Branches of Advent reach out in hope

It is not exactly a Jesse tree and not quite an Advent wreath. But an unusual blend of symbols has deepened the meaning of Advent for parishioners of St. Mary's Church in Clinton Heights.

As Rachel Haney, age eight, said: "It helps people look at Advent in a different kind of way. It starts with a big tree stump and grows into a tree. It resembles how we prepare for Christ to be born from the stump and then rise up and live His life."

The leafless, 12-foot tree is set into a dead tree stump and encircled with evergreens. Unlike a Jesse tree, it has no ornaments. Similar to an Advent wreath, it holds four Advent candles with purple and pink ribbons. Placed near the presider's chair, it is visible from anywhere in the church.

Faith blooms
"The tree later will sprout," said Rev. David LeFort, pastor of St. Mary's, "reaching out into the open space as an invitation to all persons to enter into Advent."

Father LeFort believes the tree has a deeper symbolism than a wreath which is circular and self-contained. "For someone who doesn't feel part of the Church or who doesn't understand Advent, this symbol invites them to look at it," he explained.

The tradition of the Jesse tree is taken from the Bible. Isaiah 11:1 cites a prophecy of the birth of Jesus as the Messiah from the House of David: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."

"The stump blossoms from death," said Father LeFort, "and sends off a shoot that sprouts forth."

Carol Tenzyk, liturgical coordinator for the parish, proposed the idea after learning of it at a conference in Orlando, Fla.

"With this symbolism," said Mrs. Tenzyk, "we reached out a little farther with the message 'from darkness to light, from the dead to the reborn.'"

"I thought it was a wonderful idea," Father LeFort told The Evangelist. "Maybe it would reflect a fuller understanding of Advent."

Dead wood alive
A parishioner contributed a tree stump and a hole was drilled into it. A tree taken from the church property was inserted.

For the past 10 years, a large Advent wreath at St. Mary's had been raised and lowered by remote control. It was not visible to everyone, and it blocked the view of the sanctuary for others.

In addition, Mrs. Tenzyk explained, "it didn't give the idea of what Advent is about. And it gets boring putting the same decorations up every year. This is thinking outside the box."

Parishioner Judy Pinto appreciates the new depth of meaning the tree has brought to the parish.

"It was dramatic to walk into the church and see the starkness of the barren limbs with these beautiful, delicate ribbons on it," she said. "It was gorgeous and dramatic in its starkness. It reminded me of the barrenness of our lives in winter. But the fullness of the evergreens projects the coming of the real evergreen - the fullness of the coming of the Lord who will take away those things that are not Christ-like."

Good visual
Teresa Memole, a 13-year-old altar server at St. Mary's, was not initially impressed when she heard about the tree.

"I thought it was going to be a lame little tree with some candles on it," she said. But upon seeing it, she was won over: "The tree coming out of the stump is really cool. It is better symbolism of what Advent means. The dead stump and a new tree are new life and hope for the world when Jesus comes. I like it a lot."

"It sparks them to really consider looking at Advent in a newer, fuller way," commented Father LeFort on parishioner reactions. "Hope, peace, justice, and love all proclaim the Advent season. But these branches continue to reach out in new directions - such as peace. We pray for it - but how about peace in our own homes or marriages?

"There is an individual focus and a Christian community focus, a parish focus," he concluded. "With these different appreciations of season of Advent, we are going to grow individually but also as a community."

Ultimately, he said, "this shoot that sprouts will bring salvation."

(12/17/09) [[In-content Ad]]