JESSE TREE
Our family doesn't believe in celebrating the current cultural "Christmas" because of its pagan origins. But we do however want to celebrate thankfulness in Christ as well as the story of the birth of Christ and why he came as well as God's promise to us because of his coming. :)
I found out about something called a jesse tree, which is to represent the time before Christ's coming and God calling his people out of slavery in Egypt and giving a new good king, king Jesus. It starts Dec 1 and continues on to Dec 25, with a small ornament with a symbol/scripture for each day.
I found a small part of a branch and put it in a glass jar and made tiny little circles out of paper for the ornaments. Very simple, but we don't have much space and really aren't much into decorations. I am going to use it for two purposes: 1- as a thankfulness tree, 2- as a jesse tree of course.
Right now it is sitting on my dresser with 2 little ornament notes about 2 reasons I am thankful. It is a reminder to always think on the Goodness of the Lord. Sometimes I can forget. I am going to try to do one a day until dec. 1 and then start the symbols and stories/jesse tree.
Please read more about it here: More about the jesse tree.
Table of Scripture Readings for the Story
| Date | Persons | Events/Themes | Scripture | Symbols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday | Introduction of the Jesse Tree | 1 Sam 16:1-13 Isa 11:1-10 | The Tree | |
| Mon Wk 1 | God | Creation | Gen 1:1-2:3 | Dove |
| Tues Wk 1 | Adam and Eve | The First Sin | Gen 2:4-3:24 | Tree with Fruit or Apple |
| Wed Wk 1 | Noah | The Flood | Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17 | Rainbow or Ark |
| Thur Wk 1 | Abraham | The Promise | Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6 | Field of Stars |
| Friday Wk 1 | Isaac | Offering of Isaac | Gen 22:1-19 | Ram |
| Sat Wk 1 | Jacob | Assurance of the Promise | Gen 27:41-28:22 | Ladder |
| Second Sunday | Joseph | God's Providence | Gen 37, 39:1-50:21 | Sack of Grain or Coat |
| Mon Wk 2 | Moses | God's Leadership | Exod 2:1-4:20 | Burning Bush |
| Tues Wk 2 | Israelites | Passover and Exodus | Exod 12:1-14:31 | Lamb |
| Wed Wk 2 | God | Giving the Torah at Sinai | Exod 19:1-20:20 | Tablets of the Torah |
| Thur Wk 2 | Joshua | The Fall of Jericho | Josh 1:1-11, 6:1-20 | Ram's Horn Trumpet |
| Fri Wk 2 | Gideon | Unlikely Heroes | Judg 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 11-8:28 | Clay Water Pitcher |
| Sat Wk 2 | Samuel | The Beginning of the Kingdom | 1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9 | Crown |
| Third Sunday | David | A Shepherd for the People | 1 Sam 16:1-23-17:58, 2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:1-17 | Shepherd's Crook or Harp |
| Mon Wk 3 | Elijah | The Threat of False Gods | 1 Kng 17:1-16, 18:17-46 | Stone Altar |
| Tues Wk 3 | Hezekiah | Faithfulness and Deliverance | 2 Kng 18:1-19:19, 32-37 | An Empty Tent |
| Wed Wk 3 | Isaiah | The Call to Holiness | Isa 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7 | Fire Tongs with Hot Coal |
| Thur Wk 3 | Jeremiah | The Exile | Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11 | Tears |
| Fri Wk 3 | Habakkuk | Waiting | Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19 | Stone Watchtower |
| Sat Wk 3 | Nehemiah | Return and Rebuilding | Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 | City Wall |
| Fourth Sunday | John the Baptist | Repentance | Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30 | Scallop Shell |
| Mon Wk 4 | Mary | The Hope for a Future | Luke 1:26-38 | White Lily |
| Tues Wk 4 | Elizabeth | Joy | Luke 1:39-56 | Mother and Child |
| Wed Wk 4 | Zechariah | Anticipation | Luke 1:57-80 | Pencil and Tablet |
| Thurs Wk 4 | Joseph | Trust | Matt 1:19-25 | Carpenter's Square or Hammer |
| Fri Wk 4 | Magi | Worship | Matt 2:1-12 | Star or Candle |
| Dec 24 | Jesus | Birth of the Messiah | Luke 2:1-20 | Manger |
| Dec 25 | Christ | The Son of God | John 1:1-18 | Chi-Rho Symbol |
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