It does look like a Gymnosporangium rust, most likely Hawthorn rust. Was the tree outside or inside? Usually they don't sporulate until later in spring in the north. Even down here you don't see the telia until mid March or so. At this point, nothing can be done for it except to prune out affected branches. The spores produced on this host cannot re-infect it, but infect the alternate host (in this case Crataegus spp.).

Thank you. The tree was outside, but we are moving so I dug up the plants I want to take with me and kept it in the porch for about a week, then the back hall, then a cool spot in the house.
I will prune off the affected branches, probably moving it into the house must have given the disease a jump start?
Thanks so much!
Alida

Unless it is something rare or of sentimental value, I would just replace it. It looks like an eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). These are easy to find.

Even if you prune the disease out, it may still have other infections you can't see yet and it will be very ugly at that point.

i agree..

i would not take a diseased plant to a new garden.. and hope i did not effect the whole new garden ..

ken

Ok, I can just get rid of it. Whatever else may have been infected can be replaced,
Thanks!