White Wine in the Sun

Song: ‘White Wine in the Sun’ by Tim Minchin

This may seem a strange song to choose from a Christian perspective. After all, the comedian Tim Minchin who wrote and sings it is well known not only as being atheistic in his beliefs but also someone who strongly criticises, mocks and berates the church, religion and Faith – which he also does in this song!

The song, though, whilst inherently funny and part of the comedian-singer’s stage routine, is also filled with emotion, longing and love with family and home at its heart. He connects with Christmas in his own way, and even connects with some aspects of the Christian Faith – even if he goes on to taunt and tease it!

However, if we can take some of his sentiment and lyrics on the chin and learn to laugh at ourselves, the song can also help us to engage with the realities of how the Christian Faith is viewed by some, which can lead to important observations and dialogue.

Anyway, enough of all this! There will be time to talk and reflect soon, so let’s listen to the song!

The song is featured in the stage show recorded for the video ‘Tim Minchin: ‘Ready for This’ recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.  The proceeds of this song have historically been donated by Tim Minchin to autism research.

Lyrics: You can find the Lyrics at: https://genius.com/Tim-minchin-white-wine-in-the-sun-lyrics

Is the song familiar or unfamiliar to you?

What were your immediate thoughts?

How does this song make you feel?

Here are some areas for discussion. There are far too many here for one session, so just take your pick!

  • Tim Minchin sings of the commercialisation of Christmas.  How does this commercialisation make you feel? What role do we play in it? What do we think is good? What do we think is bad? What challenges are there? What opportunities are there?
  • “It’s sentimental I know.” In what ways do we and others get sentimental about Christmas? How does Christmas make us feel? Is it painful for some? Do Christians make Christmas sentimental? How do the sentiments of this song help us to think about how we can engage and connect with people at Christmas and throughout the year?
  • Much of the imagery and symbolism of Advent and Christmas (light, darkness, warmth, cold, survival and salvation, etc) is coloured by our experience in the Northern Hemisphere with the season of Winter. How does this change for the experience of those who live elsewhere and will be celebrating Christmas with “white wine in the sun?” What images do we get from the Bible that connect with the season in which we celebrate? (Isaiah 9:2)
  • From the song, what are the criticisms of Christianity? How do we feel about them? In what ways do we judge things as “plain right or wrong?” Are there things that we are unsure about? In what ways has the moral teaching of the church changed over the years? How do Christians differ in such beliefs? (Matthew 7:1-5)
  • How do you feel when people criticise or judge your faith? What is an appropriate response to them? In what ways can we create a space or environment where different beliefs and none can engage with one another in a respectful, meaningful way? We remember that Jesus was often critical of some aspects of his own organised religion in the Judaism of his day. What can we learn from these criticisms in regard to the church? (Matthew 5:11-12; Matthew 23:13-33)
  • In the final verse, the singer turns to his baby daughter surrounded by him and his family whom he says will keep her safe in this world. What vulnerabilities, concerns, anxieties do we have in this world? What or who makes us feel safe? What does the message of the Incarnation say to us? What comfort and security does it bring? (Matthew 11:28-30)
  • The writer is longing to be with his family . What longings or yearnings does Christmas initiate in us? Are they coloured by past Christmas experiences? What longings are there in the Bible which are fulfilled by the birth of Christ? (Luke 2: 25-35)
  • Minchin would prefer “to break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu.” This obviously refers to the age-old debate of Science versus religion. What are the tensions? Can we trust in both at the same time? Are they mutually exclusive?
  • Tim Minchin isn’t “expecting a visit from Jesus” at Christmas. What are we expecting? What is our encounter with the divine? How do the different season of the church’s year offer a different encounter? In what way does Jesus come to us? In what ways do we come to Jesus? We remember that when the shepherds heard the good news, Jesus was already in this world, but they had to go and seek him out. (Luke 2:8-20)
  • The singer is longing for home, a common theme for many different Christmas songs. How is home and place important in our celebration of Christmas? How does this relate to Christ coming to make his home with us? What does it mean for Christians to believe that God has come into this world and participated in his own Creation as a human being? (Philippians 2:5-11; John 1:1-14)
  • For Tim Minchin, Jesus is “a dead Palestinian.” In what ways do people view the story and reality of Jesus? Who or what is Jesus for others? Who or what is Jesus for you? (Colossians 1:15-20: Matthew 16:13-20)

At the end, identify what we have gained or learned, and what has changed for us. Is there anything we can act upon?

Perhaps a particular reading from the Bible may have come to mind, which can be read, and the session completed with a time of prayer in whatever way suits the group.

You may want to play the song again as part of gathering everything together

In Session 2: ‘The Fairytale of New York’ performed by the Pogues and Kirsty McColl