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Scroll down to see FULL LYRICS & RELATED RESOURCES.
We Welcome This Child:
On my way home from Adelaide after a music-tour, I heard from Madge (my wife) that a friend, Tom Hammerton, had made us a garden gate as a gift. Tom and his wife Jan had a new-born daughter, Kimberley, who was to be baptised soon. Perhaps I could make a special song for the occasion. The phrase that sprang to mind was "we welcome this child". As I drove eastward across the Hay plains, melody and lyrics took shape. A few days later, at the baptism, Tom, Jan, daughter Alexis and baby Kimberley were at the centre of a circle of family and friends singing the song. It became a kind of circle dance with appropriate gestures and movements. And the child Kimberley was welcomed into a loving community. That is the story of the song. May it be rejuvenated through new welcomings.
Recently, Br. Brian Cunningham emailed me to say that he has made good use of the song, not only for welcoming ceremonies, but also at Christmas, for welcoming the Christ Child.
**Please excuse occasional guitar-string squeaks in this recording!
lyrics
WE WELCOME THIS CHILD
We welcome this child in the circle of love
In the circle of love we welcome this child
Here in our heart is a home for you now .
We welcome this child to the heart of our world.
You're a new thread to weave in the fabric of life
One colour unique in the cloak of our life
God is the weaver, the pattern is grand
We welcome you child as the work of God's hand.
CHORUS: We welcome you child to our beautiful world
We give you the earth and the sea and the sky
We give you the sun and the moon and the stars
We welcome you child to the heart of our world.
Our life is a mystery, we puzzle away
AIl straining our ears to hear what we may
If the Universe gathered and spoke just one Word
You are flesh of that Word here today. CHORUS
We sing and we dance to the rhythm of life
The surge of the sea and the heartbeat of life
We move to the music however we go
We welcome you child to the dance and the song. CHORUS
You're a new light that shines in the cave of our fears
You move us to love and you drive us to tears
You are the hope of the ongoing world
We welcome you child as the light of our world. CHORUS
We welcome this child in the circle of love
In the circle of love we welcome this child
Here in our heart is a home for you now
We welcome this child to the heart of our world. CHORUS
Words and music by Peter Kearney
credits
released August 17, 2019
RELATED RESOURCES:
Available through Peter Kearney's Online Store. Follow the links.:
1. PDF MUSIC for the song 'We Welcome This Child’. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/566432
2. CD-ROM: The music book for the whole album 'The Common Good’ (We Welcome This Child + 11 other songs) is out of print. However, the 'book' it is still available as a cd-rom containing pdf scans of all book-pages + cover. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/554039
3. CD-AUDIO: The cd for the whole album 'The Common Good’ (We Welcome This Child + 11 other songs) is still available. Link: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356148
ARTWORK: CD cover artwork by Dorothy Woodward
RECORDED in Abergeldie Studio, Mittagong. Engineer: Kenny Miller.
Lead Vocals: Peter Kearney and Claire Parkhill.
Choir: Chris Anstiss, Helen Archer, Bob Bickle, Anne Donaldson, Chris Donaldson, Madge Kearney, Paul Kearney, John Markota, Christine Tilley, Heather Tromp
Guitar, Peter Kearney; Flute, Roma Dix.
Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are
internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice and peace, songs for children, and a musical-narrative on St. Francis of Assisi. His published recordings include 153 original songs.
LINKS BELOW are for Peter's:
- Website
- Online store
- Facebook Artist Page....more
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