Chrismon program

Soon other congregations were using Chrismons as part of their worship and celebration. Some of these Chrismons were monograms like the originals in Danville. Others were signs, symbols, or types—all designed to remind worshipers of the Lord and King born in a humble stable on Christmas Day. During the last thirty years the Chrismon tree has been used worldwide to celebrate and proclaim our Lord's name and his saving acts.

Churches of all denominations have designed elegant Chrismon ornaments from such materials as Styrofoam, pearls, gold beads, and sequins. When carefully crafted, Chrismons create a dignity and beauty appropriate for a house of worship. A variation on the three-dimensional Chrismon is the counted-cross-stitch symbol.

During Advent members of the American Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa, hang reversible counted-cross- stitch symbols, framed in lucite, in the thirty glass windows that divide the narthex and the sanctuary. Other churches decorate their trees with cross-stitch symbols, either in place of or alongside of the three-dimensional Chrismon ornaments.

Some congregations also use these needlework designs to decorate pastors' stoles, altar cloths, wall hangings, and tree skirts. If you'd like to try Chrismons in your church this year, plan carefully. Remember that the Chrismon tree or display of Christian symbols is significant only when those who see the symbols understand their meaning. If possible, draw on the talents of members of your congregation, both children and adults, in preparing the ornaments. The illustrations on these pages will give you some ideas.

You might find others by visiting some of the churches in your community. Today, Chrismon trees set up in churches are usually tall, exceeding 15 feet, and feature dozens of ornaments. You may wonder, are Chrismons used solely in churches, or can they be hung at home? Naturally, any Christian can decorate their home with these meaningful ornaments. However, one rule must be followed. The Chrismons should always be white and gold.

Chrismons were created to replace traditional Christmas ornaments as their inventor considered them blasphemous. But was Frances Kipps Spencer right? The answer lies in the origin of popular Christmas tree decorations. Instead, their shape originates from the original Christmas tree decorations — fruits and nuts. These were the only decorations available at that time.

The Christmas star, on the other hand, has a religious meaning. Surprisingly, candy canes also have religious roots. Of course, angel figurines also have religious connotations. For example, they symbolize angel Gabriel who told Mary she was pregnant with Jesus or the angels who told the Wise Men not to return to King Herod.

They were used to light up Christmas tree ornaments and symbolized joy, peace, and hope. Lights can also represent stars, a traditional Christmas symbol.

So, should we replace other Christmas ornaments with Chrismons entirely? Perhaps not. Image credit: Wikimedia. Table of Contents [ hide ] What Are Chrismons? Read more about Christmas Crafts , Christmas Decoration , or Christmas Tradition : mistletoe , yule log , christmas xmas , kwanzaa , and christmas colors. Virgin Islands. Its members practice Lutheranism, the largest branch of Protestantism, which identifies with the teachings of Martin Luther.

Martin Luther portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Martin Luther was a 16th-century German reformer. Born in , Luther's efforts to reform the church's theology and practice launched the Protestant Reformation.

Before he died in , Martin Luther produced numerous books, sermons, letters, essays, and hymns. His writings expressed his overwhelming confidence in the promise of God's liberating mercy in Jesus Christ. Over years after Luther's death, a follower of his teachings created something that revived ancient Christian symbolism and penetrated denominational barriers. Her father, a Lutheran minister, served in various cities and towns in Pennsylvania. In at the age of forty, concerned about the appropriate decorations for her church Christmas tree, Mrs.

Based on ancient monograms, the designs included Greek symbol abbreviations and crosses that honored Jesus Christ and His teachings. Spencer chose the White and Gold colors to represent Christ's purity and God's majesty. The evergreen tree backdrop symbolizes the eternal life Christ offers his followers. The tree's white lights proclaim Christ's role as the Light of the world.

The Smithsonian Institute has housed several Chrismon trees, and many Ascension Lutheran Churches erect a 20'—24' tree open to visitors during the fall and winter holiday season. Spencer created her ornaments using motifs that Christians had been using for thousands of years.

Spencer's ornament designs, called "Chrismons," cross denominational lines and are still cherished as religious Christmas decorations by many. Below are 24 common Chrismon ornaments and discussions of their meanings.

The six-pointed star, called the Star of David, is a reminder of the six days of creation Exodus The two triangles that form the star symbolize the Holy Trinity. The Greek alphabet's first and last letters are called Alpha and Omega. They signify that Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things. He is the Word, meaning, the First Word through whom all things came into being, and the Last Word by whom all receive judgment.

The Angel Chrismon represents the messengers of God, who announced the birth and Resurrection of Christ. Persecuted followers of Christ used the symbol of a fish as a sign to identify themselves secretly. The primary purpose of ringing church bells is to let worshippers know when to assemble.

The "joyful noise" of the bells signifies God's presence in the world. In the Old Testament, God instructed gold bells to be alternated with pomegranates and sewn into the high priest's, Aaron's, robe hem to announce when he entered and come out of the sanctuary. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out so that he will not die" Exodus NIV.

The butterfly is the symbol of resurrection. The three stages of the butterfly's metamorphosis symbolize the Life, Death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.