- ubu
Third Day of ubu Christmas: Our Christmas Poems and Prayers Competition
It’s our third day already of our Christmas competitions. Today’s theme is more contemplative with poems and prayers for this caring and sharing time of the year. We have received some beautiful entries which we know will inspire everyone.

Barbara lives with a lovely flat in Harrogate, enabled by ubu to live with more independence so that she can achieve the things she wants to do. “I go to Church every Sunday and have done for many years. It’s a very important part of my life. I often come back home after church and will say my prayers to my ubu enablers and tell them I have prayed for them. I’ve written this Christmas prayer with some help from my pastors wife, Vivianne.”

Emily from Newcastle sent her poem in to the competition beautifully decorated and hand written.

From Blackpool, we received a team poem written by people we serve and ubu enablers…

A Christmas tree story
December, the most wonderful time of the year.
The month I get to shine. Spread my branches and flash my baubles and sparkle.
11 months of the year I’m alone, in the dark not even a fairy to keep me company.
I feel forgotten and sad. Packaged up in the shed.
But December comes around.
The box is opened.
Festive fun begins.
The laughter starts.
Lights, tinsel . . . smiles!
The gifts pile up underneath me, I stand proud and majestic.
Mistletoe kisses, mince pies and mulled wine.
People singing carols and they hang my decorations.
Christmas cheer and festive sparkle.
December. Christmas time. My time.
Geoffrey from York sent in a brief reading from the Bible. He says "My Favourite part of Christmas is the Christian element. Almost every year on Christmas Day I give a reading out to my local church ‘St Edward the Confessor’. This is a video of me reading my favourite Bible Christmas verse."
Marcus and Ryan are ubu enablers at ubu’s Sovereign Mill service in Leeds sent us this Festive poem…
The night before Christmas in Sovereign Mill
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the service Not a person was stirring, and no one was nervous The stockings were hung in the service area with care, In hopes that Stella soon would be there. The people we serve were all snug in their beds, While dreams of presents pranced in their heads. And Dorothy in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, The dogs in the Hub all settled for a nap. When out on Harrogate Road there came such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Over to the window I flew like a flash, Opened my curtains and threw up the sash. The shape of Gavin having fallen in the snow The sound of howling laughter from people below. Then to my surprise what should appear, A miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a big jolly driver, so nimble and quick, It wasn’t Laura or Stella but good old St Nick. Like chuck running late down his deer came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the floor, to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Stephen lives in the North East and he sent in this beautiful little prayer to remind us how this celebration came about.
“It’s Christmas so eat drink and be merry.
But remember it is the Lord our saviours birth that we are remembering.
Bless us all this Christmas time. AMEN.”
From Knaresborough, near Harrogate, people we serve wrote a poem together…
Candles Burning in the Moonlit Sky
Children Dreaming of Christmas time
Bells are ringing
The choir singing
Angels in the sky
Oh Christmas Time, Christmas time is here again…
Merry Christmas.
Sarah from Leeds sent in this Christmas themed poem:
Two merry blue eyes
A very little nose
A long snowy beard
And cheeks like a rose
A round chubby man
A big bulging pack
Hoorah for old Santa
We’re glad he’s come back!

Our winning entry is a festive poem also from Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. A group of ladies who share a house together supported by ubu made this lovely video.