said they did
Derek: Thank you God for cows
Michelle: And seeds, and things that make seeds grow
Derek: Like stuff from cows
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Michelle: For creating seeds in the first place
Derek: Oh. And cows.
Michelle: Cows?
Derek: Yes, cows don’t grow from seed
Michelle: I never said they did
Derek: Thank you God for cows
Michelle: And seeds, and things that make seeds grow
Derek: Like stuff from cows
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Friday, 12 November 2010
why do we thank God for food? (drama sketch)
Michelle: No, we still thank God for the baked beans, the bread, and the tea with milk in it
Derek: Even though it all came from farmers via Sainsburys?
Michelle: Yes, because it’s God who makes things grow
Derek: Not farmers?
Michelle: Well, yes, it’s farmers who plant the wheat seeds and the haricot bean seeds and the... I have no idea how tea grows, it’s probably from seed too, and farmers milk the cows
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Derek: Even though it all came from farmers via Sainsburys?
Michelle: Yes, because it’s God who makes things grow
Derek: Not farmers?
Michelle: Well, yes, it’s farmers who plant the wheat seeds and the haricot bean seeds and the... I have no idea how tea grows, it’s probably from seed too, and farmers milk the cows
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
why do we thank God for food? (drama sketch)
Michelle: So you think we should just thank God for the baked beans?
Derek: Yes, because I can’t think how they ended up in a can looking like that. It didn’t happen on a farm did it?
Michelle: Ah, yes, the lesser known “miracle of the baked bean.” I think the clue is in the name. They actually are beans, haricot beans to be precise, and they ARE grown by farmers, then..er...well, baked, and put in tomato sauce, which is made with some tomatoes, which are also grown by farmers
Derek: Right. So we should thank farmers for baked beans too.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Derek: Yes, because I can’t think how they ended up in a can looking like that. It didn’t happen on a farm did it?
Michelle: Ah, yes, the lesser known “miracle of the baked bean.” I think the clue is in the name. They actually are beans, haricot beans to be precise, and they ARE grown by farmers, then..er...well, baked, and put in tomato sauce, which is made with some tomatoes, which are also grown by farmers
Derek: Right. So we should thank farmers for baked beans too.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
why do we thank God for food? (Christian drama script)
Why do we thank God for food?
Written for Harvest Festival. Psalm 111: 5 and Matthew 6: 9-13.
Scene: Lunch time, Michelle and Derek walk on to stage carrying plate of beans on toast and mug of tea each, sit at table to eat.
Michelle: Let’s thank God for our food before we eat
Derek: Why do we have to thank God when the food came from Sainsburys? It’s not manna from heaven, you know
Michelle: Well, where did Sainsburys get the food from?
Derek: A farmer? Bread from wheat, milk from cows, tea from a farmer in India maybe. Except for the baked beans. I don’t know where they came from. Maybe they came from God.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Written for Harvest Festival. Psalm 111: 5 and Matthew 6: 9-13.
Scene: Lunch time, Michelle and Derek walk on to stage carrying plate of beans on toast and mug of tea each, sit at table to eat.
Michelle: Let’s thank God for our food before we eat
Derek: Why do we have to thank God when the food came from Sainsburys? It’s not manna from heaven, you know
Michelle: Well, where did Sainsburys get the food from?
Derek: A farmer? Bread from wheat, milk from cows, tea from a farmer in India maybe. Except for the baked beans. I don’t know where they came from. Maybe they came from God.
richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
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