(Note:  This message concludes a “Hanging of the Greens” worship service)

The evergreen tree has been a symbol for Christmas and the center of holiday festivities for many years.  The green color of the tree symbolizes growth; it also represents everlasting life in the midst of winter.

It is hard to tell just when the use of a tree at the Christmas season began.  However, it was probably first used in Scandinavia.  Records tell of its use there in the eighth century, when St. Boniface persuaded the Druids to replace the oak tree of their pagan ceremonies with a fir tree that symbolized eternal life.

The most famous story about the early use of the evergreeen tree at Christmas centers around Martin Luther.  As he walked through the forest one starry night, with snow covering the ground, he marveled at the beauty of the starlight as it shone upon the branches of the fir trees.  When he tried to tell his family of the glory and beauty of the forest, they failed to comprehend what he had seen.  He then brought a pine tree into the house and placed candles upon it to represent the twinkling of the stars.

The earliest use of the Christmas tree in America is also not known.  However, a German tailor, August Imgard, set up a fir tree in his home at Wooster, Ohio, in 1847, and decorated it.  The first tree to appear in a church was in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1851.  Some members of the congregation thought the act was sacrilegious.  Few trees appeared in churches in the mid-nineteenth century, since many still considered it to be a pagan custom.  However, the tree has now become a symbol of the glory of God and his promise of eternal life.

Many of the decorations we place on the Christmas tree symbolize various aspects of our Christian faith.  An ancient legend tells of a poor woman who could only provide a small, sparsely-decorated tree for her children.  One night, however, spiders spun webs throughout the tree as a reward for the woman’s goodness; and the Christ child turned the webs into silver and gold.  Thus, the tinsel which we place on the tree represents the miraculous power of the Christ to bring us hope in the midst of our despair.  The large star at the top of the tree reminds us of the adoration of the Christ child by the wise men.  An angel in place of the star calls our attention to the majesty of God and his heavenly throng. 

There is a danger in coming together year after year to celebrate the birth of a child that occurred nearly 2,000 years ago.  We regard the coming of  the Christ child as a significant historical event; thus, we tend to view it in the context of an ancient era.  It is an event that we observe.   And, as observers, we  tend to place ourselves outside of it, looking on, celebrating the birth of a baby long ago rather than the rebirth of our lives today.  Yet Christ came for each and every one of us, as a gift to a hurting world—a gift that continues to come in each of our lives with the grace of our Almighty God.    Yes, friends, it is God within each of us that makes this Advent season a time of renewed hope and a celebration of new life.  Let us rejoice together in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, those many centuries ago.  But let us also bring his birth into the context of our lives today, at this very moment.

Martin Luther once said:  “There are some of us… who think to ourselves, “If I had only been there!  How quick I would have been to help the Baby.  I would have washed his linen.  How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manager!”  Yes, we would.  We say that because we know how great Christ is.  But if we had been there at that time, we would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem.  Why don’t we do it now?  We have Christ in our neighbor.”

So, believing that, let us stand right now and join hands with our neighbors in an unbroken chain of Christian love and unity…

Let us pray.  God, we are thankful for the togetherness we have in Christ.  Thank you for that great gift of Christ in our lives and in the many ways we can prepare for it as God’s love and grace is revealed to us each day.  Thank you for Jesus.  Amen.

Advent is the going toward greater love among people.  Advent is the going toward greater peace and harmony among people.  Advent is the going toward, as the carol says, “the dawn of God’s redeeming grace.”  This is an Advent for each of us.  We can be faithful observers of a birthday that occurred nearly 2,000 years ago—and we can be loving servants to the Christ who walks among us today. 

Sing “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

(after hymn, bells ring several times, then cease.)

Pastoral Blessing:

There is the legend of a great cathedral whose bells suddenly refused to ring.  Nobody knew why.  Finally, a messenger announced that God had decided not to let the bells ring until the gifts of his people were once more satisfactory.  On Christmas Eve, therefore, the people brought the most expensive gifts they had.  But the bells did not ring.  The king came and laid his crown at the altar.  But the bells did not ring.  Toward the end of the service, a small lad, a beggar’s son, went forward and put his one and only coin on the altar—a coin he had intended to use to buy a loaf of bread for his family.  Then he knelt to pray.  Suddenly, the beautiful bells pealed forth as never before.

(bells resume ringing immediately and continue through the

benediction)

May the bells we hear this season call to our remembrance that great gift which changed the history of the world, the gift to us of God’s own Son.  Joy to the world, the Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King!  Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing!