Chrismons symbolize elements
of Christian heritage

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
Chrismon trees decorate sanctuaries of United Methodist churches across Southwest Texas during Advent.
Ornaments on the trees aren’t merely pretty. Each symbolizes an element of Christian biblical heritage.
“Chrismons represent the true meaning of Christmas,” said Richard Garza, a member of St. John’s UMC, San Antonio.
Chrismons—the word is a contraction of “Christ” and “monogram”— are an interdenominational tradition that dates back to 1957. Decorating an evergreen with Chrismons originated at the Ascension Lutheran Church, Danville, Va.
Danville church member Frances Kipps Spencer designed special ornaments appropriate for use in a sanctuary because she believed brightly colored Christmas decorations weren’t suitable for a worship setting.
Spencer created Chrismons in white, gold and a combination of the colors. Those colors have carried forward through the years, as have the designs. Each proclaims some truth about God as seen in Jesus Christ.
“Each Chrismon has a personal message about who we are and what we believe as Christians,” said Ilda Vasquez, a member of First UMC, Weslaco. “When I look at those Chrismons, it reinforces why I am who I am and why I do what I do.”
Among the designs are the anchor cross, symbolic of Jesus Christ, our anchor, a symbol of hope “sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).
Another symbol often used is the Chi Rho, the oldest monogram for Christ, the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ.
The triangle, with three equal sides, represents the three equal parts of God’s nature: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
June St. John, who leads the worship committee at St. John’s UMC, San Antonio, said the Chrismon tree there is decorated the first Sunday of Advent.
“We also put out the manger,” she said. “Each week as we progress toward Christmas we add something to the manger. It all falls together.”
First UMC, Weslaco, decorated its Chrismon tree Dec. 4, the second Sunday of Advent.
“Decorating the tree is part of the hanging of the greens,” Vasquez said, a traditional act of preparing the church for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Like St. John’s UMC, the Weslaco church involves the congregation in the decorating. In both congregations, a description of each Chris-mon’s meaning is read as it is placed on the tree.
“The Chrismons remind us we’re celebrating Christ instead of presents,” Garza said.
Descriptions of Chrismons and their meanings are posted at www. gbgm-umc.org/ebenezer-umc/chrismon.htm.