December 25

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine,
Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.
The real spirit of Christmas is embodied in this hymn. The benevolent affection God has for his creatures and the affection due from them to God. This apparition came to mankind as a heavenly indication through the star and angels.
Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine
Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?
With what (wherewith) sacred sign. The reverence, honor and homage paid to the Supreme Being came to mankind embodied as a simple baby boy. This is a sacred sign? Yet this baby has a transformative effect on our lives to live worthy of love for each, to accept differences with understanding and compassion, to be generous and forgiving.
Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.
Utilizing our special qualities or abilities, our natural God given endowments, will be our sign or indication of what is in our hearts and minds.

Freddie Lu McGinnis

December 24

KEEPING CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG

At the end of our story Scrooge promises the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come that he will honor Christmas in his heart and strive to keep it every day of the year. What does this mean for him, and what does it mean for we the readers? To many of us Christmas is a time of generosity, and in the case of Scrooge his main character defect seemed to be his miserliness. So for him, turning into a more generous person as we see at the end of the book shows that he has indeed undergone a “spiritual awaking”.

Wouldn’t we be lucky if the lesson of transformation came so clearly, in one haunted night? For many of us a spiritual awakening comes from hard work, praying and listening to God’s direction in our lives. And having had a spiritual awakening as a result of our faith, we can learn to fulfill the meaning of Christmas by not just gift giving, but treating people in our lives with compassion, understanding and truth. It’s a journey that provides meaning to our lives.

December 23

Reflections upon last week’s discussion reveal that my philosophy and behavior have been very Scrooge-esque, and while my thoughts and feelings are changing, I have a long way to go in changing. Honoring Christmas and keeping it in my heart the whole year through has come to have a different meaning that I and many others can embrace. Some of us may need the visit of the three ghosts: Past, Present, and Yet to Come (Future), and others of us do not.
God calls us to love our neighbors and others as we would love ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:34 – 40; Luke 10:25 – 37). There are many ways we can honor or keep Christmas as the Lord calls us to do. Each of us can be attentive to his or her family members and friends. We can visit the sick in hospitals and listen to the troubles of strangers. Many children need tutors and mentors, and toys, clothes, books, and more. Homeless shelters, missions, and soup kitchens always reward the volunteers that come to them with that experience.
When volunteering at places like homeless shelters, there is usually some time to talk with and learn about some of the residents and their lives.
Submitted by,
Bill Williamson

December 22

Our Christmas Future tradition has begun to take form and involves a marked contrast with prior holiday traditions. For Bruce, the tradition over the past 35 years meant traveling to the wintery Midwest to spend time with family. Packages were wrapped and celebration was awaiting arrival in the Midwest. For Diane, the tradition involved multiple family celebrations, carefully orchestrated to avoid conflicts in time as well as personalities, everyone getting a fair share of visit time, up and down the length of California.

Opening a window to the future, we see the following unfolding over time. We would like to experience the simple, original four-candle advent observance – new candle, lit each Sunday at sunset and possibly each evening throughout the week, time permitting. We would like to continue to decorate a fresh Christmas tree with ornaments which for awhile, at least, reflect our African experiences. We will spend time with family and take walks in the parks or visit the many beautiful shorelines. We will make occasional visits to remaining family in the Midwest. We will visit those who are infirmed and confined, sharing our travels and adventures with them. We will shop for clothes, food, and toys for those less fortunate, especially children. We will provide support for community-oriented service groups such as the Lions Club. We will attend performances of music and live drama. We might learn to play an instrument, attend classes at a nearby college to complete another degree, and write, think, hope, dream, and wish.

What the future has in store for us largely depends on our ability to sift through the past and examine the worth of what’s been kept. Nostalgia is not a bad thing unless the weight of what one clings to becomes too heavy a burden to allow one to move forward.

The giving of oneself in the way of time, gifts in kind, or gifts of the heart can enrich us in ways we had not thought possible. Simplifying in every corner of one’s dwelling and mind makes room for the growth of new ideas. The plans and projects that help build our future also provide direction for the life we want to lead. Having someone to share all of this with is truly a gift we can give each other.

Bruce Gelvin and Diane Bowers-Parr

December 21

December 21
Advent 4 – Ghost of Christmas Future

The ghost of Christmas Future appears to Scrooge. Unlike the other ghosts, this one does not speak. Be it a case of action speaking louder than words; or for some other reason; this is a major turning point in the life of Scrooge. This is the ghost that will lead him to repentance, reminding us that Scrooge’s actions and words were hurtful to many souls prior to this moment.
In our own lives, we may reflect on our actions and words and may ponder repentance.

For Scrooge, the pivotal moment is when he falls into his own grave and is face to face with the dead Scrooge. It is here, face to face with self, that he is forced to reconcile who he is to who he wants to be. Driven by the fear of death, or driven by the fear of judgment; Scrooge vows to turn over a new leaf, to become new.
Christ enters the world to offer us a time to “vow” to turn over a new leaf through repentance and become new creatures in Christ.
As we draw closer to Christmas, be mindful that “there is a balm in Gilead” that is born in Bethlehem and placed in a manger.

December 20

Christmas Tankas

Jacob Marley was
dead as a door nail – passed on
seven years before
yet he came and visited
to give Scrooge a second chance.

The Ghost of Christmas
Past came to show memories –
painful and happy
to Scrooge to re-live, re-learn
to preserve the happiness.

The Ghost of Christmas
Present showed Scrooge life as it
was happening then
and to give him a message
of the brevity of life.

The Ghost of Christmas
Yet to Come presented Scrooge
his mortality
and the gravest of the truths:
when you’re dead it is too late.

Ebenezer Scrooge
was once a cold-hearted man –
a selfish miser
until four ghosts visited;
now the old man is buried.

December 19

"Mr. Scrooge!" said Bob; "I'll give you Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!"

"The Founder of the Feast indeed!" cried Mrs Cratchit, reddening. "I wish I had him here. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it."

"My dear," said Bob, "the children. Christmas Day."

The family wasn’t as excited about Bob’s proclamation that Scrooge is “the Founder of the Feast!” For Bob, Scrooge was the Founder of the Feast; because it was Scrooge who employed Bob. But his family knew how Scrooge was forming a chain, link by link, through his acts of holding back in the life of Bob and others.
Bob is an example of Christ’s love. He can look at another person and still see good. Bob sees the good in others; and we as Christians are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of Christ and see God in others as seen in Matthew 25.

QUESTION TO PONDER
Where do you see Christ in others?

December 18

Scrooge will touch the robe of the Spirit and the Spirit will transport him to the home of Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit. It is Christmas day. It is here they see a family celebrating Christmas with mere meagerness. Not much of a meal, but plenty of celebration. As the family gathers together there is excitement in the air. This is the first time Scrooge sees Tiny Tim. He is unaware that his employee has a son who is not healthy, who gets around by crutch. At the end of the meal, Bob proposes:

"A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us."
Which all the family re-echoed.
"God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all.

Scrooge takes one step toward transformation:

"Spirit," said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, "tell me if Tiny Tim will live."
"I see a vacant seat," replied the Ghost, "in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die."
"No, no," said Scrooge. "Oh, no, kind Spirit. Say he will be spared."
"If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race," returned the Ghost, "will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.

THOUGHT TO PONDER
We can make a difference this Christmas, if we keep our eyes open to the Spirit.

December 17

The Ghost of Christmas Present serves as the symbol of the ideal Christmas, a time of joy, celebration, generosity and good will. The throne that this ghost sits on is made of food. It almost has an appearance of someone like King Henry VIII, eating and gorging. Christmas is not a time of self-denial (that will come with Lent). Christmas is a time to celebrate with all sorts of goodies and food. It is a time to spend with friends. It is a time to share.

During Dickens’ time, there were strict laws governing the payment of debts; those who could not pay ended up in prisons or workhouses.

Earlier in the story, two men came to Scrooge with the sense that Christmas is a time of sharing, sought Scrooge out for a donation to help the children. Scrooge’s response, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

When Scrooge is confronted with two small children beneath the cloak of the Spirit wondering who they were, the Spirit will respond, their names are Ignorance and Want. Scrooge inquired if nothing can be done to help them,. The spirit will mock Scrooge, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

Don’t you love it, when someone uses your words against you?

As we celebrate Christmas and the joy of Jesus born in a manger, let us remember to share.
Perhaps this Christmas, God is using some sort of “spirit” to show us where we can reach out and share in the spirit of Christ.

December 16

Christmas Eve in our family has always been a quiet wind down evening. The hustle-bustle of shopping was over, the presents wrapped and hidden, or distributed to those across town, in other cities and countries. The cookies, breads and pies were baked and waiting on the shelf for Christmas day dinner.
It was always a time for visitors to drop by, sharing from a communal pot of whatever was cooking- strictly self serve. Sometimes it was spaghetti, or enchiladas, or simply chili. It wasn’t fancy, just good food and wonderful fellowship.

Now that the boys are grown, married and starting families of their own, the shifting trends have changed our traditions and presented me with an opportunity to pass on customs, ideas and items the boys have experienced as children. They will either accept the transfer of old traditions, revitalize them with their own ideas, or discard them in favor of new concepts they will be creating, more suitable to their needs of the future.
The hand knitted Christmas stockings, labeled “MOM” and “DAD”, go to the family with the new baby (he gets a new one for his first Christmas). The newly wed couple will receive the other two stockings with the appropriate name change.

All of the Christmas ornaments I gave them and those they received as gifts from others have their names and the date given written on them. They were carefully preserved in separate boxes and given to them as part of their wedding gifts. I can only hope these memories and treasures will mean something to them; if not now, perhaps in the future.

Diane Bowers-Parr

December 15

Late one fall as school was being dismissed for the Thanksgiving holiday my two boys, full of energy, but resentful of having to travel away from home for the upcoming festivities, begged to stay at home so we could “just be us together”.

“Can’t we find a reason to stay home and be quiet?” said Jeff, the older boy. “I’d rather have a peanut butter sandwich instead of all that fancy stuff.”

“Let’s invent a project or a reason not to go, I’d eat cereal and be happy” said Ken the younger boy.

Unfortunately, there was no getting out of Thanksgiving with Grandparents and cousins.

A commitment had already been made, everyone would be so disappointed, and making up an excuse at the last minute just wouldn’t be right or fair. “No boys, we have to go. It’s only one day, we have the rest of the long weekend to think and plan of something to make or do. I promise, it’ll be something fun, something we can all do together, okay?”

Disgruntled compliance was the general mood. The holiday was celebrated with the usual fun and games for the kids and overindulgence by the adults. However, I hadn’t stopped trying to think up a project that would keep two hyperactive boys focused and interested beyond the purchase of whatever I might need.

Saturday dawned, bright but cool, and I remembered a booklet I had bought several months back describing activities for full family participation. Since Advent would be early this year, the next day, in fact, it just might work out for us.

We headed for the local lumber yard, bought a six foot rough hewn log, a drill and bits, a couple of blocks of wood. Then we stopped at a craft store and bought a couple dozen candles, different colors, and headed home. It took us all day to measure, mark, cut, scrape, drill and put the candles in the right holes along the top of the log. Yep, we had made and put together our very own family “Advent log”. We set it up in the living room on the brick hearth, decorated it with pine boughs and ribbon, and waited for Sunday to be over so we could begin ADVENT. The lighting of a candle, one each night until Christmas day, for every day of advent, became a nightly ritual we enjoyed for many years to come. We followed a short service, gave thanks for the good things of that day, asked for help and direction to make things better if it wasn’t so good. As the boys grew older it became more reflective, just a down time to be together, share, talk if need be, or not.

Sometimes, it was a time to plan for whatever else we could do to help others. When the boys were very small we started a practice of buying food, toys and clothes for children and families who were less fortunate. This continued until they went away to college.

December 14

December 14
Advent 3 – Ghost of Christmas Present
Once more, Scrooge awakens; within his own room, he is waiting to hear the voice of the next spirit…

“…undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see:, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in, and know me better, man….I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me."

The Ghost of Christmas Present will bring a message to Scrooge. Once again, Scrooge will have his life evaluated as he witnesses how others celebrate Christmas. It is this Ghost that shows him that Christmas is a time of joy and celebration.

December 13

December 13
My most vivid memories of a past Christmas tradition involve my wife’s family gatherings on Christmas mornings in southwestern Missouri. My brother-in-law Guy usually requested waffles for breakfast and he usually got his wish. My mother-in-law Ethel added strawberries from the summer garden which had been made into preserves. Guy and his wife Karen were traditionally late and Ethel would try to retain her composure because she valued being on time – and they didn’t. Her husband Lawrence would tease her about “fretting.” Of course, when Guy and his family arrived all was forgiven and we were soon ready for breakfast. Guy and Karen would bring in gifts to put under the small cedar tree that had been carefully selected from the nearby woods. After the delicious breakfast, we would be more than filled and it was time to distribute the gifts from under the tree. Usually one of my nieces would take on the role of Santa and distribute the gifts to everyone. Years later, after my nieces married and had children of their own, one of the kids would carry on the tradition of distributing the gifts. The two nieces had five children, four boys and one girl, so there were many gifts to distribute to the “grands” (grandsons and granddaughter) as well as to the adults. The small living floor would soon become filled with ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper as gifts were ripped open with glee. As they opened their gifts, the adults would examine their new clothes or books or whatever they had received and chuckle with enjoyment. The children would begin playing with their new toys or trying on their new clothes. Sometimes the squeals of excitement were only surpassed by the noisy banging of the new Tonkas which had been turned into hammers. After all the gift wrappings had been removed and the bows saved for next year, Ethel would then pick up the "debris" which would be added to the wood burning stove in the corner. The women would then be on to the next chore of the day, preparing the meal which was usually a sumptuous, multi-course dinner at Guy’s home, a quarter mile away on the gravel road.

Bruce Gelvin



,

December 12

They were in another scene and place; a room, not very large or handsome, but full of comfort. Near to the winter fire sat a beautiful young girl, so like that last that Scrooge believed it was the same, until he saw her, now a comely matron, sitting opposite her daughter.

Scrooge is now taken to the home of Belle, his former fiancé, she is with her younger daughter celebrating Christmas when her husband comes into the room with Christmas toys and presents. There is celebration! .
Scrooge witnessed the potential that was never actualized. Instead of doing while he could, he is now watching what could have been. He is reminded of what could have been.
Christmas time may remind us of our own “what could have been.”

The scene is interrupted, "Belle," said the husband, turning to his wife with a smile, "I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon." "Who was it?" "Guess!" "How can I? Tut, don't I know," she added in the same breath, laughing as he laughed. "Mr. Scrooge."

"Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was not shut up, and he had a candle inside, I could scarcely help seeing him. His partner lies upon the point of death, I hear; and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the world, I do believe."
"Spirit!" said Scrooge in a broken voice, "remove me from this place."

"I told you these were shadows of the things that have been," said the Ghost. "That they are what they are, do not blame me!"
Remove me!" Scrooge exclaimed, "I cannot bear it!"

For some, Christmas is a time “I cannot bear it!” One of the gifts of Christmas we can bring to some is helping others when they cannot bear it.

December 11

December 11
Scrooge is driven by a fear of poverty. The choices he makes, the breaking of an engagement, the pursuit of a particular career seems to indicate that he is fearful that he will be in want. Continuing his conversation with Belle, the fiancé who is breaking their engagement, he responds:

"This is the even-handed dealing of the world!" he said. "There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!"

"You fear the world too much," she answered, gently. "All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach. I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you. Have I not?"

To “know thyself” is to know what drives us. Why we make the decisions we make. To be aware that if we are fear driven it will erode at our ability to take risks to pursue those things that are most meaningful in life.

"Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and content to be so, until, in good season, we could improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry. You are changed. When it was made, you were another man."

The fear driven Scrooge changed from being the one that Belle loved to the one she no longer wanted to live life with. Each of our decisions cost us something. Some of our decisions, as noble as they may be; will erode at what is important in life; relationship.

This time of year, there may be a reminder of the cost of our past pursuits. How relationships have been sacrificed. Let this time not be merely a time to remember the cost, but to make positive choices in pursuit of establishing stronger relationships with God and others. Let the joy of this season
cause us all to put an emphasis on relationships.

December 10

December 10
Scrooge now sees a slightly older Scrooge. He is in conversation with a young woman named Belle. She is breaking off their engagement crying that greed has corrupted the love that used to impassion Scrooge's heart.

“His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years; but it had begun to wear the signs of care and avarice. There was an eager, greedy, restless motion in the eye, which showed the passion that had taken root, and where the shadow of the growing tree would fall.
He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose eyes there were tears, which sparkled in the light that shone out of the Ghost of Christmas Past.
"It matters little," she said, softly. "To you, very little. Another idol has displaced me; and if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve."
"What Idol has displaced you?" he rejoined.
"A golden one."

Sometimes the joy of Christmas has been displaced by an “Idol” and sometimes it is “a golden one.” It’s easy for us to point fingers at the Mall and say “See! They have a golden Idol. They depend on this season of the year to make their profit.” However, the power of “A Christmas Carol” is not to point at the other and say “See!” But to point at ourselves and see.

We can see many things through this tale. We can see how we have lost our way and have pursued idols and not what we care about most. Here Scrooge is faced with following an idol of money at the expense of the true relationship that meant so much to him.
“Why cannot we be friends?"
"Good afternoon," said Scrooge.

December 9

December 9
This young girl, Fan; sister of Scrooge meant everything to him. The Ghost of Christmas Past said, “she had a large heart!" And Scrooge agree, “So she had"

"She died a woman," said the Ghost, "and had, as I think, children."
"One child," Scrooge returned.
"True," said the Ghost. "Your nephew!"
Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered briefly, "Yes."

The one person who meant everything to Scrooge died so long ago, leaving only one child, his nephew, Fred.
At Christmas we may remember the past Christmases and those whom we cherish, but who are no longer with us. For some of us, it’s a parent; for others, it’s a friend, and for some others it may be a sibling; and for others the most difficult, a child.

What do we do?

In this joyful time of year, what do we do? Perhaps it’s time to do something that brings honor to that person and at the same time brings us joy. Perhaps it’s a time to help others in memory of that cherished loved one.
Be of good cheer, and share the joy through acts of love.

from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the

December 8

December 8

The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, and waved its hand: saying as it did so, "Let us see another Christmas!"

Once again, Scrooge sees himself celebrating Christmas alone at the school he attended. His solitude is broken as a little girl, much younger than Scrooge, “…came darting in, and putting her arms about his neck, and often kissing him, addressed him as her "Dear, dear brother."

"I have come to bring you home, dear brother!" said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh. "To bring you home, home, home!"

Unlike previous Christmases, Scrooge was going home, escorted by his younger sister whom he admired. This Christmas was different. It was more spectacular than previous Christmases.

Every year as we celebrate Christmas, there can be one memory that pops of Christmas past. It is the Christmas that we returned home. It is the Christmas that we were greeted by the ones we admired. Sometimes we are the younger sister who brings the joy into the life of the other by bringing them home; and sometimes we are the older brother who receives the joy as the other brings us home.

This Christmas, remember the time you brought someone home or when someone brought you home. Let us keep our eyes open to the possibilities.

December 8

December 8

The Ghost smiled thoughtfully, and waved its hand: saying as it did so, "Let us see another Christmas!"

Once again, Scrooge sees himself celebrating Christmas alone at the school he attended. His solitude is broken as a little girl, much younger than Scrooge, “…came darting in, and putting her arms about his neck, and often kissing him, addressed him as her "Dear, dear brother."

"I have come to bring you home, dear brother!" said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh. "To bring you home, home, home!"

Unlike previous Christmases, Scrooge was going home, escorted by his younger sister whom he admired. This Christmas was different. It was more spectacular than previous Christmases.

Every year as we celebrate Christmas, there can be one memory that pops of Christmas past. It is the Christmas that we returned home. It is the Christmas that we were greeted by the ones we admired. Sometimes we are the younger sister who brings the joy into the life of the other by bringing them home; and sometimes we are the older brother who receives the joy as the other brings us home.

This Christmas, remember the time you brought someone home or when someone brought you home. Let us keep our eyes open to the possibilities.

December 7

December 7
Advent 2 – Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge was warned by Marley that a spirit will come to Scrooge at 1 p. m. The childlike spirit (that seemed too old at the same time), told Scrooge that he was the Ghost of Christmas Past. The Spirit causes Scrooge to fly. They exited throughout the window. The ghost transports Scrooge to the countryside where Scrooge grew-up. “I was bred in this place. I was a boy here."He sees his old school, his childhood mates. . The Spirit informs Scrooge; “These are but shadows of the things that have been."

In our own lives as we celebrate Christmas, it is also a recollection of memories of Christmas past. Sometimes the memories are fondly remembered; other memories bring sadness.

Sometimes the past memories of Christmas are buried. Observed the Ghost, "Strange to have forgotten it for so many years." "The school is not quite deserted," said the Ghost. "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still" to celebrate Christmas on his own. It is the young Scrooge, left on his own during the Christmas holidays. Touched by these memories, Scrooge begins to sob.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us pray that as we remember our own past, there is someone who is there to help us along the journey. Let us also pray, that when others are experiencing the loneliness of this Christmas that we can be there for them

December 6

December 6
Marley’s Ghost
The dead Jacob Marley appears to Scrooge as a ghost within the “dream” of Scrooge. Scrooge recognizes that Marley is fettered. He inquires about the chain, Marley answers….
"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"

Marley comes to Scrooge to warn him in a “dream” that Marley is not the only one that is fettered by the chain that he made “link by link.” Marley’s chain formed by his actions carried “cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel” all representing how he lived life. Marley pursued finances. He came to warn Scrooge, that he too is making his own chain by his actions.

The message for us, is that we too, like Scrooge and Marley, are creating a chain of life, link by link. For Scrooge’s chain was formed by his wanting to be left alone, wanting to be void of relationship. God created us for relationship (Genesis) with God and others. The greatest and second greatest commandment is to love. To love is to be in relationship and how we are in that relationship.

During the celebrations of Christmas, we are the most happy when we are in relationship and not left alone. The links of that chain we wear are being formed all year long, but what kind of chain is being formed by our actions and thoughts.

The following days of this Advent Booklet will help us to ask the question, “what kind of chain am I making, ‘link by link.’”?

December 5

December 5

Marley’s Ghost & the Fireplace

The fireplace was an old one, built by some dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures. There were Cains and Abels, Pharaoh’s daughters; Queens of Sheba, angelic messengers descending through the air on clouds like featherbeds, Abrahams, Belshazzars, Apostles putting off to sea in butter-boats, hundreds of figures, to attract his thoughts; and yet that face of Marley, seven years dead, came like the ancient Prophet’s rod, and swallowed up the whole. If each smooth tile had been a blank at first, with power to shape some picture on its surface from the disjointed fragments of his thoughts, there would have been a copy of old Marley’s head on every one.

Dickens lets the readers know from the beginning of his short book that Ebenezer Scrooge is a cold-hearted man who isolates himself from the world. It would seem that a man as stoic as he would be exempt from fear. However, the author lets us know that even Scrooge himself cannot shake the disturbing vision he saw in his door knocker of his late partner, Jacob Marley as he entered home that night. The description of this fireplace would fit into a coffee table book on decorative tile, which is why I was so drawn to it perhaps. Don’t we all have some visual anchors in our surroundings that we meditate upon specially in times of fear? Well, old Scrooge was so terrified that even this beautiful collection of biblical scenes could not shake the horrible image he had just seen. Dickens has shown his mastery in descriptive prose to “illustrate” his point.

Ellen Rundle

December 4

December 4

Why Not Be Merry?

“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.

"Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug!"
He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again.

"Christmas a humbug, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew. "You don't mean that, I am sure."

"I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough."

"Come, then," returned the nephew gaily. "What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You're rich enough."

The nephew of Scrooge showed lively cheerfulness and enjoyment of the Christmas season in greeting his uncle. Though poor and out in the fog and frost of the season, his spirits were not dampened by the state of his finances or his lot in life. Based on Scrooge’s philosophy, he has no reason to be merry since he is so poor.


Christmastime to Scrooge is a time for fools. Fools because their time of merriment is really a time for “paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer.” Bah! Humbug! illustrates Scrooge’s sentiments about the time as he not only displays the silly nature of the season, he does it with deep disgust and contempt.

For the nephew, Christmastime is one of the few times during the year when men and women open their hearts to one another in a charitable and loving manner. These actions bless the giver just as much as the receiver. Though good deeds, such as bringing cheer to others, do not necessarily make you richer financially, they do wonders for the spirit.

If we believe in Scrooge’s philosophy that the poor should not be merry, then we should see a very happy Scrooge because of his wealth. Instead we see a miserable, greedy old man with no joy or generosity in his life who is angry with others who find joy in spite of their plight in life.

During this season of Advent, let us remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:12-13, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

So whether rich or poor, presents under the tree or no tree at all, plenty or lean, there is reason to be merry this season and that reason is Christ Jesus. Enjoy the season because of the joy of Jesus, our wonderful Savior. Be merry!

Kathy Drayton

December 3

December 3
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn't know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often "came down" handsomely, and Scrooge never did.

QUESTIONS:
How is this like the song by Simon & Garfunkel “I am a Rock”?
Why do you suppose Scrooge is not influenced by others?
Why do people act like this?
Is it good to be influenced by others? Why/why not?
What would it take for him to be open to influence?
Do you know anyone like this?
How are you like this? When are you like this?
When are you not like this?

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, "My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?" No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, "No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!"

Thought to Ponder
All people bring joy. Some when they enter the room and others when they exit the room.

December 2

December 2
Scrooge never painted out Old Marley's name. There it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge and Marley. The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names: it was all the same to him.

Scrooge did not remove the name of Marley from the sign to his shop. In a sense, he kept the baggage of his past for all to see. Why? Was it because he was not willing to pay to deal with it in the present? Was it an indication of the thriftiness of Scrooge? Was it he refused to deal with his loss? Nevertheless, Marley’s name, remained on the sign to the shop.

In our lives, at Christmas are there times that we have not removed the name “Marley” from our present sign? Even though it is no longer viable, the name “Marley” is present in our celebrations. Sometimes it is kept because it is tradition. Other times it is kept because it is easier not to deal with the “Marley” in our lives.

There is an old story about the tradition of one family, who whenever they roasted the beef for Christmas dinner would cut off both ends of the roast before placing it on the roasting pan and into the oven. When asked “why” the answer was always the same, “that’s the way my mother taught me.” Until one day it was discovered the tradition began because the roast was too big for the roasting pan.
Question to Ponder

What “Marley” (or roast end cutting) have I refused to remove from my Christmas tradition?

December 1

December 1
“Marley was dead:….The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it….Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail….Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administration, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner. And Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral… (p. 1)”

The only person that cared about Marley’s death was Scrooge. We’re not even certain if we can even say he truly cared. When confronted with the reality of death, we may ask, “How many will care truly about our own death?” If we are concerned about the answer to this question, perhaps we should ask the question, “How then shall we live?”

Over the course of Advent we tend to focus on this story, the Christmas Story, and come to the realization that one word is important: relationships. God was interested in a relationship with us and that is why he sent his “only begotten son.” Scrooge will eventually be transformed and become concerned about relationships and will send a turkey to his employee’s family and send himself to his nephew.

We ourselves must be faced with the reality of our life and our relationships that we have in our life. Perhaps this Christmas is a time where relationships are more cherished and goodwill is extended to foster and help grow those relationships: a time to “ponder these things in our hearts.”