No peace on earth in little town of Bethlehem

On Christmas morning and I turned on BBC 1 to find my favourite carol being sung amazingly well.

I first learned O Little Town of Bethlehem in the Canongate Kirk of my youth and particularly relished singing it year after year until my retirement with huge congregations in South Leith Parish Church.

But this experience was wondrous, as could never have been imagined then. All the participants were singing, swaying and even dancing to the traditional tune, here played with a verve that at first to the Presbyterian mind-set seems unrestrained, but yet is undeniably disciplined – and also impelling me to join in singing the unforgettable words.

But, dear God, to find one - self singing of the little town of Bethlehem must bring a lump to the throat of all of us these days! Even back then, under the ruthless rule of Rome and Herod, "how still we see thee lie" did not last long for the baby Jesus.

And to day, when we have seen the skyline over the shepherds' fields dominated by illegal settlements whose pumps suck up the water that the shepherds' livelihoods depended on, we just cannot escape the realisation that the new normal there is no way to peace on earth. What do Palestinians today think of our nostalgic singing when their reality is to be confronted by an insurmountable wall and weapons at the ready, while Christian singers do nothing effective about their suffering and inability to earn a living and to be free? Bah, humbug?

How glad I am that an onchurch friend has sent me –with permission to quote –new words written by Penny Stone of Porto bell of or O, Come All Ye Faithful: "All who care for justice . . . Sing in indignation . . . O come let's not ignore Him!"

(REV) JACK KELLET, Dyers Close, Innerleithen