A single grain of wheat lives only for its day, hugs closely to itself the husk of time’s decay; The grain that’s buried deep, though dying in the earth will generate new life, bring rising hope to birth. Refrain: The grain of goodness grows through thistle, weed and thorn, it chooses to see God in every creature born. It rises up through death, its field is want and war, the wheat is for the world to feed its soul once more. This grain will spend itself, its ego asks no price; the wheat becomes the bread of love and sacrifice. And where this bread will rise, where loaves are multiplied, becomes a place of joy with hungers satisfied. (Refrain)
All over creation, joy spills into light, stars, candles ablaze this Christmas night; where Jesus is sleeping, peace kisses the earth, O that we could know who Mary has brought to birth! This child will bring freedom, this child will release wellsprings of compassion, ways to peace, this child will bring healing, this child will inspire love answering love, and spirit to Spirit’s fire. This child will befriend us, this child will invite all children to share his world’s delight: this Christ will confront us when, children no more, we plunder our planet, crying from want and war. Let there be a moment held, as in one breath when all the earth turns away from death, peace nursing creation, peace spreading her wing, O that we could know what Christmas is meant to bring!
All who walk the Christian journey, search the Spirit and her call, all who honour faithful witness, celebrate God’s servant, Paul! Through the Word, truth be heard, hearts and minds to hope be stirred. All creation waits for freedom, still earth’s children raise this cry, groaning as in painful birthing, longing with unending sigh, all to be equal, free, one in full humanity. For in Christ no walls divide us, class or colour, nation’s pride, stigmas placed on genes or gender, status given or denied, but one mind Christ-defined welcomes all whom God designed. Neither life nor death will daunt us, powers of evil, powers of state separate us from that promise God in Christ let love create: flying free we can be agents for true liberty. Let the Spirit’s gifts be nourished, fruits that make the wine of peace, kindness that is kin to patience, faithfulness and joy’s release, love holds all, great and small, lasts, and never lets us fall. Let the vision and the courage lead us with unflinching will as the rising generations sing a faith unshaken still: through the Word, truth be heard, hearts and minds to hope be stirred!
As my feet walk the way, and I center my thought, let the curve of my path turn me inward to peace.
Away and in danger, no hope of a bed, the refugee children, no tears left to shed look up at the night sky for someone to know that refugee children have no place to go. The babies are crying, their hunger awakes, the boat is too loaded, it shudders and breaks; humanity’s wreckage is thrown out to die, the refugee children will never know why. Come close, little children, we hold out our hand in rescue and welcome to shores of our land— in *aroha, touching your fear and your pain, with dreams for your future when peace comes again. *Maori for ‘warm embracing love’ alternative line “in touching, in healing’
Because of the baby when Gabriel told her, because of the baby when Mary said “Yes!”, because of the faithful, the brave and the hopeful, still Christmas keeps coming to comfort and bless. Because of the baby the parents were suspect, because of the baby, just anyone’s guess, because there are children conceived without welcome, still Christmas keeps coming in tears and distress. Because of the baby, they camped in a stable, because of the baby, no classy address, because there’s poor justice for helpless or homeless, still Christmas keeps coming to stir and redress. Because of the baby King Herod was frightened, because of the baby great rulers played chess, because of the mitres and thrones that have tumbled, still Christmas comes close to the least and the less. Because of the baby the planets were dancing because of the baby the world became light, because in this child is the stardust made holy, will Christmas keep coming, and coming and coming till all is made joyful and peaceful and right!