1. Welcome to Tea Time Church

2. Games

3. Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream

4. Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream.
Toys in the window that I’ve never seen.
This is the Christmas that everyone sees,
But Christmas means more to me.

5. It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream
It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
As I open the things that I get.
I’ll remember the inn and the stable so bare,
And Jesus who once lay there.

6. Everyone’s out shopping late every night,
Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream
Everyone’s out shopping late every night,
For candles and presents and Christmas tree lights.
This is the Christmas that everyone sees,
But Christmas means more to me.

7. It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream
It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
As I open the things that I get.
I’ll remember the inn and the stable so bare,
And Jesus who once lay there.

8. Christmas morning, the start of the day,
Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream
Christmas morning, the start of the day,
There’s presents to open and new games to play.
This is the Christmas that everyone sees,
But Christmas means more to me.

9. It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream
It’s somebody’s birthday, I won’t forget
As I open the things that I get.
I’ll remember the inn and the stable so bare,
And Jesus who once lay there.
Ian White
© 1987 Little Misty Music Ltd

10. Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream

11. A prayer of praise

12. Dear Lord, today as part of our service,
A prayer of praise
Dear Lord, today as part of our service,
We shall be decorating a Christmas tree.
Before we start, we take a moment to look at it.

13. Even if it is an artificial tree,
A prayer of praise
Even if it is an artificial tree,
It can still remind us of Your loving care.
You make everything that grows;
All kinds of plants and creatures;
Things that grow on land and in the sea;
Things that we see every day,
And things that haven’t been discovered yet;
You made it all, and You see it all, every single bit.

14. Amen Along with everything else, You made us too.
A prayer of praise
Along with everything else, You made us too.
Artificial trees come in boxes,
Hundreds of them the same;
But we are all different and special in Your eyes.
As the tree points up to the ceiling,
So help us to lift our praises to You,
Our wonderful God, our Lord and our Saviour.
Amen

15. A story
Who was Jesus' mother?

16. A story
Who was Jesus' father?

17. A story
Where was Jesus born?

18. Who were his first visitors?
A story
Who were his first visitors?

19. A story
Who else visited?

20. A story
What happened next?

21. Go and see

22. Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.

23. If Jesus had been born in a palace, It may have been really grand,
Go and see
If Jesus had been born in a palace,
It may have been really grand,
But the shepherds would have been kept away
And that wasn’t in God’s plan.

24. But Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.

25. If Jesus had been an earthly prince, It may have been really smart,
Go and see
If Jesus had been an earthly prince,
It may have been really smart,
But he wouldn’t have played with normal children,
He’d have been kept apart.

26. Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.

27. If Jesus had been a mighty king It may have been really great,
Go and see
If Jesus had been a mighty king
It may have been really great,
But the people would have been kept away
By the guards on the gate.

28. Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.

29. If you read right through the gospel You can are bound to see
Go and see
If you read right through the gospel
You can are bound to see
Jesus had time for everyone
That includes you and me.

30. Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.

31. Jesus was born in a place Where all could go and see.
Jesus lived among folk
People like you and me.
© John Hardwick

32. Go and see
The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

33. A craft

34. Tea

35. A band of angels

36. A band of angels (with echo) Singing and dancing Having a party
In the sky.
A band of angels
Having a great time:
I wonder why?

37. An angel came down and gave them all a fright. The sheep went ‘baa’
A band of angels
A load of lads,
A cold, cold night,
An angel came down and gave them all a fright.
The sheep went ‘baa’
The shepherds went white,
And then they saw an amazing sight!

38. A band of angels (with echo) Singing and dancing Having a party
In the sky.
A band of angels
Having a great time:
I wonder why?

39. The Saviour is born, this is what to do. In David’s town,
A band of angels
(The angel said)
‘Now don’t be afraid,
Have I news for you!
The Saviour is born, this is what to do.
In David’s town,
You’ll find Him there,
Lying in a manger without a care.’

40. A band of angels (with echo) Singing and dancing Having a party
In the sky.
A band of angels
Having a great time:
I wonder why?

41. And found baby Jesus lying in the hay. They worshipped Him
A band of angels
The shepherds left
Without delay,
And found baby Jesus lying in the hay.
They worshipped Him
And were full of joy
‘Cause they had been invited to see the special boy

42. A band of angels (with echo) Singing and dancing Having a party
In the sky.
A band of angels
Having a great time:
I wonder why?

43. A bunch of shepherds, (with echo) Had had a bad fright,
A band of angels
A bunch of shepherds, (with echo)
Had had a bad fright,
But what a great night it had become.
A bunch of shepherds,
But what a great night: ‘The King had come!’

44. A band of angels (with echo) Singing and dancing Having a party
In the sky.
A band of angels
Having a great time,
We all know why.
© John Hardwick

45. A band of angels
The Shepherd’s Fields, Bethlehem

46. Let’s decorate the tree

47. Prayers for others

48. Show us how best to use it.
Prayers for others
Lord, all time is Yours;
Show us how best to use it.

49. Prayer (by Amy Needham)
Dear God,
Thank you for the lovely family that we have. Please help the children that aren’t like us. Please give everyone lots of food.
Amen.

50. Show us how best to use it.
Prayers for others
We thank You, Lord, not just for our family at home, but for the church family gathered around us. At this busy time, show us how to make time for one another. As we enjoy ourselves, it’s hard to remember those for whom Christmas is not a happy time. May Your church be a place where all are valued and cared for.
Lord, all time is Yours;
Show us how best to use it.

51. Prayer (by Alexandra Cooper)
Dear God,
Help us on this day to think about these children in pain and all of the people who help them to live happier lives.
Amen

52. Show us how best to use it.
Prayers for others
We pray for all children who suffer at this time, whether from illness, or because of neglect. We pray for all charities, which, like Action for Children, work to help children and families have better lives. Be with them, and help them to keep trusting in You, even when times are difficult.
Lord, all time is Yours;
Show us how best to use it.

53. Prayer (by Sean Armstrong)
Dear God,
Help protect neglected children. Give them a safe place to stay and a respectful carer. Don’t let them get hurt through neglect. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

54. Show us how best to use it.
Prayers for others
We pray for charities like Childline, who are often the first to hear if children are in difficulties. Give them a listening ear, and show them how to respond.
Lord, all time is Yours;
Show us how best to use it.

55. Prayer (by Eva Turner)
Dear God,
Help us to remember to treat each other with respect and how we would like to be treated ourselves. Thank you for our lovely families.
Amen

56. Show us how best to use it.
Prayers for others
Lord, we pray for our own families at Christmas time; for those who will be with us, and for those who will be far away; for those too young to understand all the excitement, and for those who feel sad because of memories of those who are no longer with us. Help us to be patient with one another, and show us how we can put the love of Jesus at the heart of Christmas.
Lord, all time is Yours;
Show us how best to use it.

57. Prayer
Dear Lord,
Make sure all of the neglected children find a new and better home. Thank you to Action for Children for making it happen.
Amen

58. Prayers for others
We bring all these prayers to You, together with the prayer given to us by the one who said ‘Let the children come to me’; even Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen

59. Let the Christmas Tree remind you

60. Let the Christmas Tree remind you of the one who trusts the Lord,
Who walks the path of Godliness and loves to hear God's word.
Pray that as you grow up that just how you will be;
Standing tall for Jesus like a Christmas tree.

61. Let your faith grow, ho! ho! That everyone will know
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Let your love show, ho! ho!
Let your faith grow, ho! ho!
That everyone will know
Christ the King of Christmas!

62. Well let the fairy lights remind you of that bright and shining star,
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Well let the fairy lights remind you of that bright and shining star,
Spotted by the wise men who travelled from afar.
They gave Jesus all their treasures and they worshiped Him that night;
Let your worship of King Jesus shine like fairy lights!

63. Let your faith grow, ho! ho! That everyone will know
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Let your love show, ho! ho!
Let your faith grow, ho! ho!
That everyone will know
Christ the King of Christmas!

64. Well let the candy cane remind you of God's amazing grace;
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Well let the candy cane remind you of God's amazing grace;
Red - the blood of Jesus as He suffered in our place,
White - the full forgiveness won as Jesus rose again.
You can tell your friends the gospel with a Candy cane!

65. Let your faith grow, ho! ho! That everyone will know
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Let your love show, ho! ho!
Let your faith grow, ho! ho!
That everyone will know
Christ the King of Christmas!

66. Well let all the gifts at Christmas time fill your heart with praise.
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Well let all the gifts at Christmas time fill your heart with praise.
To God for all His goodness shown in O so many ways;
That everyday in everyway we‘d be completely His.
Give your life to Jesus as a Christmas gift!

67. Let your faith grow, ho! ho! That everyone will know
Let the Christmas Tree remind you
Let your love show, ho! ho!
Let your faith grow, ho! ho!
That everyone will know
Christ the King of Christmas!
Colin Buchanan
© 2005 Universal Music

68. Let the Christmas Tree remind you
The Deepings Methodist Church

69. Thank you for joining us at Tea Time Church
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