Advent Day 9: A Christmas Tradition -- the Chrismon Tree
Missy Tippens
I thought I would share a church tradition with you today! The Chrismon tree. The word Chrismon means "Christ monogram." The tradition got started at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA, in 1957. You can read a bit more about it here. It's something that I've really enjoyed at several of our churches over the years. Here's a photo of part of our family (my brother-in-law, sister, mother, son, daughter, hubby, and I'm in the blue) at last year's Christmas Eve service. You can see the Chrismon tree behind us.
It's a beautiful tree that I always look forward to. The ornaments are all handmade. Some are ceramic, and some are fabric with beads and sequins etc. Here are some close-ups. I obviously favor the ceramic ones. :)
I always look forward to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. I sing in the choir, so it's a beautiful thing to look out as the members in the congregation hold up their candles while they sing Silent Night. It's so very moving.
Since I haven't decorated yet (at the time of writing this post), I had planned to share last year's photo. But last year was a rough Christmas for me. My beloved dad, for whom I'd been a caregiver, had passed away earlier in the year, and my elderly dog--my writing buddy--had died on Thanksgiving. So it was hard to get in the Christmas spirit while grieving.
So today, instead of sharing a Better Homes and Gardens photo, this is me being real with you. Here's our tree from last year. I never did get the ornaments put on it. We only had the pre-attached lights and pinecones, and the shimmer from the "snowy" tree branches.
I felt bad for my kids when they came home, felt guilty for not providing a "normal" Christmas like usual. But you know what... they handled it beautifully. We had a sweet Christmas despite the tree being a bit bare. And though our home tree was sparse, we were able to enjoy the beautiful "Christ monograms" on Christmas Eve while at church. We muddled our way through our first Christmas without my dad and thought of him often along the way. So many sweet memories.
I pray each of you has a wonderful Christmas season. And if you've lost a loved one this year, please know you're in my prayers. I hope we'll all reach out to someone who may be grieving this year.
As my special Advent giveaway, I wanted to paint a small angel like I did for last December's post--my own homemade Chrismon. I haven't done the painting yet, so this will be an IOU for when it's done! Hopefully before Christmas! haha
Be sure to enter the big giveaway below (to be announced at the end of the year). And let me know in the comments if you'd like to be entered for the angel painting (winner announced in the Weekend Edition)! Let's chat about Chrismon ornaments. Have you heard of them before?
If you didn't get it last year, pick up Missy's Christmas novella, available as an ebook at Amazon. Click here for more info.
Unlucky in love, police deputy Hardy Greenway has spent his life in the friend zone. But now he’s fallen hard for the girlfriend of his nemesis. Dori Blanchette has been waiting for a proposal from her boyfriend, but how can she say yes when she has feelings for Hardy? With Christmas tree ornaments playing spontaneously and secrets being revealed, there’s no telling who will end up together at Christmas!
Welcome to Dahlia, Georgia, where everyone feels welcome!
ALSO! After years of doing my own website, I just had it professionally re-made by Robin Lee Hatcher. Be sure to check it out! www.missytippens.com.
*****
After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.
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I thought I would share a church tradition with you today! The Chrismon tree. The word Chrismon means "Christ monogram." The tradition got started at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA, in 1957. You can read a bit more about it here. It's something that I've really enjoyed at several of our churches over the years. Here's a photo of part of our family (my brother-in-law, sister, mother, son, daughter, hubby, and I'm in the blue) at last year's Christmas Eve service. You can see the Chrismon tree behind us.
It's a beautiful tree that I always look forward to. The ornaments are all handmade. Some are ceramic, and some are fabric with beads and sequins etc. Here are some close-ups. I obviously favor the ceramic ones. :)
I always look forward to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. I sing in the choir, so it's a beautiful thing to look out as the members in the congregation hold up their candles while they sing Silent Night. It's so very moving.
Since I haven't decorated yet (at the time of writing this post), I had planned to share last year's photo. But last year was a rough Christmas for me. My beloved dad, for whom I'd been a caregiver, had passed away earlier in the year, and my elderly dog--my writing buddy--had died on Thanksgiving. So it was hard to get in the Christmas spirit while grieving.
So today, instead of sharing a Better Homes and Gardens photo, this is me being real with you. Here's our tree from last year. I never did get the ornaments put on it. We only had the pre-attached lights and pinecones, and the shimmer from the "snowy" tree branches.
I felt bad for my kids when they came home, felt guilty for not providing a "normal" Christmas like usual. But you know what... they handled it beautifully. We had a sweet Christmas despite the tree being a bit bare. And though our home tree was sparse, we were able to enjoy the beautiful "Christ monograms" on Christmas Eve while at church. We muddled our way through our first Christmas without my dad and thought of him often along the way. So many sweet memories.
I pray each of you has a wonderful Christmas season. And if you've lost a loved one this year, please know you're in my prayers. I hope we'll all reach out to someone who may be grieving this year.
As my special Advent giveaway, I wanted to paint a small angel like I did for last December's post--my own homemade Chrismon. I haven't done the painting yet, so this will be an IOU for when it's done! Hopefully before Christmas! haha
Be sure to enter the big giveaway below (to be announced at the end of the year). And let me know in the comments if you'd like to be entered for the angel painting (winner announced in the Weekend Edition)! Let's chat about Chrismon ornaments. Have you heard of them before?
If you didn't get it last year, pick up Missy's Christmas novella, available as an ebook at Amazon. Click here for more info.
Unlucky in love, police deputy Hardy Greenway has spent his life in the friend zone. But now he’s fallen hard for the girlfriend of his nemesis. Dori Blanchette has been waiting for a proposal from her boyfriend, but how can she say yes when she has feelings for Hardy? With Christmas tree ornaments playing spontaneously and secrets being revealed, there’s no telling who will end up together at Christmas!
Welcome to Dahlia, Georgia, where everyone feels welcome!
ALSO! After years of doing my own website, I just had it professionally re-made by Robin Lee Hatcher. Be sure to check it out! www.missytippens.com.
*****
After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.
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