Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 Twelve-year-old Payen Shull of Deerfield holds the umbrella for his father Steve, while they cut down their family Christmas tree at JM Trees tree farm in Elkhorn, Wisc. The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons, shown sitting here in a church pew.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 LUke Fencl of Riverwoods (left,) and Mark Brisske of Deerfield check lights stored at the Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire prior to trimming the church christmas tree. The Church has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit vicar Dave Hulse (left,) Werner Brisske of Deerfield and Paul Brisske of Deerfield help string light on to the church christmas tree. The Church has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 Dave Traveltto of Lincolnshire looks over a possible tree with Fred Biederman of Riverwoods, Dave Hulse of Chicago, and Vic Larson of LIncolnshire. The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit vicar Dave Hulse of Chicago is congratulated for his tree cutting abilities after sawing down the church Christmas tree at JM tree farm in Elkhorn, Wisc., The tree cutting party in Elkhorn is a part of a tradition with the Church.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit's Christmas tree is hauled off back to the trailer to be later transported back to the church in Lincolnshire. The Church has an annual tree cutting party at the Lutherdale Bible Camp in Elkhorn Wisc, which includes a trip to JM tree farm.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 Twelve-year-old Dylan Utterback of Deerfield is watched by his family, mother Julie, father Joel and 15-year-old sister Kelsey as he cuts down their family christmas tree with help from Dave Hulse of Chicago. The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire has an annual tree cutting party at the Lutherdale Bible Camp along with a trip out to JM tree farm to pick out the church christmas tree along with their own.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 Members of the Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire load up the church christmas tree along with the family christmas trees. After their outing in Elkhorn Wisc., the trees will be dropped off at each family's home.The Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. | Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

Lincolnshire Saturday Dec 3 2011 While members Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire pick out the church christmas tree at JM tree farm in Elkhorn, Wisc., other members of the chuch, Jeanne Larson and her 19-year-old daughter Melissa help eight-year-old Caitlin Bittner and 12-year-old Ryan Shull with some ornament making back at Lutherdale Bible Camp where everyone meets for dinner.The Larson family has attended the annual tree cutting party since Melissa was a baby.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 Vic Larson (left to right,) Connor Dadey of Deerfield, Mark Brisske of Deerfield, Pastor Doug Meyer and Werner Brisske of Deerfield pull in the church Christmas tree to be set up inside the sanctuary of the Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire. The Church has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 Werner Brisske of Deerfield recovers an abandoned birds nest from inside of the Christmas tree from the Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire. The Church has an annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc., that includes family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree is cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media

RIVERWOODS Tuesday Dec 6 2011 Members of the Lutheran Church of Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire trim the tree with homemade Chrismons. According to the church website, the word chrismon is a combination of the two words CHRISt MONogram, and each has symbolic meaning. The church's annual tree cutting party in Elkhorn, Wisc. included family activities at the Lutherdale Bible Camp as well as a trip to JM Tree farm where the church Christmas tree was cut down. The tree was delivered to the church, put in place by some of the church members and trimmed with homemade Chrismons.| Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media