Page 9 - LC Advent and Lent

The Jesse Tree
Our ancestors, the people in our family tree, are often unique and interesting. The people who make up our “faith family,” ones who show us how we are related to Jesus, are also unique and interesting. For example, the
Bible tells us that Jesus was the relative
of David, Israel’s greatest king, and he was also related to Abraham, an early leader of the Hebrew people. Through these and many other faithful people, God took flesh
as Jesus and lived among us. The Jesse Tree is Jesus’ fam- ily tree. Jesse was the father of King David, and Isaiah wrote that a shoot (a branch) would
come forth from the root of Jesse, meaning that Jesus would be this shoot. A Jesse Tree, made with a bare branch or small tree, holds symbols of some of the people from the Old Testament who waited and prepared for Jesus.
It is an Advent custom to think
about and pray to Jesus’ ancestors.
• Draw one strip from the envelope. Make the symbol of that person as suggested. Use some of the art materials.
• When finished, put a piece of string on the symbol and hang it on the tree.
• Take a list of the Jesse Tree names home with you. Make a different symbol for each day of Advent and hang it on a tree (branch) at home as you wait for Christmas. Read the assigned Scripture story for each symbol as well.
Note to Facilitator: When all have completed their symbols, place the tree where all can enjoy it during the Advent season.
The Jesse Tree 5
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