Story: Pacific churches in New Zealand

Songs of joy

 Songs of joy

Dressed in white and wearing headscarves, Samoan Methodist Church members sing Christmas carols at the home of Grey Lynn Methodist Church pastor Ioane Tuupo on Christmas Eve in 2007. Every year choirs from the different congregations follow a circuit around the homes of church pastors to sing carols; they then receive a blessing before continuing to the next stop. The journey is seen as reminiscent of the three wise men's travel to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus. The choirs complete their circuit around 6 a.m. on Christmas Day, and then the weary singers go to church.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: 241207NZHDPCHURCH06.JPG
Photograph by Dean Purcell

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How to cite this page:

Cluny Macpherson, 'Pacific churches in New Zealand - History of Pacific churches', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26716/songs-of-joy (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Cluny Macpherson, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 10 Apr 2018