If you’re looking to dispose of a live (or likely dead by now) Christmas tree, a Mobile-area church will take it off your hands — and then blow it up, along with dozens of others.

Family Pastor Dustin Tutor of Bayou Sara Baptist Church in Saraland says he’s been blowing up Christmas trees for the past two decades, dating back to his days as an intern at a church in Petal, Miss.

“Our college New Year’s Eve party was at a couple’s house who were from the church,” Tutor told AL.com this week. “They set up a couple of Christmas trees outside and covered them with bottle rockets. Then they placed a thing of gasoline and a candle beside it, then shot the gas container. It poured on the candle, which then lit the gas and the trees went off.

“It was small, but fun. After that, I took it and ran with it. I thought it was really fun in the beginning and thought ‘Why not make it bigger?’”

At Bayou Sara, the event has been incorporated to serve as the Christmas/New Year’s Eve party for the church’s students in grades 6-12, Tutor said.

“It’s a student ministry event we do every year,” he said. “We end each year with this event. The kids love it. It’s something they look forward to. It’s unique.”

Tutor said set up starts during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve as people begin bringing their trees to the church. This year, a nearby Christmas tree lot is donating their leftover trees to the cause.

Last year, about 40 trees went up in flames (see the video above). Tutor said they’re hoping to exceed that number this year.

“We cover them in tons and tons and tons of fireworks,” he said. “That’s what makes it fun — while the trees are going up, the fireworks are going off.”

He said some preliminary stacking will go on during the week, but most of the work will take place during the hours leading up to the lighting of the trees, set for 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Tutor clarified that he and the students aren’t technically “blowing up” the Christmas trees, but rather stacking them into a massive structure — a pyramid or tower of some sort — and then lighting the trees on fire with the use of fireworks and a unique lighting method.

Last year, however, a blanket of heavy, low-lying fog kept the gasoline fumes from dispersing, so when the 40 trees were lit (via bow and arrow), there was, in fact, an explosion.

This year, they’ve built a trebuchet, or large catapult, to use for the lighting.

“We’re pretty pumped about that,” Tutor admitted.

The public is invited to donate their trees to the effort. Trees will be accepted until 6 p.m. Sunday at the church, located at 12 Bayou Sara Avenue in Saraland. Trees should be free of all ornaments, lights or other decorations and left beside the church garbage dump at the back of the property.

The public is also invited to witness the show. Those interested should arrive at the church between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Sunday.