| Girlguiding Christmas - 7 December 2016 |
On
Wednesday 7th of December St. Mungo's played host to Penicuik and
Midlothian girlguiding, brownies and Rainbows girls, parents and
friends, for their annual Christmas Service. We also welcomed Sir
Robert and Lady Clerk as our special guests.
The
church had been decorated with holly and ribbon so looked very festive.
St. Mungo's minister, the Rev Hugh Davidson welcomed everyone and
opened the service.
This
year girlguiding were supporting those in need at Christmas, with no
food to feed themselves or their families, by bringing donations to be
split between the North Kirk food store and the Sacred Heart
foodbank.
The service took us on a journey which began with the carol 'away in a manger' taking us to Bethlehem. We then moved to
Prague where we heard about the needy of Prague called Wenceslas:
“Father of the Wretched”. The well known carol 'Good King
Wenceslas' tells the story of a good deed on Boxing Day (feast of
Stephen).
Back to
Bethlehem and the carol 'O little town of Bethlehem' , before chanting
together, 'Lucy-light, Lucy-light, shortest day and longest night',
then singing Santa Lucia .
The Calyspo Carol was followed by a blessing and prayer by Rev Ruth Halley after which we sang Silent Night.
Then
we headed to Turkey, and Patara the birthplace of St. Nicholas,
which in his time was part of Greece. We heard how he gave his
inheritance to help the poor, leading him to become the Bishop of Myra.
Many people however know St. Nicholas by his adopted name
'Santa Claus', Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle, the bringer of gifts
at Christmas.
Just then Santa appeared, complete with sack full of gifts, raising a loud cheer from the guides, brownies and rainbows.
As parents collected their daughters they met Santa and each girl received a gift before heading home.
Santa hands out gifts to the girls
A big thank you to David McGavin playing the organ and piano, and Alan Murray on guitar.
Girlguiding wishes all girls, and boys, across the world a very merry Christmas.
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