Christmas Message - 8th December 2020

MORPETH ROTARY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Rev. Julian Sanders of St. George’s URC Church kindly agreed to give the Morpeth Rotary Christmas Message at last week’s Zoom meeting. Rotary members were joined by partners, the President and members of Morpeth Inner Wheel and Mayor of Morpeth David Bawn. Rev Sanders talked of the Christmas message that was to be found in Charles Dickens’ novel ‘A Christmas Carol’. Some of the message was open and well known and some was hidden in symbolism.  Scrooge’s first name Ebenezer can be found in the First Book of Samuel in the Bible and is a Hebrew name meaning a stone set up to remember God. A useful thought for this time of the year when He is so easily forgotten. Scrooge had forsaken God and the three spirits came one at a time to bring him to begin his repentance. Scrooge’s cold heart melted and the message of Christmas became clear. The name Cratchit also has a meaning. It is a place where animals are fed or is a creche where children are looked after. Bob Cratchit looked after his family and there is something of Jesus born in the family. Dickens always venerated the life of Jesus our Saviour. Dickens wrote his story in 1843 in the shadow of a parliamentary decision being made on reforms to the English Poor Law which included the running of Workhouses. Much provision was overseen by Church officials and Churchwardens. It was well meaning provision but often ended in cruelty. In the year before he wrote the story he had visited the USA and had seen the effects of slavery. He related it to the sayings of Jesus on ‘what you have done to the least of these you have done to me’ in Matthew’s Gospel. This comes out in the story of Christmas Carol. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge starts with the torments of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley. Scrooge is confused by the level of punishment Marley received saying he had always been a good man of business. Marley replied ‘but mankind was my business’. Following his visit spirits were sent to teach Scrooge the lessons of Christmas. He eventually understands and says he will honour Christmas in his heart and try to keep it all the year. The story is full of religious meaning reminding us to celebrate the spirit of Christmas not just once a year but all year too. Julian was thanked by Rotary President Colin Dyson

It was agreed that members would offer support to the Maggie’s cancer care centre in Newcastle over the next few weeks.