Do you take your children to any christmas church/carol services?

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

I love going to midnight mass - admittedly it's the only time I go to church anymore. Would quite like to take dd to a chritmas service but was put off when I was younger by peope trying to force me to become 'born-again' - I just want her to hear the xmas story and maybe see a traditional nativity - do these go on?

[noddyholder]

i hope so I am on the look out for one too

[Enideepmidwinter]

yes, family services are probably what you want - for example ours is on Sunday (with dd1 in her second Mary role this week ) and will have trad Nativity, some carols/kids xmassy hymns and some simple stories and readings. very nice.

We are going to church on Christmas Day this year for the first time - lovely village church where we know everyone and will be very cosy and festive.

[hollyandlavenderwreath]

OnZephyrstdayofXmas I dunno..my sister and I used to go to Christmas Eve mass for years...no nativity but lots of carols played by instruments (us)...could you chat with your local vicar to find out the services?? btw really sorry your parcel hasn't arrived but have bits of material and will send it honestly!

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

no worries lav - plenty of time!

[milliways]

The Farm near us do a service in a barn with the animals all around in pens so restless children can pet them etc. It is all geared at the children with sketches etc & traditional carols. Our church do 'Carols on the Green' with soup & mince pies being distributed to keep people warm. Most churches send out leaflets advertising these days.

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

aww milliways that sounds brill! Where abouts are you??!

[milliways]

Reading

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

I lived in Reading all my life lol Have you been to the house in West Drive?

[milliways]

Not yet. Eldart Close off Dee Road is perfect for Kids as it is all pedestrianised and you have to walkaround - loads of houses all together all decorated - have you been there. The Farm is Rushall farm at Bradfield, 3pm & 5.30pm on Christmas Eve.

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

Haven't been to that one - we only discovered the house on West Drive last year - it's only a few minutes from my mums.... might have to convince dp to do the farm thing this year as well - it sounds really good

[milliways]

Wrap up warm if you do go! It gets very busy & muddy for the car parking but my children (9&13) are already planning on meeting friends there.

[AMerryScot]

We go to all the Christmas services apart from the midnight one.

This coming Sunday is the main one set aside for the Nativity in the C of E. A lot of churches, including ours, does a Seven/Nine Lessons and Carols in the evening (by candlelight).

Christmas Eve in the afternoon is a good time to take small children to a crib service. At our church, any child that wants to take part in the story can (we have lots of Marys etc.). It's pure chaos, but fun. And there's usually a little goody bag to take home.

If you don't normally take DD to church, I think the Crib service is a good one to go to. It's definitely designed for small children, and is a lot lower key than even the Sunday Nativity. It probably a lot shorter as well.

[dogwalkinginawinterwonderland]

A nice service to get to with the children is a Christingle service where the children get to hold oranges with candles in and sweets/raisins. My kids always used to enjoy these services .

[Santasluckylittlehelper]

We usually go to the Christingle one too. Its usually about 5.30 on christmas Eve at our church.

[Gobbledigoose]

We go to Crib and Christingle on Christmas eve - it's at 3.30pm and it's fab for the kids.

Don't go on Christmas day and actually haven't been to church as much as we should. We went last week to the family service where everyone brought a toy that were then distributed to some of the less fortunate children in the area. The vicar was fantastic with the children in the congregation and it really makes me want to go more.

[paolosgirl]

We usually go to the Carol service on Christmas Eve, but I'm not sure that we should, as we don't go the rest of the year. We both believe in God, and I personally think that it is important for ds and dd to go on Chrstmas Eve to be reminded of the reason of why we celebrate the day. However, I know that a lot of people and ministers don't like people just going on christmas eve, so I'm not sure what I should be doing really.

[zubb]

we have one on Christmas Eve were the children are all asked to dress up as shepherds or angels. Then they'll go on Christmas morning. Dh usually takes them, but I might go along to the Christmas Eve one.

[catinthehat]

paolosgirl - noooooooo!!! What you said made me really sad. Just go - honestly I'm one of those who loves seeing new faces. Don't miss out, it's a special time.

[OnZephyrstdayofXmas]

paolosgirl that was going to be my next question! We live in a small village and I knowthat everyone is welcome in the church but I was a little worried of being a bit of a hypocrit by only turning up for one day when it suits me - wondered if it might be a bit frowned on?!

[MarsselectionboxLady]

We've had our Christingle. We have Carols by Candlelight on Sunday, then on Christmas Eve we have a crib service. Christmas Day we have a service at 10am.

We go each week and will definitely continue to go over Christmas. It's a special time. We love it