By Val Cadd, people’s warden at St James Church
Twenty-one years ago, in 2004, it was decided to place baubles on a tree in the churchyard at St. James Episcopal Church, Arbuthnott Street, Stonehaven (across the white bridge) in memory of very special people to us who have died and sorely missed.
We call this tree the Tree of Life and every December through Christmas and until Twelfth night in early January the tree in the churchyard is decorated with baubles bearing names of people very special to each of us and we no longer see. This tree is for everyone in Stonehaven and surrounding area.
The congregation of St. James would like to invite you all to place a bauble with your loved one’s name written on it and then hang it on the Tree of Life. The tree will be decorated from Advent Sunday (after the morning service) on Sunday 30th November until Monday 5th January. The tree can be found by the side gate, beside the churchyard wall and can be accessed from either inside or outside the churchyard. (If you wish to retrieve your bauble, please remove it from the tree before January 5th or search the basket inside the church by Sunday 11th January.)
Everyone is very welcome to either bring their own bauble or collect one from a basket inside the church. The basket of baubles along with a marker pen will be available (during daylight hours) in the church during Advent and Christmas and at St. James’ Christmas Coffee Morning in the church hall on Saturday 6th December from 10am until 12 noon.
We hope all who place a bauble on the Tree of Life will get comfort and everyone who passes by will appreciate the simple, yet stunning effect of a tree decorated with love.
