On December 1 st , the first Sunday in Advent, worshipers will be awed by the beauty of a 12-foot tree sparkling with white lights and adorned with Christian symbols at the front of the sanctuary. The word “Chrismon” is actually a combination of the words “Christ” and “monogram” or symbol, dating back to the times when early Christians had to worship in secret and used symbols such as the fish to mark the way to hidden places of worship. In the United States the practice of decorating a Chrismon tree began at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, VA, in 1957. In Oriental, however, Wanda Forrest, a lifelong member of the church, remembers that back in the 50’s, her father, Alston Spruill, would choose several cedar trees on his land and groom them all year until Advent, when the best one was put in the sanctuary in a big tub, which had to be watered constantly. In 1975 Jackie Mason returned from Coast Guard service and helped him with the task. Because of Alston’s fear of fire, the tree was always sprayed with fire retardant; but Wanda laughs to remember that when it was taken down and a match lit to it, it blazed up immediately.
Chuck Forrest and Al Spruill carried on the tradition of grooming a live tree until 2000, when Sharon and J. P. Morgan donated an artificial tree, which was used until three years ago. At that point a new 12-foot tree was bought with funds from the Sand Dollar Circle’s Soup and Sandwich Luncheon.
The custom of decorating a tree in the sanctuary with Chrismons began around 1978, when Sylvia Roberts, an original member of the Sand Dollar Circle, brought the idea from her grandmother’s church. Cynthia Delamar recalls that circle members would gather at the Oriental Marina Topside Restaurant, now the site of the Oriental Marina Inn, on Sunday afternoons and make the ornaments. The pastor at that time, Rev. David Lupton, and his wife Freda, were also very involved. Sunday school children and UMYF young people also made ornaments. Taking a closer look at the tree, one can see all levels of skills, from cotton-ball sheep to elaborate counted cross stitch and beaded ornaments. The tree skirt is also part of the history of the tree, since Mary Spruill, Wanda and Cathy Dunbar’s mother, was extremely particular about it, insisting that it be cleaned every year. This year’s celebration of Advent is set to be a joyous one, which will be enhanced by the Chrismon tree, holding the memories of generations of OUMC worshipers.
