The Dove | November & December 2021, January 2022
Advent Resources for Your Home FORMATION This Advent, three resources will be available for your spiritual enrichment: The Jesse Tree & Ornament Set, Advent Mason Jars, and Advent Close to Home Daily Words. Read more about them on these pages. JESSE TREE AND ORNAMENT SET A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings. Jesus was a descendent of King David and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch. The name comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says: 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. — Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV)
The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained glass windows put in churches that helped illiterate people (people who can't read or write) to learn about the Bible, from creation to the Christmas story. Now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree. Each day through Advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of Advent) a special decoration or ornament (similar to a Chrismon), that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree. Consider making this an intergenerational activity and prayer practice with a family member near or far. You can read about one family’s experience, and see photos, below! Sign up for a kit by November 14 at www.stdavidschurch.org/ advent/. For additional information about the Jesse Tree, visit The Gift Shop for a copy of: The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Bee Willey.
JESSE TREE NEAR AND FAR BY TOM JOHANTGEN AND LESLIE ROY Last year, we saw the announcement about the Jesse Tree activity that St. David’s was offering during Advent and thought this would be a fun thing to do with our three grandchildren in Michigan. We mailed them all of the materials and had a set for ourselves. Every night during their dinner time, we would FaceTime with them to color our ornaments, read the scriptures, and blow out the Advent candles together.
as Advent. We also celebrated Lent with the grandkids but were interrupted with the adoption of Maisie, their new baby sister. We look forward to celebrating Advent again this December.
This was such a wonderful bonding exercise that we continue to FaceTime every night at 6:00pm. Our grandchildren refer to our dinner time prayer and chats
www.stdavidschurch.org/advent/
