'Twas the night before Christmas and a large crowd of children, parents and grandparents, gathered in God's house in anticipation of the birthday of Jesus.

Leading the Christingle service for the first time in Tenby, Rev. Chris Tolley, the new minister of St. Johns, began with warm words of welcome and an explanation of the meaning of that iconic symbol, the orange, encircled with a red ribbon and with four symbolic foods, speared on cocktail sticks, branching out to the four corners of the 'world'.

The first hymn was the Christingle hymn, specially written for this sort of service, and was sung to the tune of 'Sing Hosanna', which everyone seemed to know.

The congregation was then invited to come to the front to receive their Christingle, which had at its centre a lit candle, itself a symbol representing Jesus, the light of the world. Although 50 Christingles had been prepared, not everyone present obtained one, but all the children did, and it was such a joy to see the wonder in their eyes as they looked into the bright flames throughout most of the service.

The readings were given by Lara Thomas, Lew Day, Jaquie Evans and Mollie Neate. These told the story of the birth of Jesus as foretold by the prophets, the disciples and the coming of the Wise Men, as written in Matthew's Gospel.

The Sanctuary, beautifully decorated with Christmas trees twinkling with lights - and one with snow cascading down - added to the feeling of happiness and excitement shared by young and old as they listened to the story and sang the songs.

Chris suggested that the congregation should remain seated for some hymns, so that the lit candles would not present a danger, but for the final hymn everyone would extinguish their candle and we would stand.

Anne and Suzanne lit the Advent candles which had been lit one by one through the periods of Advent Sunday, leaving the central candle for Christmas morning.

In his address, Chris spoke about childhood and parenthood, then led prayers with written responses said by all.

As the congregation sang the final hymn, again one written especially for such a service, darkness fell outside and the church with its glass doors, looked like a beacon shining out to the town.

Many in the congregation would return again to church on Christmas morning, but for many, the Christingle service is the only one they attend over the Christmas period, so it is especially meaningful, and how lovely it was to have had a truly ecumenical service at St. Johns on December 24, 2012.