Wesley Methodist Church Christmas Music:

- NZ carols, black gospel and rock

Robbie Robertson’s ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight’, as sung by the Band (Dylan’s one-time backing group) is played on the two live shows, 1 and 8 December, 10 am to 10.30 am. Carols from the Staple Family’s classic Christmas set, The 25th Day of December, are shared. And peace carols from NZ’s own Shirley Erena Murray highlight how the birth story of Jesus speake eloquently for Jerusalem and the Middle East region in 2015! Presenter John Thornley will read the words of Shirley’s ‘Peace Child’ before it is played:

Peace Child,

in the sleep of the night,

in the dark before light

you come,

in the silence of stars,

in the violence of wars –

Saviour, your name.

(2) Peace Child,

to the road and the storm,

to the gun and the bomb

you come,

through the hate and the hurt,

through the hunger and the dirt –

bearing a dream.

(3) Peace Child,

to our dark and our sleep,

to the conflict we reap,

now come.

Be your dream born alive,

held in hope, wrapped in love:

God’s true shalom.