Some people object to having Christmas decorations within the church sanctuary, believing it allows the traditions of the secular to invade the sacred. In our “Trimming of the Tree” service, I provided a devotional and explanation of the Christmas decorations that we typically use in the church, summarizing their symbolism. Some of you would probably appreciate having a copy of this explanation; therefore, I have included it as an article for our January newsletter:
Tonight we will have our “Trimming of the Tree” service, which in many churches is called the “Hanging of the Greens.” This night marks the beginning of our celebration of the coming Christ child: the Advent of Christmas, and the Advent of Christ. Our sanctuary is being transformed with rich symbols of the season; and tonight we share the meaning of these symbols with one another and with our children. Many decorations have their symbolic basis in a passage of prophecy found in Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7.
Our sanctuary is being decorated with many symbols, the first of which is the Advent wreath. The wreath and its candles are the visual focus of the season, and one candle is lit each week as Christmas approaches. The circle of the Advent wreath has no beginning and no end, portraying God’s timelessness and His eternal plan, and the evergreen color denotes eternal life. The shape of the wreath is round, reminding us of the fellowship of believers around the world who share with us the celebration of His coming. The four candles represent Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.
The poinsettia is a vivid plant, full of meaning. A cluster of small flowers spring forth from among the crimson leaves, which themselves contrast sharply with the remaining green leaves of the plant. The star-shaped formation of the red leaves, suggests the guiding star of Bethlehem (Mt 2:1-2). The crown of yellow flowers reminds us of Him who was born the infant King, as prophesied by Isaiah (Is 9:6). The blood-red leaves foreshadow the cruel cross that lay ahead for the King of Glory (Is 53:5); and underneath, we find a carpet of green, which is the reflection of abundant and never-ending life, as foretold by Isaiah (Is 9:7).
Many kinds of greenery are used to adorn the church building at Christmas time. Mistletoe symbolizes peace, and the prickly leaves and red berries of the holly help us to remember the crown of thorns and the scarlet wounds of Jesus Christ. The fresh scent and color of the evergreen garlands are symbols of life.
The triangle shape of the Christmas tree is like an arrow pointing upward toward God. The color green represents the life we have obtained in Christ; and the fact that it is an “evergreen” tree, stands for our “eternal life” in Jesus. The lights symbolize the glory and splendor of heaven; and the gifts beneath the tree represent how believers have received the greatest gift of all time, which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rm 6:23).
Sometimes you will even see bells, or jingle bells, used as decorations. Bells signal the gathering of people for worship; they herald events of worldwide importance; they announce weddings, and they proclaim the birth of royalty. The joyful ringing of bells is undeniably associated with Christmas, reminiscent of the birth that changed the world for all time.
The sanctuary and tree are adorned with decorative lights. Of all the symbols of Christmas, the one that has come to be most meaningful and universal is light; pure, liberating light as portrayed by Isaiah (Is 9:2). Light is a perfect metaphor for Christ, the Son of God, and for His presence among us. Like the love of Christ, the light of the tiniest bulb dispels the darkness; and in this same way, the light and love of Christ shines forth through us into a sin-darkened world. Each of us is just a single glimmer, but together, we can light up the entire world with His love.