Christian symbols adorn tree at Smyrna church
SMYRNA — Log Cabin Community Church in Smyrna traditionally hasn’t displayed a Christmas tree inside its picturesque chapel on Log Cabin Drive off Woodland Brook Drive. But this year it’s celebrating the holiday with a Chrismon tree.
A Chrismon tree is a variation of the Christmas tree that uses handcrafted ornaments, traditionally white and gold in color, which are representative of Christianity. The idea was that of a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Va., in the late 1950s, who wanted decorations deemed fit for her church’s Christmas tree.
Log Cabin’s Chrismon tree stands about 8-feet tall and has more than 200 white and gold ornaments in the shape of a cross, dove, chalice, Star of David and other Christian symbols, in addition to an angel on top of the tree.
“They are all made differently. You can get as extreme, as intricate and delicate as you want to,” said parishioner Mariah Thompson, who helped decorate the tree.
“We just thought it could be a nice thing that we could sort of all do and make the ornaments and have a tree in our chapel.”
Log Cabin’s Chrismon tree project is just one of many ways the small church is looking to carve out its identity among larger, surrounding churches and gain more members.
The non-denominational church’s membership is at just 40 people and its quaint stone chapel, with its bright red doors and rustic interior, has gained a bittersweet reputation as the “little wedding church,” where couples often have their weddings, but few rarely join.
“We have at least 60 (weddings) a year,” said wedding coordinator Pat Mackay, who became a member seven years ago.
“Most will come in and say, ‘We don’t have a church. We love the look of this. We want to get married in a church.’ Then I have others that come in and say, ‘My church is just too big or my church doesn’t have a center aisle.’”
The church receives most of its revenue from the weddings, members said. For some couples, getting married at Log Cabin has become a family tradition, as generations of people have tied the knot there.
Log Cabin was founded in 1912 in a small log cabin as primarily a Sunday School by several families in southeast Cobb who didn’t want to travel to Atlanta or Marietta for services, according to church history. The first building, a log cabin, has been restored and is still used for Sunday School and historical displays. In 1949, the stone chapel, which seats 150, was built and contains the main sanctuary. A reception hall, once referred to by older members as the lodge, was built around the same time.
Everett Stowe Jr., 87, has been a lifelong member of Log Cabin and remembers it as a rural but well-attended church in his youth, particularly at Christmas, when a big annual party was conducted. But he said its longtime quaintness as an insular church contributed to the decline in membership.
Log Cabin continues to have an adult Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. every Sunday morning and a worship service an hour later. The Rev. Richard Landers, associate director of admissions and recruitment at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, is the church’s pastor.
Landers is only the second pastor of the church, which gained its first pastor about seven years ago. Throughout its history, preachers of different denominations were invited to speak at the church as guest speakers on Sunday. While, guest speakers are still invited, members decided some stability was needed in the pulpit.
“We wanted the community to know we’re more than just a wedding church and we though this would be a good first step to grow, and let everybody know we do meet here every Sunday,” said Thompson, a six-year member.
“Everyone is friendly. It’s not a high-pressure church. You come twice and you’re a member. We are self-sustaining and supporting, we don’t have a big financial burden hanging over our head, which a lot of churches do.”
Each year, the church sponsors a large Easter egg hunt that draws as many as 100 children to its grounds. It also conducts an animal blessing in October that continues to grow annually. The church is also active with charities, such as MUST Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and Calvary Children’s Home. A homecoming celebration draws many old members every first Sunday in June.
In 2012, Log Cabin will celebrate its 100th anniversary throughout the year. From January to June, the church is inviting a guest speaker with a connection to Log Cabin once a month, leading up to the big day on June 3. A small library dedicated to late member Elliott Galloway, The Galloway School founder, is set to open at the church. Members will also plant two Dorothy Perkins rose bushes that have a historical connection to the church and also bury a time capsule on the property.
“We realize we don’t have basketball courts and Mother’s Day Out and all that. We’re slowly trying to create programs and an interest to get more younger people here,” Thompson said.
“There’s a sense of community (here), a sense of reverence and we accept anybody.”