to take kids to Christingle service when I'm not religious

[heliotrope]

Is it hypocritical? I wouldn't get married in a church but go in for other people's weddings and funerals etc.
The main reason I want to go is nostalgia as we went when younger, and also to keep the little ones busy at 4.30 on Christmas eve!

It wouldn't bother me (and I'm a minister)

YANBU - go!

of course you should take them! enjoy!

No harm at all. And I'm rabid anti doing anything churchy just for the sake of it, so it must be ok

Sounds lovely, go!

I'm anti-churchy too but I'd go for the lovely Christmas spirit of it. i remember making Christingles at primary school.

I'm taking mine. She is fascinated by the "baby Jesus" at the moment and is really looking forward to it. And the reason we celebrate Xmas is the Baby Jesus (Pagan stuff asisde) I can't see how it can be inappropriate....

We have our christingle on christmas eve and it is the busiest service of the year. There are many families that we don't see from one christingle to the next but that certainly isn't a problem. It's a lovely service and it's great to share it with anyone who wants to come..

So OP, definitely go and enjoy

You will be very, very welcome there and it's a good, experience-broadening event for the children.

Churches love to see new people at their services Christmas, Easter, anytime!

Im taking DS, I'm not overly religious. My DP is athiest... but wants to come... to see what it's about and because I dont just see it as a religious thing...

It is fundraising for then Children's Society isn't it ? So I am sure they will be glad of allcomers as long as you make a donation.

YANBU - Christingle services are usually made as family-friendly as possible, to make it easy for families who don't want to do anything too heavy in the church line, but would enjoy something vaguely Christian at Christmas time. Nobody organising the service will be bothered that you're not a regular, or even a believer.

I am not a church goer, but we do always go to the Christingle service. The one we go to is end of Nov/beg of Dec. It is usually a lovely service and DD enjoys the lighting of the christingle. IT is very family friendly and we have always felt welcome.

DD is the bigger believer of us all, mainly because she goes to a church school and is linked to this church through school anyway.

Last year we went to the lovely Christmas Eve children's service, where the childrn dress up and they retell the nativity, etc. Can't make it this year sadly.

I am an atheist but I do appreciate the traditions of Christmas, the carols, and the Christmas story is a lovely one. Churches are also beautiful places, and I wouldn't want my DSs to miss out on all that.

It's your job as a parent to give your children as many experiences as possible, and that includes doing things you wouldn't necessarily do yourself.

For all you know, your dcs might decide they'd like to be Christians when they're older.

Im not religious, but i take the bits i like and leave the bits i dont! Go it will be fun.

We're raving atheists but my dds star in the village church Christingle play every year, because there aren't many children in the village who go to church, so our neighbour ropes in my dds.
They are interested, they like dressing up and acting, I don't want to stop them, so they go and I go (rather reluctantly) to watch them in it. It is a bit odd, given that we are really quite anti-church, I'm not that comfortable with it but I see it as the dds' choice.

Thanks very much all. Having thought about it, it's true that they will decide for themselves about religion later - so nice to give them experiences so that they have something to go on!

Definitely you should be made welcome, so go and enjoy.

From my own Christian perspective I would say everyone has a spiritual dimension whether they are aware of it or not, which is why non-Christians are drawn to these occasions. You might go in and out of church and be unaffected, but you might be deeply influenced.

However I would say to claw3 that "take the bits you like, leave the bits you don't" is simply not possible.

It's not a hobby, it's not like...oh...I'm a keen swimmer.

Its tradition, isn't it?

I thoroughly enjoyed DDs school carol service last night - as an ex-christian atheist the one thing I really miss is belting out hymns

And I teared up terribly when DDs friend who we've known since nursery did the 'Once in Royal David's City' solo. Magic, hit me right in the sentimentals!

You should go! Christingle is lovely and will be a fabulous experience for your children regardless of your religious beliefs. There are also wonderful carol services in churches at this time of year too that your children will love. Churches are really warm and friendly places and no-one will make judgements. People will just be delighted to see you and your children!

I'm atheist but went to my dd's Christmas Carol concert AND sang all the songs AND pretended to pray

Even had a chat with the vicar

it was all good fun

My DS's school had their carol concert last night in the cathedral in the snow.Twas beautiful.DS was playing in the brass band and they played some lovely stuff 'walking in the air' christmas medley and accompanied all teh carol.
Brass bands and christmas carols make me cry.

Oh just don't set your 2 YOs hear alight like I did at christingle !!

I would take them-there is nothing to say that your DCs are going to end up with the same beliefs as you (and no reason why they should)and I think that it is good to let them have different experiences. Christingle is lovely-seeing small DCs holding their candles always makes me want to cry! If they have the proper Christian attitude they should welcome everybody and anybody.