Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Hanging of the Greens will be celebrated Sunday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Elizabethton.
Hanging of the Greens is a traditional Christian ceremony of decorating the church for the Advent and Christmas season, often celebrated on the first Sunday of Advent.
The service will include music, Scripture readings, and is a time of worship.
Evergreens are a symbol of things that last. Isaiah wrote that there would be no end to the Messiah’s reign…The service will include decorating the church with fir and pine boughs, holly, wreaths, candles, the nativity, and the Chrismon tree.
Chrismons are made of felt, beading, and other materials, symbols known as “Christ’s Monograms” — from which the “Chrismon” service gets its name.
The Hanging of the Greens is based on the English tradition of decorating the home with wreaths, garlands, a Christmas tree, and evergreens for Advent and Christmas. In a church setting, it readies the sanctuary (and church members) for the season.
“As we make ready for the birth of the child by preparing the sanctuary, we make ready ourselves and the sanctuary of our own hearts. We are mindful that, although it is not Christmas yet, it will be here soon, very soon,” said a church member.
Advent is a time of expectation, and this is symbolized not only by the four-week period of preparation, but also by the lighting of an Advent candle on each Sunday of the season. The four candles provide a visual way to count off four Sundays of this season. The flame of each new candle reminds church members that something is happening, but something more is still to come. The Advent season is not complete until all four candles are lighted, with the central Christ candle also burning brightly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The public is invited to the service.
The Rev. Ray Amos is pastor.