Hallmark Ornaments 2009
-alphabetical by title-
Christmas Cards for Santa
Ornament Details artist: Linda Sickman materials: resin This is one of the earliest ornaments I bought. It seemed to represent a very human thought of prayer. I like to think that especially at Christmas, this is how God receives our prayers - with a great big smile and a sense of ease and relaxation. And how many prayers we send at Christmastime! Think of all the churches who celebrate all over the world, all those who send a silent prayer upwards during these holy days. Even if we don't celebrate Christmas perfectly, and still less try to live it all year, nevertheless we don't forget it. We still gather, we still hope for peace and a better world, we still recall the infant birth thousands of years ago. We still try. 
Good Tidings Angel
Ornament Details artist: Teri Steiger and Kristina Klein-Gaughran materials: plastic Two things are special about this ornament: First, this angel immediately brings to mind St. Terese's (aka the Little Flower) promise to "let fall a shower of roses" to all who ask her intercession in Heaven. As is so often emphasized when it comes to receiving help and graces, one first has to ask. I bet this is just what St. Terese looks like as she keeps her promise. Secondly, the manner in which the angel is distributing the love hearts is the way God acts - slowly, individually, through time. Nothing happens with the wave of a magical wand. Even creation took 6 days - it didn't happen in the blink of an eye, although it could have. But this angel shows us that God builds and builds. First, there has to be a foundation. Once that is set, then some walls can go up. Everything is one at a time. Although Scripture and even our own experience tells us this methodology is true, we always forget it. So this angel is a great reminder not just of St. Terese, but also the way in which she keeps her promise in assisting us to build the Kingdom. 
Make A Little Merry
Ornament Details artist: Sue Tague materials: felt, cardboard, resin This is one of my absolute favorite ornaments. I keep it nearby most of the year, to remind me of what is really important, and to cheer me up on those rainy, blue days. To me, the message is simple: you can be happy in a matchbox. The little mouse represents humility. Mice are low to the ground and industrious. They stay busy, working and preparing, and are often represented in popular imagination (such as in illustrations and children's books) as living in warm, tidy spaces of comfort and cheer. They are not involved in the pursuit of things that are above them, but rather focus on food, shelter and family. Think especially of the The Country Mouse and The City Mouse storybook. Or, if you like, Thoreau's opening statement in Walden - "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life." This mouse knows that she can do a lot to affect her own happiness, and that most of it is not dependent on what is outside of her. Happiness is about gratitude, more than anything else. She's gathered up the odds and ends that she could find - a worn out spool of thread, an old thimble. scraps of felt and unused buttons. She is resourceful and creative, and most of all uses the little she has to create a home of hospitality. Nineteen century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard wrote in Works of Love that the "hidden life of love is knowable by its fruits - yes, there is a need in love to be recognizable by its fruits." One of the first fruits of love is hospitality, the active pursuit of welcoming others. Finding joy in welcoming others is one of the keys to happiness. It's not dependent upon what's in your pocketbook or bank account, but what's in your heart. This ornament reminds me that I have plenty to be grateful for, and challenges me to ask myself where do I really think my happiness comes from? A Trio of Wreaths |
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Snowflake Season
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Star of Bethlehem
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The Winter Wreath
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These three ornaments are sold separately, but form a complete thought all together. They shed light on grace flowing into 3 different arenas: the world of man, the spiritual world and the natural world. One of the very imaginative things about each of these ornaments is that their outside forms mirror the inside images.
Snowflake Season: This ornament shows a glimpse into the world of man. The ornament displays two people pulling on a Christmas tree, most likely intending to yank the tree all the way into the bright red house behind them. Notice that they have to pull the tree uphill, through the snowbanks. This looks like a lot of work. The proper idea of work directly relates to the book of Genesis, when God tells Adam that "by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread." (Gen 3:19) Although this literally means that as a result of Adam's bad choice, life will now become much harder, there is another meaning as well. In Scripture, bread is also a reference to the Messiah, who will be born in Bethlehem ("house of bread"), and will give the people "bread from heaven." This statement from God means that not only will it be a struggle to survive, but also our relationship with God will also now require great labor. Being in relationship with God, once as easy as breathing, will now require toil and sweat. The rest of Scripture shows these various struggles of people to come into line with God's requirements. Snowflake Season shows this very struggle, in our individual lives. It's not easy to tramp through the cold, chop down a tree and then drag it uphill into our homes. But this is essentially what we are asked to do, spiritually, to participate in the life of God.
Star of Bethlehem: This ornament sheds light onto an iconic scene. We all recognize the city of Bethlehem, even though most of us have never, nor will ever, actually travel there. The unique architecture of the buildings, the palm trees and the giant star in the sky tell us that this is an image of the night Christ was born. So, this ornament is not so much about the world outside, but rather the world inside. The neat thing about this ornament is that it is entirely in the shape of a star, a transmitter of light. Recall that we do not actually see the light itself, but instead, we see through and by the light, and this ornament makes sense. Christ himself warns us to be sure that the light we follow is in reality the light of God, and not light that is really darkness. He says in John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." The challenge spoken here is is for us to follow the light of God, in mirror it in our own lives, just as the big star mirrors the small star inside the ornament.
Winter Wreath: This ornament portrays two winter birds, a chickadee and a cardinal, perched on a branch full of berries. Behind them is a field of snow, dotted with pine trees. It is an image of peace and calm, but also of quiet waiting. This ornament reminds us that the natural world is also part of what is to be redeemed by the Messiah. Romans 8:20 tells us that " against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But [it waits with] with eager hope that . . it also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into freedom." Can you imagine a time when nature will be free from its "slavery to corruption," from its unending cycling into decay? The restoration and transformation of the natural world, when the lion will lie down with the lamb, is one of the promises that of the coming of the Messiah. The promise of peace that the Christ Child brings is not just for the world of man, but for the entire created universe.
Snowflake Season: This ornament shows a glimpse into the world of man. The ornament displays two people pulling on a Christmas tree, most likely intending to yank the tree all the way into the bright red house behind them. Notice that they have to pull the tree uphill, through the snowbanks. This looks like a lot of work. The proper idea of work directly relates to the book of Genesis, when God tells Adam that "by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread." (Gen 3:19) Although this literally means that as a result of Adam's bad choice, life will now become much harder, there is another meaning as well. In Scripture, bread is also a reference to the Messiah, who will be born in Bethlehem ("house of bread"), and will give the people "bread from heaven." This statement from God means that not only will it be a struggle to survive, but also our relationship with God will also now require great labor. Being in relationship with God, once as easy as breathing, will now require toil and sweat. The rest of Scripture shows these various struggles of people to come into line with God's requirements. Snowflake Season shows this very struggle, in our individual lives. It's not easy to tramp through the cold, chop down a tree and then drag it uphill into our homes. But this is essentially what we are asked to do, spiritually, to participate in the life of God.
Star of Bethlehem: This ornament sheds light onto an iconic scene. We all recognize the city of Bethlehem, even though most of us have never, nor will ever, actually travel there. The unique architecture of the buildings, the palm trees and the giant star in the sky tell us that this is an image of the night Christ was born. So, this ornament is not so much about the world outside, but rather the world inside. The neat thing about this ornament is that it is entirely in the shape of a star, a transmitter of light. Recall that we do not actually see the light itself, but instead, we see through and by the light, and this ornament makes sense. Christ himself warns us to be sure that the light we follow is in reality the light of God, and not light that is really darkness. He says in John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." The challenge spoken here is is for us to follow the light of God, in mirror it in our own lives, just as the big star mirrors the small star inside the ornament.
Winter Wreath: This ornament portrays two winter birds, a chickadee and a cardinal, perched on a branch full of berries. Behind them is a field of snow, dotted with pine trees. It is an image of peace and calm, but also of quiet waiting. This ornament reminds us that the natural world is also part of what is to be redeemed by the Messiah. Romans 8:20 tells us that " against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But [it waits with] with eager hope that . . it also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into freedom." Can you imagine a time when nature will be free from its "slavery to corruption," from its unending cycling into decay? The restoration and transformation of the natural world, when the lion will lie down with the lamb, is one of the promises that of the coming of the Messiah. The promise of peace that the Christ Child brings is not just for the world of man, but for the entire created universe.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Alexxx1979
