05 January 2012, 0:05

The twelfth day

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me twelve drummers drumming.

To live as people of faith is to walk to a different drum from the majority of our society. Take time today to reflect on what it means for you to follow Jesus, and as the new year gets going, invite the Spirit to lead you into new paths of discipleship this year.

04 January 2012, 0:05

The eleventh day

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me eleven pipers piping.

Music is one of the aspects of life that takes us beyond ourselves. Take some time today to enjoy music somehow – make it, play it, share it. Let it move you out of your normal routine – and invite the Spirit to meet you in the movement.

03 January 2012, 0:05

The tenth day

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me ten lords a-leaping.

There is energy in the behaviour of the peers – and, the reminder of those who give energy to our legislation and the care of our community. Pray today for those who give their energy to the running of our and other societies. Ask God to give them wisdom and integrity.

02 January 2012, 0:05

The ninth day

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me nine ladies dancing.

To dance is to celebrate. What do you want to celebrate today? Then do it. And thank God for what makes life good.

01 January 2012, 0:05

The eighth day

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me eight maids a-milking.

Milk is one of the foods that nourishes infants. Today, take some time to ‘nourish’ a child – or an adult who needs parenting, perhaps even yourself. And seek out a charity that supports children and give a gift.

31 December 2011, 0:05

The seventh day

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me seven swans a-swimming.

The church behind this writing is a Baptist one. We practise believers’ baptism by full immersion. It’s not quite swimming, but it is very wet. Part of what we are showing and undertaking in such a rite is the completeness of discipleship that we aim for. Take some time today to reflect on the areas where your life in God is deeply rooted and lived out, and to ask where it might grow deeper and show more fully in the way you live.

30 December 2011, 0:05

The sixth day

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me six geese a-laying.

The geese are laying eggs, one of the foods we depend on for nourishment and flourishing. There may well have been a lot of food in your last few days – there often is for most of us at this time of year. And sometimes too much means we lose awareness of it. Today, take time to select something you enjoy eating, and savour it, giving thanks as you do. And find a way of sharing what you have with somebody.

29 December 2011, 0:05

The fifth day

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me five gold rings.

When youngsters are learning to play the piano, before they get to scales, they learn the five-finger exercise, to make their hands mobile and flexible – a practice that needs repetition to keep hands in good practice.

Today, take five minutes, and ‘practise’ a form of prayer you are not flexible in – if you usually pray for others, take the time to give thanks; if giving thanks is your normal form of prayer, spend the time in confession. If you usually pray in quiet, sing. If you are usually still, go for a walk. Exercise new muscles.

28 December 2011, 0:05

The fourth day

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four calling birds.

Today, we are focusing on the four corners of the world; Take five minutes, and pray for those places and parts of the world about which you hear stories that disturb or grieve. Pray for peace and justice.

27 December 2011, 0:05

The third day

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me three French hens.

For Christians, the number three often brings us into contemplation of the Trinity. But let’s do something different. Today, take five minutes to list three people who have helped you to know delight in life. Say thank you.

26 December 2011, 0:05

The second day

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two turtledoves.

The Jewish philosopher Martin Buber explored the ways in which being human is rooted in I-Thou relationships – our capacity to treat other people as subjects, as ‘thous’ rather than objects – ‘its’. And fundamentally, Jesus’ birth is God treating us all, each, as thou and not it.

Take five minutes today to enjoy somebody who treats you as a thou. Thank them – and thank God for them.

25 December 2011, 0:05

The first day

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.

One gift for the first day. Today, take five minutes and focus on one word that sums up, for you, what it means that Jesus has been born – perhaps it’s peace, or joy, or love. Spend the five minutes giving thanks for this one thing that God gives us in this birth.

18 December 2011, 13:41

The Twelve Days of Christmas is now known mainly from the carol, with its increasingly daft and meaningless gifts that emerge as the lover woos his love. My favourite take on it is John Julius Norwich’s thank you letters, which get increasingly frantic and end with… but I won’t spoil it. If you don’t know it, you can read it here.

There are all sorts of theories put forward about the meaning of the song, and indeed the context in which it might have been written. But what is clear is that nobody really knows.

The twelve days are often treated now as the twelve days leading up to Christmas Day, but originally the term referred to the twelve days between Christmas day and Epiphany; the day when the Magi reputedly arrived at the stable.

Kept as a feast in medieval times, the Twelve Days of Christmas were originally a spiritual period. And despite the madness of the gifts and the chaos of the story in the famous carol, what we offer you here is a Twelve Days of Christmas series of practices that will help us reconnect with ourselves and God after the delightful but demanding busyness of Christmas Day itself. And just for fun, we will use the structure of the song to guide us through.

Check back here each day, starting on Christmas Day, for an action to take on each of the twelve days.

Photo: Andrea Schaufler