After a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession and ... May your blessing be upon all who gather around this tree, all who keep the Christmas festival by its lights.

Lord hear my prayer ... (Sprinkles tree with holy water.) Then the family can sing a song, an Advent carol, if it knows one, then it is time to bless the crib and eat Christmas Eve supper.

She said: "Christmas can be a rather difficult time. "There is a prayer tree but some people have also put labels on trees for lost loved ones who they want to be remembered in a special way." ...