Here’s a bit of festive fun for after Christmas. An instant all-age service for Boxing Day or the first Sunday after Christmas – it’s easy, accessible, and encourages us to rejoice in the ordinary blessings of everyday. It could also be used for American Thanksgiving.
I’ve included the words in full so that you don’t have to type them out for a powerpoint or however you do your song words. Perhaps you could include photos of people from your congregation holding / wearing / eating the various items.
The Reflectionary will be taking a couple of weeks off now, so that I can watch naff Christmas movies with my children and eat too much chocolate. I’ll be back on Jan 3rd.
Thank you all very much for being with me throughout the year and may God bless you richly this Christmas and into 2022!
(If you find these resources useful, please consider donating. I don’t get paid for doing this and my kids keep growing no matter how much I tell them not to. But don’t worry if you can’t afford to. You are welcome to help yourself for free. I’m just glad you’re here. xx)
The Twelve Thanks of Christmas
Today we give thanks for good gifts, both of those of Christmas and the ordinary treasures of every other day. We remember that contentment lies not in having all that we want, but in wanting what we already have. Jesus put it like this: life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:15).
So today we rejoice in the simple gifts of friends and family, with gratitude for the ordinary, and celebrating with this festive (if slightly silly) song.
To the tune of A Partridge in a Pear Tree, we will list things to be thankful for, starting with the Christmas classics – scarf and gloves, and a hat with a bobble on top. Who has those, either for Christmas or you had them anyway? (hands up) Great. When we sing those lines, I’d like you to stand up, please. Everyone else can sing sitting down.
Let’s have a go.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
and a hat with a bobble on top.
Excellent! Next, instead of two turtle doves, we have two fluffy socks. Who has those? (hands up) You can stand up when we sing about the socks, and then sit down, and anyone with the hat with a bobble on top can stand for the last line. You see how it goes?
So that would be
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
Brilliant. I think we’re ready for the whole thing. Here are the verses, so that you are ready when your turn comes. Wave a hand if you have:
- bath bombs, (that will be number three)
- reading books,
- Toblerone,
- scented candles,
- home-made goodies, (something that someone made for you – could be anything)
- cosy slippers,
- chocolate oranges,
- Christmas jumpers,
- fancy biscuits and finally, twelve
- Argos vouchers (or gift vouchers of your choice).
Here we go!
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
eight cosy slippers
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
nine chocolate oranges
eight cosy slippers
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
ten Christmas jumpers
nine chocolate oranges
eight cosy slippers
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
eleven fancy biscuits
ten Christmas jumpers
nine chocolate oranges
eight cosy slippers
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
I’m grateful to God that I have a scarf and gloves
twelve Argos vouchers
eleven fancy biscuits
ten Christmas jumpers
nine chocolate oranges
eight cosy slippers
seven home-made goodies
six scented candles
five Toblerones
four reading books
three bath bombs
two fluffy socks
and a hat with a bobble on top.
The Reflectionary 