Written by the team behind Puzzlify. Puzzlify is our product, so weigh what follows with that in mind. We've tried to make this useful even if you never use it. We're not affiliated with any church, denomination, diocese, school, nursery, retailer or community organisation.
In many churches, the busiest service of the year isn't midnight mass. It's the crib service on Christmas Eve afternoon, when the building fills with young families, grandparents and children in tea towels and tinsel. Some churches tell the Christmas story with a few figures placed in the crib one by one; others let the children dress up and act it out with very little rehearsal. Either way, a small team makes it happen, often while juggling their own family Christmas. This short guide is about thanking them.
Below are a few ideas, plus an honest view of when a photo puzzle fits and when it doesn't.
What running a crib service involves
Every church is different, but the work usually includes:
- planning a short, simple order of service that young children can follow
- choosing carols everyone knows, and checking the musician is free
- sorting the dressing-up box: tea towels, dressing gowns, tinsel halos, cardboard crowns
- deciding which child carries which figure, and having spares for latecomers
- finding a doll for the manger, or unwrapping the crib figures early
- printing service sheets with big type and pictures
- setting out extra chairs, cushions and space for buggies
- welcoming families who have never been to church before
- tidying up the hay, the tinsel and the lost mittens afterwards
Why a thank-you matters
The congregation sees a lovely half hour and a lot of happy children. They don't see the evenings spent ironing tea towels, the last-minute search for a third wise man, or the calm voice at the front when a shepherd bursts into tears. The crib service team often gives up the most precious afternoon of their own Christmas to make someone else's.
When to say it
The Sunday after Christmas is a natural moment, or Epiphany, when the wise men finally reach the crib. A mention in the notices, a card or a note in the parish magazine is usually all that's needed.
Photos that work well
- the crib with all its figures in place after the service
- a row of tea towel headdresses and tinsel halos on a pew
- the dressing-up box open on the vestry floor
- the church full of candlelight and buggies before the service starts
- a hand-made star on a pole, ready to lead the procession
- a pile of service sheets with a child's drawing on top
Photos of the crib, the costumes and the building usually work better than close-ups of children. If you'd like to include any people, especially children, ask their parents or carers first and follow your church's photography policy.
Choosing a piece count
| Pieces | Good for |
|---|---|
| 24 | a quick puzzle on a phone, or one to solve with a child |
| 48 | a few minutes over a cup of tea |
| 80 | someone who likes a gentle challenge |
| 130 | a full church lit up on Christmas Eve |
| 252 | a long evening, best on a tablet |
A close-up of the crib figures suits 24 or 48. A wide photo of the church full of candles is lovely at 80 or 130. If the team leader has grandchildren, 24 pieces is something they can solve together.
Note examples
- "Thank you for a crib service nobody will forget, including the sheep who wandered off."
- "Every tea towel ironed, every halo found. Thank you."
- "You made a church full of strangers feel welcome on Christmas Eve."
- "Thank you for giving up your Christmas Eve afternoon for ours."
- "The baby got to the manger in the end. Thank you for keeping calm."
What it costs, plainly
The preview is free, so you can see how it looks before deciding anything. Publishing the link costs one credit (€3.99), or less per puzzle with a bundle. It's a digital puzzle, not a printed or cardboard one. The recipient doesn't need an account or an app; they open the link and your note appears when the last piece goes in. One puzzle sent to the whole team can work well. If a card is enough, it is.
Ideas that are not a puzzle
- a thank-you in the notices on the Sunday after Christmas
- a card with drawings from the children who took part
- a box of chocolates or mince pies for the vestry
- new tea towels or a fresh set of halos for next year
- offering to do the tidy-up so the team can get home sooner
- a note in the parish magazine with the number of families who came
Where Puzzlify fits
Puzzlify turns a personal photo into a private digital jigsaw that you send as a link. It isn't a printed puzzle, and it isn't a public puzzle board: only the people you send it to can open it. It's one option among many, and it works best when the photo means something to the person receiving it. Please don't confuse it with puzzlify.io, Puzzlit, Puzzly or Puzzify, which are different things.
If a photo puzzle feels right as well, choose the finished crib, the row of halos or the candlelit church, pick a piece count that suits them, and write your note. You can make one here.
Written by the small team behind Puzzlify (info@puzzlify.app). Not legal, religious, liturgical, safeguarding, child photography, data protection, privacy, photography permission or gift policy advice.