‘A Christmas Carol’ Service
Illustration from Traidcraft’s ‘Madonna and Child’ Christmas card ref: 29962
This service is designed to be entertaining, with
a serious message, suitable for all ages and for
people who may not be regular church attenders.
There is no sermon – unless you want to have one
– because the message is in the dramas, prayers,
songs and readings.
It is based (very loosely) on Charles Dickens’ novel
‘A Christmas Carol’ with a ‘Scrooge’ character as
the narrator and it is, inevitably, split into three
sections: (1) The Ghost of Christmas Past, (2) The
Ghost of Christmas Presents and (3) The Ghost of
Christmas Yet to Come.
Above all, it should have the feel of a carol
service with a bit of a twist, designed to excite
people about making a difference in the world by
supporting fair trade.
Worship material devised by Helen Garton,
United Reformed Church.
‘A Christmas Carol’ Service
For this service you will need:
· One very good narrator who can act, use his voice so that it
follows the emotions of the dialogue and is comfortable interacting with the congregation so that they feel engaged with
what is being said. Make him look Victorian and as Scroogelike as possible, with an overcoat, scarf, fingerless mittens –
cane and top hat if you have them.
· For the second drama, ‘The Ghost of Christmas Presents’ you
will need a group of people, preferably with children who are
comfortable acting, dressed in nightwear, dressing gowns and
slippers; a decorated Christmas tree under which are five large
envelopes with cards inside containing the dialogue which
goes with the fairly traded ‘present.’ The final envelope and
card with the dialogue beginning ‘Your support for Traidcraft
…’ needs to be placed under the tree, separately from the
other four envelopes, so they don’t become confused.
· For the third drama, ‘The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come’ you
will need a large mirror.
· For the symbolic action, ‘This Christmas I will…’ you will need
large labels/gift tags with ribbons attached and pens for each
member of the congregation, plus some Traidcraft catalogues
for people to look at after the service.
· You might even want to set up a Traidcraft stall at the front/
back of the church, or where tea and coffee are served after
the service.
Part One: The Ghost of Christmas Past
Call to worship
Narrator:
A little over 2000 years ago, this announcement arrived
through the letter boxes in Bethlehem: “Mary and Joseph
would like you to join them in celebrating the safe arrival of
their beloved son, on 25 December, to the sound of angels
and archangels. (Parents, eh?!). His weight is... ‘the world
on his shoulders’. Mother and baby are doing fine. Happy
Hanukah (bit of artistic license there).” So let us join with
them in celebrating the coming of Christ into a world in
need of good news. Welcome!
Hymn: Of the Father’s love begotten…
Drama: The Ghost of Christmas Past
Narrator:
You’ll probably be familiar with my story. It’s a best seller:
translated into many languages and made into many a
film... some better than others, it has to be said! There have
even been musicals. You couldn’t really have a Christmas
without me. But before I go on, I’d better identify
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myself. My name is Scrooge, Ebenezer Scrooge – before
you imagine I’m the Christ-child! And, no, they didn’t
name chapels after me! Instead, my name has become
synonymous with everything that’s mean and stingy, cruel
and unkind, bitter and twisted.
Anyway, to you, for the purpose of this service, I’m your
Ghost of Christmas Past. I come from a bygone era when
employers could work their employees into the ground,
keep them shivering at their desks for want of warmth,
when their families could go hungry for want of a decent
wage, when they would have to beg for a day off – even
Christmas day. Fair trade? I’ll tell you about fair trade!
When I was alive, children worked down the mines and in
factories, for long hours, for little pay, without a health and
safety officer in sight. You might call it slavery – I called it
sound business! And my business was money, I’d make it
and I’d take it: the more I made, the more I wanted, and
if people suffered at my expense, so be it. Give it away?
Share what I had with others? – I would rather have died!
I was conceived in 1843, when Queen Victoria was on the
throne. No one here remembers her, do they? So my sins
were sins of a different generation, in a different time and
place... weren’t they? Nobody today works for anything less
than a decent wage, do they? Nobody starves to death in
this day and age? And no-one has to struggle like they did
in my day? Everyone gets treated fairly, surely? You’d think
so, wouldn’t you? Surely by now we have the resources and
the means to ensure that no-one goes to bed hungry, that
everyone has access to clean water to drink, that everyone
has a roof over their head? Of course! So why then do 1.7
billion people live in absolute poverty? Why are there are
over a billion people starving around the world?
I learnt my lesson long ago. God willing, this generation
will learn that lesson too. So that injustice becomes a
thing of the past. So that the words Mary spoke when she
discovered that she was carrying the Saviour of the world
will come true for each one of us.
Reading: Luke 1:26-35, 38
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Magnificat (to be said responsively)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
my spirit rejoices in God my saviour;
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
the almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him:
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm:
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones:
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things:
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel:
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers:
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son:
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now:
and shall be forever. Amen
Carol: O come, O come Immanuel
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
(you might like to use a sung version of the Kyrie for a response)
Merciful God we give you thanks
for the story tellers who tell us what life is like,
for the prophets who warn us what life could be,
for the Christ-child who came to show us the way
Response: Kyrie eleison
Merciful God have pity on those
who still live in slavery and servitude,
who sow while others reap the reward of their labours,
who go hungry while others feast at their expense
Response: Kyrie eleison
Merciful God we ask your forgiveness
for the sins of the generations that have gone before us,
for the sins of this generation,
for the sake of generations yet to come.
Response: Kyrie eleison
We ask all this in the name of the Christ-child.
Amen.
Carol: The race that long in darkness pined
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Part Two: The Ghost of Christmas Presents
Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
Carol: In the bleak mid-winter
Drama: The Ghost of Christmas Presents
Narrator:
Fast forward to Christmas Day… and there is a different ghost
watching over us… the Ghost of Christmas Presents. What
nonsense, you might say! Ah, but have you never thought about
the people who made your Christmas presents possible? Have
a look at this as we join a familiar scene on Christmas Day. Our
happy family wake up and head straight towards the gifts left
under the Christmas tree…
All:
[scramble towards the tree… and the presents, saying to each
other:] Morning! Happy Christmas!
Adult 1:
Let’s see what we’ve got…
Teenager:
… and how much of it is going to go in the ‘unwanted Christmas
presents auction’ at church!
Child:
That sounds a bit ungrateful.
Adult 1:
It was alright for you, you did alright last year! All I got was the
customary socks and handkerchiefs.
Teenager:
Yeah I got money – but only because no-one knew what
to buy me!
Adult 2:
And I got perfume/aftershave because it was on special offer.
I took it back and exchanged it for the perfume/aftershave I
actually wanted… and I had to pay the extra.
Adult 1:
So this year, we have decided to do things differently
(producing four large envelopes and handing them to the other
characters – not including the Narrator – and keeping one
themself).
Teenager:
Oooh! Looks like money! What a good idea! I’m more than happy
to spend your money on something I want.
Adult 2: Actually, we spent our money on something other people need.
Teenager:Uh?
Child:
Can we actually open these things, or are they part of the
Christmas decorations?!
Adult 1:
Go on, cheeky, let’s see what you’ve got.
Child:
This one is from Mr and Mrs Sumi and Akhil Kha who
grow jute in Bangladesh. What’s jute?
Adult 2:
(explaining) It’s a really versatile plant which can be
used in all sorts of ways. The stems get spun into coarse,
strong threads which can be used to make twine and
rope. It’s one of the most affordable natural fibres and
it’s second only to cotton in the amount produced.
Child:
Well, anyway, it says that Sumi and Akhil Kha are being
helped by the Golden Fibre project run by Traidcraft,
to cultivate good quality jute and sell it for a fair price.
This is enabling them to save a little money in order to send
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their children to school. After hearing about the people
in the UK who support Traidcraft and the role they play
in helping valuable development work, Akhil had this
message: “I am very happy that some people are giving
money outside our country, so I give great thanks to those
people.”
Teenager:
Woah! Let’s see what I’ve got. (opening the envelope)
OK, this one is from Imarat Khan, who works on a
demonstration plot to encourage local farmers to
grow their own seeds, rather than buy them from
abroad. He says: “The seeds are provided by the Golden
Fibre project. The germination is so good, and all the
farmers are also seeing that I was trying to make them
understand that my cultivation was so good.” The lack of
quality seed is one of the problems faced by jute farmers
and the demonstration project is creating a lot of interest
among his neighbours. How about you guys?
Adult 1:
(opening the envelope) This one is from Abu Bakkar Molla
who has joined a savings scheme through the Golden Fibre
project. There are 30 of them in the group and they’re
planning to buy communal equipment which they can all
use, to save money on renting equipment. And by making
changes to his farming practices he hopes to provide for
his children. He says: “I was not able to give my children a
proper education because of financial problems and now
there is no time to send them to school, so I am planning
for my sons to be involved more and more in the jute
growing.”
Adult 2:
(opening the envelope) And mine is from Mohammed
Nazrul who saw how his neighbouring farmers were
benefitting from being part of the Golden Fibre project
and decided to join himself. He has put the training he
received from the project to good use and it has enabled
him to make enough money to carry out necessary
repairs to his house and to send his daughters to school
to receive a good education.
Teenager:
(picks up another large envelope from under the tree)
There’s a card here addressed to all of us. Open it up
(hands it to the Child character).
Child:
It says: “Your support for Traidcraft is making a real
difference to the lives of the people who are benefitting
from projects like the Golden Fibre. It is enabling them
to pay for things that we take for granted and to build
a better future for their families and their communities.
Thank you.”
Teenager:
You did this, didn’t you?
Adult 1:
We thought we’d do it differently this year and buy
presents which are really going to make a difference, not
just to us, but to the lives of people around the world.
Adult 2:
And, hopefully, help us to stop and think about what
Christmas is really all about.
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Carol: Love came down at Christmas
Prayers of Intercession
In this season of Advent,
As we look forward to Christmas,
Fill us with the desire to change
Wanton commercialism into fair trade,
That the hungry may be filled with good things.
We pray for those who struggle to make a living...
In this season of Advent
As we look forward to Christmas,
Fill us with the courage to challenge
Systems and structures which keep people poor,
That those in power might be lifted from their thrones.
We pray for those who speak out for justice...
In this season of Advent
As we look forward to Christmas,
Fill us with longing and commitment
To transform despair and apathy into real change
For the millions trapped in poverty.
We pray for the work of Traidcraft...
Carol: O little town of Bethlehem
Part Three: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Drama: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Narrator:
Let me introduce you to our final guest, the Ghost of
Christmas Yet to Come
(Holds up a mirror and takes it around the congregation.
Take care not to linger over anyone in particular, as some
people might find this rather uncomfortable)
Look familiar to you? Take a good hard look, because this
person in the mirror can change the world we live in. This
person can make the world a fairer place. This person can
challenge injustice. This person can bring about peace. This
person can make the Kingdom of God a reality.
Because this person celebrates the coming of the Christchild every year. Because this person on their own can
do their bit, through their shopping basket, through
their prayers, through campaigning. Add this person to
this person (moving the mirror from face to face)… and
this person… and this person… and suddenly you have a
movement of people, followers of Christ, who believe that
things can be better.
Symbolic Action: This Christmas I will…
Narrator:
You all have a label/gift tag and a pen. You’ll see that it
says: ‘This Christmas I will...’ and there’s a space for you to
complete the sentence. So I invite you to make a difference
to the world by making one simple change to your life and
to write that one thing in the space. You might think about
switching your daily cuppa to fairtrade tea, or start the day
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with fairtrade cereal, or switch to fairtrade chocolate, pasta,
rice, oil – even toilet paper and tissues. Or, while there are
still a few shopping days till Christmas, how about leafing
through the Traidcraft catalogue to pick up a few present
ideas – or you could support Traidcraft with a donation or
by buying a Gift for Life!
Take a moment as we sing the next two carols and then,
when you have written your promise on the label/tag, bring
it to the front and tie it to the Christmas tree.
Carol: Every star shall sing a carol
Carol: It came upon the midnight clear
Collection on behalf of Traidcraft
Prayer of Dedication
Bless the gifts given,
the promises made,
and the lives changed,
all for the sake of your kingdom.
Amen
Song: Cloth for the cradle
Dismissal:
Let us pray:
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful,
The One of infinite wisdom, knowledge and power,
Who only has to say the word:
Be!’ and it could be,
‘Go!’ and it could be achieved,
‘Love!’ and we could be healed,
Have mercy on us
as we strive to act justly,
show your compassion,
and walk in the ways of righteousness.
Be amongst us as we meet,
Be with us as we leave,
And let your love guide us at all times.
Amen.
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Other things your church can do
Sell fair trade
products in church
It’s so easy to get your
church family involved in a
variety of ways. Go to
www.traidcraft.co.uk/churches
to find out how.
Buy fair trade
Photo: Martin
Avery
Use fair trade
at church
Choosing to buy fair trade
products is easy in itself but it
also says something important
about our values, principles
and the sort of world we want
to live in and pass on to our
children.
Using fair trade tea, coffee
and sugar in your church is
a must! It puts into practice
Jesus’ imperative to love
the poor in a practical,
everyday way.
Photo: Martin Avery
Campaign for
trade justice
Worship
with
Traidcraft
Campaigning is a key
way to live out your faith.
As 1 John 3:18 says “My
children, our love is not
just to be words or mere
talk, but something real
and active.”
At Traidcraft, we recognise the
importance of worship. We
provide information to help our
supporters to include Traidcraft
in your worship and staff are
invited to include worship in their
working week.
Photo: Simon Rawles
When you use these resources,
please take up a special offering
to support Traidcraft’s work.
Collection envelopes and boxes are
available from 0191 497 6445.
For more information and resources go to www.traidcraft.org.uk/churchresources
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Sumi Kha
Photo: GMB Akash
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Photo: GMB Akash
Jute seeds
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Abu Bakkar Molla
Photo: GMB Akash
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Photo: GMB Akash
Mohammed Nazrul and his family
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Photo: GMB Akash
Rupa, Abu Bakkar Molla’s daughter
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