Chrismon Tree

 

First, a definition….

 A Chrismon tree is a decorated tree used during Advent and Christmastide featuring ornaments that symbolize aspects of Christ. The ornaments, called "Chrismons" (short for Christ monograms), are a visual representation of Christian beliefs.

 As a young bride, I was surprised when my mother-in-law showed up at my door bearing a bag of Styrofoam cutouts, gold braid, glitter, and ribbon. She explained that the United Methodist Women were making ornaments for a Chrismon Tree, and she wanted me to feel included.

 I glued and sprinkled and, with some trepidation about how my artwork would compare to others, I returned them to the church. When my ornaments were hung with those of my church family, I felt included. The heart, crosses, shepherd staff, fish, dove, and a multitude of other symbols became an important part of my Christmas season.

 Several years later, an elderly friend wanted to make his own contribution to the tree. He used the Styrofoam from a meat package, cut out the background of the city of Bethlehem, and added a couple of camels.  He gave it to me and asked me to put it on the tree. Stephanie recognized that it didn’t glitter like the other ornaments, so she added some bling. (We didn’t know that word, then, but it works well in my story.)  Again, I took it to church with anxiety. It didn’t look like the other symbols, and I wasn’t sure it would be welcomed.

 But I had misjudged one of the main ingredients for a successful Chrismon Tree. Love. Everyone agreed the Bethlehem ornament was a work of art. And it was included.

 Like many churches, Galena Park UMC eventually found itself with a congregation too small to sustain its building and ministries. Former members were invited to take hymnals, musical instruments, and chrismons as memorials of a shared history. My box of chrismons lived in my garage for several years.

 Martin and I are now part of a new church in Baytown. Love UMC met in a barn and then in a lecture hall at Lee College. On November 1, we moved into our permanent location.  St. Paul’s Lutheran Church found itself in a time holy closure. But instead of selling the building and property, they were aware of a nomadic congregation and decided to gift them with a permanent home. Yes, they gave us their church. Take a moment, now, to be awed by that miraculous act of love.

 When Pastor Ellen announced that we would have a Chrismon Tree using ornaments from St. Paul’s and making some of our own, I anxiously took my box from the garage. I wasn’t sure if my old but treasured ornaments could be included in a new vision, but I offered them.

 On the first Sunday of Advent, I saw a Chrismon Tree with ornaments from a church that showed generosity in a time of sadness, from another church that had wandered in the wilderness doing ministry where called, and from a third church that had nurtured my family and me for generations.

 Love United Methodist Church – where all people, and histories, are included.