CHRISMONS - SYMBOLS OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH

Air castles of gold, white, and pearl were built in the minds of the women of the Monthalia Methodist Woman's Society of Christian Service in December of 1965 at their regular Christmas meeting when Mrs. Louis (Alice) Muelker as program chairman presented a program on Christian symbols. Mrs. Ben Knandel of the Highland Lutheran Church of San Antonio, Texas made a most interesting and informative talk on Chrismons. Mrs. Knandel told the group that the word Chrismons had been coined from the words Christ Monograms and that all the Chrismons were symbols of the life of Christ. She showed the group some of the beautiful, intricately made gold, white, and pearl Chrismons that the ladies of her church had made. It was from listening to this talk and viewing the handwork of the women of another denomination that our members received the inspiration to make Chrismons in 1966 for the tree placed in the parish hall early in December for use at the Christmas meetings and parties of various circles and Sunday School classes. The basic book on the making of the Chrismons was ordered from the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, Virginia, where the original Chrismon tree stood in 1957. Mrs. M.D. (Gertrude) Lindemann was chairman of a committee composed of Mrs. John (Rosa) Fink, Circle 1; Mrs. Theo. (Elsie) Siepmann, J.O.Y. Circle; and Mrs. Allan (Mary Ellen) Fink, Lydia Circle, who led the entire organization to become interested in making the thirty Chrismons to be used along with forty-five miniature white lights on the tree in the parish hall.

The comments on the beauty and significance of the various symbols, or monograms, used on that small tree in 1966, led to recommendations to the Church School Board of Education from the woman's organization, that they would make the Chrismons for the tree in the sanctuary, if financial help could be secured to purchase materials. The Board of Education along with a few individual donors, defrayed the expense of the purchases made for sequins, beads, glitter, styrofoam, wire, glue, and more idea books, and the W.S.C.S. women were busily engaged in making more Chrismons under the direction of Mrs. Harold (Christelle) Willmann, chairman with Mrs. Alton (Anna) Lindemann, co-chairman, and Mrs. B.A. (Margaret) Froehner and Mrs. John (Rosa) Fink of Circle 1, Mrs. Theo. (Elsie) Siepmann and Mrs. Elmar (Estelle) Froehner of the J.O.Y. Circle, and Mrs. Clifton (Doris) Raeke and Mrs. W.O. (Faye) Philippus of the Lydia Circle completing the committee. Almost any day of the week there was activity at the parish hall, with one or two women, or groups of ladies using their artistic talents to create a different Chrismon which was to enhance the beauty of the Christmas tree in our sanctuary, this tree having been a tradition of many years standing at Monthalia Methodist Church. Finally, the air castles of gold, white and pearl of 1965 became a reality when one hundred ten Chrismons and two hundred sixty miniature white lights decorated a fifteen foot live cedar tree in the sanctuary for the first time during the Advent Season in 1967. Mr. and Mrs. Webster Tharp donated the tree, which had grown for years only a few miles from the church, to be used for this occasion. Two hundred fifty people, not including our own church group, registered in the guest book as having viewed the handiwork of the W.S.C.S. members and expressed appreciation for having been given the privilege of doing so, both verbally and through the press. The Gonzales Inquirer carried several articles, along with pictures on the beauty and significance of the Chrismons which enhanced the tree in our little country church.

A brochure on the various symbols and their meaning, prepared by Mrs. Harold (Christelle) Willmann and our pastor, Rev. W.G. Birkner, proved a great help to our guests in learning the significance of the Chrismons.

In 1968, after the merger of our Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, we became the Monthalia United Methodist Church, and the woman's organization became the United Methodist Women. The change of name had no effect on the zeal and fervor of various members as far as Chrismons and plans for the Christmas season were concerned. Several months before Christmas, groups were working on some new Chrismons such as angels, a harp, and a treetop star, along with a number of smaller symbols to fill in empty places on the tree. Also, Mrs. B.A. (Margaret) Froehner was asked to make a tree skirt for the base of the tree. Mrs. Elmar (Estelle) Froehner consented to write a story about the history of our Chrismon tree through the year 1968.

Plans were made and an Open House was held from 2 to 5 P.M. on Sunday, December 15, 1968, so that all who were interested could view our Chrismon tree. Each circle in the W.S.C.S. was given one hour in which its members were the reception committee, and furnished and served cookies and coffee to our guests for the occasion. Christmas carols played on the organ set a festive background during the Open House at which time 367 guests were registered.

In 1969, Mrs. Lee Muenzler was chairman of a committee to put up and take down the tree during the Christmas season. She chose various ones to help with this pleasant job. Only 50 people registered during the Advent season, but more saw and admired the Chrismons at our usual Christmas program that year.

In the years 1970-1971 two members from each circle of the W.S.C.S. and their husbands were the committee to put up and take down the Chrismons. Special care was always taken to preserve these treasures. Each article was wrapped in green florist paper and carefully packed in boxes. Also, in 1971 Leonard Gandre prepared and printed 500 brochures so those who registered as having seen our Chrismon Tree could have one of the brochures to gain more information on the significance and meaning of the symbols.

In later years, members of various Sunday School classes decorated trees that were acquired, trimmed as to shape, and placed in the bases by a committee from the Board of Education.

Live trees are always used for the Chrismons. Some of the trees came from as far away as Rosanky, Texas. One year a fresh cedar tree had grown only a mile away from the church on land owned by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Finch, former members of our church.

Each year that the Chrismon tree is in our sanctuary, all who see it get a special inspiration from viewing the many symbols of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The large tree in the sanctuary sometimes had to be cut and trimmed in order to fit between the floor and ceiling in church. A smaller tree was acquired and decorated for the various festivities attended in the fellowship hall each year from the year 1966 to the present time. The children listen to the explanation of various Chrismons by the pastor during the Advent season when the decorated tree stands in its special place in our sanctuary.

In 1984, the Lydia Circle asked the United Methodist Women's organization if they would help in defraying expenses to repair some of the Chrismons made in 1966 and 1967 as well as buying supplies necessary to make some new Chrismons. The organization agreed whole heartedly, and a set of four new instruction books was ordered from the Ascension Lutheran Church in Virginia. A group of the Lydia Circle purchased more beads, etc. to create new parable balls, kingdom balls, beaded angels, and a gold and pearl crown to grace the Chrismon tree. Also in 1984, 44 needlepoint Chrismons were handmade and put on the small tree in the Fellowship Hall along with the tiny white lights. Margaret Froehner, Betty Fink, Mildred Rossow, Clemie Littleton, Marie Schauer, Rosa Fink, and Luella Gandre all gave of their time and talent for this project which was beautiful.

The Chrismon tree in the sanctuary is a welcome addition during the Christmas season in getting our minds and hearts to realize the true meaning of Christmas - that Christ was born into this world for our salvation.