Christingle songbook
Christingle Hymns and songs
There is a wide variety of songs that tie into the symbolism and season of Christingle. We’ve
included a selection here to suit all styles of sung worship.
The songs below can all be found in Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing
worship along with the other hymnals below (links are in the title of the song):
Hymn or song title
Artist
Number
God whose love is everywhere
Timothy Dudley-Smith
91
It’s rounded like an orange
(to the tune of ‘The holly and the ivy’)
Basil Bridge
92
Longing for light, we wait in darkness
Bernadette Farrell
42
Like a candle flame
Graham Kendrick
74
In a world where people walk in
darkness
Robert Willis
677
Kindle a flame to lighten the dark
John Bell and Graham Maule
839
Colours of day
McClellan, Paculabo and
Rycroft
27
Come, light of the world
Paul Inwood
31
Into the darkness of this world
Maggi Dawn
40
People look east to see at last
Martin Leckebusch
47
The songs below offer contemporary alternatives to the suggestions above, and have lyrics
and music sheets widely available online. To help you can familiarise yourself with the
structure and melody of each song, we’ve created a YouTube playlist where you can listen
to them.
Name
Artist
Light of the world
Tim Hughes
You’re the light
Ben Cantelon
Once in darkness
Beth Croft
Furious
Bethel Music
The Earth Is Yours
Gungor
Christmas Calypso
Christmas Calypso
Verse 1
Let me tell you about a baby and his family,
It is written down in the Bible so you might believe.
Many men had told of his coming down through history,
Now the time had come for fulfilment of their prophecy.
Chorus
And they called his name Jesus,
Jesus, the Saviour.
And they called his name Jesus,
Son of the Most High God.
(Repeat)
Verse 2
There was once a young girl called Mary, only in her teens.
She was visited by an angel sent to Galilee.
And he told her she’d have a baby – how, she couldn’t see –
Yet it was her will to obey him, so it was agreed.
Repeat chorus
Verse 3
Well in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree,
And so Mary went with her husband where they had to be.
There was nowhere else but a stable where they both could sleep,
It was there that she had her baby, born for you and me.
Repeat chorus
Words and Music by Mark and Helen Johnson
© 1994 Out of the Ark Ltd, Surrey KT12 4RQ
CCLI Song No. 1095398
Hope of Heaven
Hope of Heaven
Verse 1
Light up a candle and hold out the globe,
Here in the darkness the light of the world.
The red in the ribbon for love that He showed,
And sweets* as a sign of His goodness.
A life freely given, a love we can know,
The light of the world ever with us.
(Repeat)
Chorus
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.
(Repeat verse 1 once)
Chorus
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.
*Alternatively ‘fruits’ (where grapes or raisins are preferred).
Words and Music by Mark and Helen Johnson
Round Orange Round Orange
To the tune: “”Lourdes” (French Traditional)
Verse 1
Verse 4
Round orange, round orange
Ripe fruits freely given
You serve as a sign
This truth you recall
That God made the round world
When God hands out presents
With purpose divine
They’re meant for us all.
Chorus
The power of love is always the same:
Be glad, give thanks,
Rejoice in God’s name.
Repeat chorus
Verse 5
Christingle, Christingle
Shine out in the night.
To kindle among us
Verse 2
That marvellous light.
Red ribbon, you tell of
The bloodshed and pain.
Which led to forgiveness
When Jesus was slain.
Repeat chorus
Verse 3
Bright candle, the message
You carry is clear
The true light from God
Found a home with us here.
Repeat chorus
(
n
Words: © Elizabeth Cosnett 1989
Reproduced with kind permission from the New Catholic Hymnal
Copyright owners: Stainer and Bell Ltd
Sing Christingle
To the tune: ‘Give me oil in my lamp’ (Sing Hosanna)
Verse 1
Verse 3
The Christingle begins with an orange,
God of love, we give thanks now for Jesus;
Telling us of the world God made.
We remember his birth again.
For creation is full of his glory;
But the red ribbon round the Christingle,
All around we see his love displayed.
Tells the story of his cross and pain
Chorus
Repeat Chorus
Sing Christingle
Sing Christingle
Verse 4
Sing Christingle, it’s the light of Christ.
To complete the Christingle: a candle,
Sing Christingle
Shining out in the darkest night.
Sing Christingle
Jesus promised to lead us and guide us;
Sing Christingle, light of Christ.
Come and celebrate the world’s true light!
Verse 2
Repeat Chorus
Every year we give thanks for the
seasons,
And the fruits of the earth to share.
The Christingle is here to remind us
That the love of God is everywhere.
Alternative
For a shorter song, replace verses 1 and 2 with
this verse:
Repeat Chorus
The Christingle begins with an orange,
Telling us of the world God made.
By the fruits of the earth in their seasons,
we can see the love of God displayed.
Show me the way to Shine for Jesus
To the tune: ‘Amarillo’ by Tony Christie
Verse 1
Verse 2
Though the shadows gather
All the light and glory
There’s a light that shines forever.
Turned into the Christmas story.
From the bright beginning,
See the darkened stable
‘Til the day the earth stops its spinning.
Lit up with a newly born baby.
And I feel that brightness
And the Son still shines now
Rising up in me.
Turning night to day.
Making me the person
Loving, healing, saving –
That I am meant to be.
He makes me want to say:
Chorus
Chorus
Show me the way to shine for Jesus!
Show me the way to shine for Jesus!
Let my love light up this Christmas.
Let my love light up this Christmas.
Changing dark to light around us.
Changing dark to light around us.
Oh sweet Jesus, shine in me!
Oh sweet Jesus, shine in me!
(Repeat)
(Repeat)
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Oh sweet Jesus, shine in me!
Oh sweet Jesus, shine in me!
Lyrics copyright © Lucy Moore 2005