Newcastle Cathedral opened its doors to welcome more than 300 children from schools across the Diocese for its annual Christingle services.
The special service, on Wednesday 22 January, was led by the Revd Canon Ruth Hulse, Newcastle Cathedral’s Canon for Worship & Congregational Life while Children and Youth Team Leader, Tara Russell gave an interactive talk to help the children understand why Jesus is the light of the world.
Tara said: “It was wonderful to be able to hear the different ways the children are going to be a light in their schools and families after hearing about Jesus’ light at the Christingle.”
During the service, children were given the opportunity to split off into smaller groups to create their own rather unique Christingles. This year, the team decided to make eco-Christingles; replacing the usual oranges, sweets, tinfoil and cocktail sticks with biodegradable plant pots and forget-me-not seeds.
The Revd Canon Ruth Hulse said: “We decided to do an eco-Christingle this year because being lights of the world also includes caring for our planet.”
The children joined back together to sing a variety of light-themed worship songs before all the Christingles were lit.