God Bless Us, Everyone!
From the Desk of Deacon Judy
“God bless us, everyone!” is the famous line of Tiny Tim in Charles Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol. One commentary notes that this phrase sums up the spirit of the story.
I have enjoyed the play A Christmas Carol for decades now at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Every year the story brings tears to my eyes because it exemplifies the hope and transformative power of love and forgiveness. The Reverend Becca Stevens affirms that love is the most powerful force for change in the world. A Christmas Carol shows how persistent and steadfast love, even in the midst of harsh rejection, can ultimately melt a frozen heart. Scrooge’s nephew never gave up on caring for his uncle, year after year. The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future awoke Scrooge’s conscious and allowed the spirit of change to happen.
Dickens was offering a social commentary on his times, England during the Industrial Revolution, a time when there were no child labor laws. The wealthy in society were quite comfortable; the poor on the lower rungs of society suffered with little hope for their future. Yet, working class families found a way to manage. They expressed gratitude for each other and for their meager means, and would give to those less fortunate than themselves.
A Christmas Carol is ever relevant because it offers hope for our world today. It is possible for stingy, self-centered persons to learn to share their gifts with others and to find joy in relationships.
A Christmas Carol personifies in a way St. Nicholas of Myra (Turkey), whom we remember on December 6. He suffered for his faith in the 4th Century under the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. He is the patron saint of sailors, seafarers, and children. He is best remembered for his generous gift giving to children. Dutch settlers brought the tradition of St. Nicholas to New York, which began our tradition of Santa Claus.
As we journey through Advent and the gift-giving season, two prayers of St. Nicholas offer inspiration to remember those who may be struggling economically or otherwise:
The Collect for St. Nicholas (Lesser Feasts and Fasts):
Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, the your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever Amen.
A Collect for Saint Nicholas Day (December 6) (Prayers for the Pilgrimage, p. 51)
O God, you who defend always the cause of the poor, place in our hearts a deep and irresistible desire to serve the poor this day, we pray, so that we may be worthy to be called by your name and live out the example of Saint Nicholas in our own time and place. We pray this in the name of Jesus, the One who became poor for our sake. Amen
May God Bless Us, Everyone,
Judy Q+
