Prairie Chapel keeps tree up all year
Prairie Chapel not only decorates their tree for Christmas, but for all the holidays and special events throughout the year. Beth Scott | Beacon
WARSAW – Most people have already taken their Christmas trees down for the year, but at Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church, their Christmas tree stays up all year around.
The 10-foot tree was donated in 2014 by Kenny and Joan Scheetz, who both attend Prairie Chapel. After Christmas that year, the tree was too difficult to take down, so Annabelle Border decided to make the tree her special project each month of the year. That next January, the tree went undecorated until Annabelle decided she wanted to decorate the pine for Valentine’s Day in February. Each month, she, along with her husband Jim and helpers Joe and Naomi Shaw decorate the tree, except for December when the congregation comes together to decorate the tree for Christmas.
“We’ve had people come to our church for different reasons and they always like the way the tree is decorated,” said Naomi.
In addition to Valentine’s Day and Christmas, the tree has been all decked out for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Independence Day, the summer months, back to school, fall decorations, and Thanksgiving.
The tree changes month to month and some decorations are added each year.
“Sometimes I get tired of the same thing, so I find something new in the store or I make something,” said Annabelle. “I think people are excited when they come in and see it changed.”
Annabelle is very particular about the way the tree is decorated and has a special spot for each ornament on the tree so that no two identical ornaments are placed too close together. She also has storage bins on shelves in her home with each month labeled on the bins.
Annabelle Border, along with volunteers, decorates the tree at Prairie Chapel for January. Border has a theme for the tree each month. Beth Scott | Beacon
One year, Annabelle even decorated the tree for Vacation Bible School. After taking pictures of the kids the first day, she printed them out that night and made them into ornaments to hang on the tree the next day. After the week was over, some of the kids were able to take a photo ornament home with them.
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Jim, Annabelle, Joe, and Naomi were at the church decorating it for January. Items on the tree feature ice skates, mitten ornaments, snowman faces, blue and white ribbons, snowflakes, and icicles with a snowflake topper.
Category: Faith
