The Combined Churches are holding a multicultural charity Christmas concert at the Basilica featuring songs from all nations.
The variety event will feature the Waitaki Valley Singers, with various other artists, including the Basilica’s own Father Fredy Permentilla, the Filipino and Tongan community, Julie Saraswati, Ray Walker, Jane Naish, Peter McMullan and Mari Williamson.
Event organiser Roseanne Sheridan said the artists had all generously donated their time and talent to bring the joy of Christmas into the lives of people.
"After all, this is the spirit of love and giving in Christ, that is Christmas,"she said.
All donations from the event will go to the Combined Churches Christmas Parcel Fund that provides groceries and gifts for those in need.
The Parcel Fund was coordinated by Combined Churches member Adrienne Wylie and her late husband Mark, from 2012 and in 2017 the Oamaru Combined Churches Parcel Trust was established.
The Trust aims to provide the makings of a Christmas dinner and a Christmas gift for each family member in need, and
and was chosen by the Waitaki Valley Singers choir as a "good cause" to support.
Mrs Sheridan, also a choir member, said they wanted to raise funds in hardship and provide a "lovely Christmas concert.".
"I know it is extremely difficult for people on benefits right now and so we wanted to support the Christmas Parcel Fund particularly."
The Waitaki Valley Singers’ is a women’s community choir with 18 singers who regularly perform at rest homes and various concerts at the Oamaru Heritage Celebrations and Christmas services in Kurow, Duntroon and Enfield.
Led by musical conductor and director Wendy Eckhardt, the group will sing a variety of songs including "A Hallelujah Christmas" with Cloverton lyrics by Leonard Cohen and "Night of Miracles", a classic Christmas cantata by John W Peterson.
Mrs Eckhardt said the singing group enjoys the "camaraderie" and entertaining its audiences.
"[Members] look forward to freely giving their time to contribute to any good and worthwhile causes that arise," she said.
Everyone is welcome and people are invited to dress in festive or national costumes. The Christmas Parcel Charity Concert is on Saturday, December 9, at 1.30pm, at the Oamaru Basilica, followed by afternoon tea.
