A Liturgy for Taking Down the Christmas Tree

O Creator,

Breather of Life,

Maker of leaf and needle,

Shaper of the deciduous bare and enduring green,

as we unadorn our reminders

of You laying aside Your own glories –

We remember another

Tree of Life

that wrought death

and a broken Tree of Death

that rings with hammer strokes

bringing life.

And we rejoice!

That seasons which seem to be filled with decay,

our souls know as

promises

of resurrection.

This was originally written for that solemn moment of taking down the Christmas tree.  When I was at Refine: the Retreat this spring which is hosted in the forest convent called “The Pines”, it seemed an appropriate reading among the grand trees.  As I’ve reflected on it, it has grown in application to my heart, not just for the un-adorning of Christmas trees, but for the Lenten season or any other time when the Shepherd is shearing us: laying us bare before Him so that He might remind us of what is to come.

The featured image is titled “Christmas Tree with Cone”

and is used with permission from Lancia E. Smith.

Jordan Durbin

Second-generation homeschooling mom of five wee snickbuzzards, Jordan Durbin is a maker of humble pottery, fine artist, calligrapher, gardener, pickle maker, baker of all things gluten-inclusive and butter-laden, violinist, vocalist, rabbit raiser, wife of one good man, lover of her blessed Redeemer.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in fine art from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana.  She is an avid coffee drinker, reader, and published children’s book author and illustrator.  She aspires to proclaim the resurrection with every moment of her life.

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