City Mission Singers dazzle at Carol Service

“Sing choir of angels, sing in exultation …”

The Cathedral was full for the Carol Service after being cancelled last year because of Covid.

 And sing our angels did – the City Mission Singers – who filled the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral with courage and songs on Wednesday evening.

It was a magnificent evening where all the hopes and dreams of trying something new in our traditional celebration came true.

Covid restrictions meant it had been two years since our last Carol Service and the Cathedral was full.

Into the cathedral strode a choir made up of men and women who had been cared for by the Mission, alongside volunteers and staff. The City Mission Singers wore a uniform of red T-shirts and badges with pride and they were here to give to others with their singing.

For weeks they had practised hard under tutor Zara Ballara to be the best they could on the night to sing the traditional carols of Christmas.  

City Missioner Corinne Haines and Greg celebrating the evening afterwards.

The audience of friends and supporters joined in the singing and our wider City Mission family felt wonderfully complete under the soaring A-frame beams of the transitional cathedral.

On a night of many highlights and ‘gulp’ moments, the biggest applause came for our very own three kings - Greg, Wayne and Thomas  - who walked to the front stage and sang solos.

Our three kings, Greg, Wayne and Thomas, were stars on the night.

It was a magical musical moment that shone with courage and commitment.

Earlier in the day Greg had been interviewed by Stuff and he told Christchurch how he felt a lot of joy giving something back to the community at this time of year, “especially because I know they have looked out for me since I've been there”.

The closing procession ended in the foyer area with hugs, congratulations, a few tears, and the dawning realisation we had all just seen something dramatically new and powerful in the relationship between the City Mission and the people we care for.

It was the perfect Christmas celebration. Read the Stuff video and story here.