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Original poster

Christmas Day church service

19 replies

BarbaraLoganPrice · 13/12/2021 10:40

Hello!
Just wondered if anyone could give me a bit of advice please.
DC and I don't practise any religion but open minded. I'd really like to take them to a church service on Christmas day as we've been trying to put more focus on what Christmas is supposed to be about and away from the commercial side of it. Unfortunately we are busy Christmas Eve (and they are too little to attend the midnight one) so no opportunity to go to the Crib Service, which I've been told is very child friendly and lots of carols and stories. I'm really sad we won't make it so will go next year.
But this year I thought we could go to the one Christmas Day morning, there is one at our local church that I've looked up online. It says "The Parish Mass for all the family" but could someone please just reassure me that this will be child friendly? Is it a very solemn, full on mass or is it similar to Crib Service?
I'm sorry for sounding so naive I don't know who to ask, feel silly emailing the church itself, but I wanted to take them to something happy and cheerful and not sure if that is the right one.
Thank you

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 13/12/2021 10:46

Mass suggests to me a Catholic Church and communion will be given. It does say for all the family so I'm sure you are all welcome.

Fir a first taste of Church at Christmas I would look for a Christingle service, a crib service, a family service, a carol service, a messy church, Nativity, a Christmas Worship etc.... Look as well at what's on Boxing day - with that being a Sunday there may be more choice.

NannyR · 13/12/2021 10:52

A lot of churches are doing their christingle services on the weekends leading up to christmas, you might be able to find one this weekend instead of Christmas eve.

Kite22 · 13/12/2021 10:57

I agree with both previous posts.

Generally, I would look around all the local Churches to see what is happening this weekend, that's when many of the Nativity services / Crib Services / Join in services for children etc will be.

Or, contact the Church and ask. At my Church the Christmas Day morning service is very child friendly (people are asked to bring something to 'show' that Father Christmas has brought them) and it tends to be a very short and family orientated service, but that doesn't mean it is anywhere else.

horseymum · 13/12/2021 11:05

Our Christmas day service is short, a few carols and a short talk. We would definitely welcome people who have never been to church before, it's a lovely way to press pause during a busy Christmas day. You wouldn't be expected to be quiet etc. Maybe message the church? Our nativity and carol services are this weekend so that might be an option too.

FindMeInTheSunshine · 13/12/2021 11:16

I agree it's very dependent on the church, but "Mass" usually implies less child friendly in my experience. In my parish (C of E) we have three churches. I'd say one would not be child friendly at all (long service, lots of choral singing without the congregation joining in), one is not particularly child friendly and one will likely be very child friendly - that is advertised as "All age Communion: A shorter Christmas communion service for all".

"Mass" means there will be a communion part of the service, which is often less accessible to people who don't regularly go to church, although it's a very spiritual experience for many to come up to the communion rail for a blessing, which is an option in most churches. I think it's part of the "C of E rules" that the church should have a communion service on an important day like Christmas day, so almost all C of E churches will have that, but some will do it in a more child friendly way than others!

NannyR · 13/12/2021 11:21

I think it's part of the "C of E rules" that the church should have a communion service on an important day like Christmas day, so almost all C of E churches will have that, but some will do it in a more child friendly way than others!
Many churches get round this by having a midnight communion service - we do, then we have an informal family worship service on Christmas morning.

languagelover96 · 13/12/2021 11:39

You could do your own version. A few carols, some prayers, a poem and festive music etc. You could even do a festive quiz as well. Candy canes could be displayed on a bowl on the table too. In terms of other activities, a wordsearch might do. You could hand out free activity sheets at the start of the service. A talk of some kind may also work wonders in addition. Email the church to find out more.

Original poster
BarbaraLoganPrice · 13/12/2021 13:09

Thank you everyone for the replies Smile

We are busy Boxing Day but I will have a look and see what's on this weekend, hopefully there will be some carol services on as DC's school have cancelled theirs due to Covid. So it would be nice to see some to make up for it.
Will also email the church!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 13/12/2021 17:41

@FindMeInTheSunshine I don't think the C of E has any official rules about it. My parents church is not having a service
On Christmas morning. The first time I've ever heard of them
Not doing it. As An RC I find it bizarre that there isn't one!

Tiggles · 13/12/2021 18:41

I am advertising a child friendly communion and it will be fairly child friendly.
Lots of interaction, child friendly talk rather than a sermon, asking the kids to show what they got for Christmas etc.
But it might depend on the church.

FindMeInTheSunshine · 13/12/2021 19:24

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@FindMeInTheSunshine I don't think the C of E has any official rules about it. My parents church is not having a service
On Christmas morning. The first time I've ever heard of them
Not doing it. As An RC I find it bizarre that there isn't one![/quote]
I was curious enough to double check as I was sure I'd heard this spouted by priests in the past! Sure enough, Canon law B14:

The Holy Communion shall be celebrated in at least one church in each benefice or, where benefices are held in plurality, in at least one church in at least one of those benefices at least on all Sundays and principal Feast Days.....

And Christmas is a Feast Day. Pretty sure not all priests abide by that rule though Smile

CraftyGin · 13/12/2021 19:41

We have a family service, followed by a short service of Holy Communion after a five minute break. It works for visitors and those with frantic schedules.

speakout · 14/12/2021 14:33

we've been trying to put more focus on what Christmas is supposed to be about

Which is what exactly?

Original poster
BarbaraLoganPrice · 14/12/2021 16:23

@speakout

we've been trying to put more focus on what Christmas is supposed to be about

Which is what exactly?

Aside from the obvious religious celebration, which one of my DC has expressed some interest in, I want to show them that it's not just about receiving presents and tat in the shops. I'm sorry you aren't aware of what it's about yourself. Maybe you could do some of your own research.
OP posts:
speakout · 14/12/2021 16:39

I'm sorry you aren't aware of what it's about yourself. Maybe you could do some of your own research.

That's a huge assumption- do you mean to be so rude?
You have no idea what christmas means to me.

TeacupDrama · 14/12/2021 16:46

lots of churches will be having the nativity type service this sunday (19th) some churches have carols by candlelight earlier on christmas eve say 6pm others have it at midnight which is obviously too late with little kids that might be up by 6am!!

ShortDaze · 14/12/2021 16:55

Locally, I know of several Christingles and a couple of 9 lessons and carols services (with candles) over the next few weeks. It would be worth looking for those on church websites, or maybe ask your local WhatsApp group, if you have one, as someone on there will know what’s on locally.

CraftyGin · 14/12/2021 19:08

We pretty much have our standard set of Advent/Christmas services and concerts, but with social distancing and YouTube.

As a church warden, it has been pretty full on this year.

Kite22 · 14/12/2021 19:14

I don't think @BarbaraLoganPrice was being rude at all - just replying to your odd comment above, @Speakout
I should imagine you know very well what she means and the way your comment came across was as trying to start an argument on a thread where a poster is just asking for a bit of guidance.

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