Jesse Tree

The Jesse tree is a symbol of Jesus' family tree. It is based on the below verse from the book of Isaiah, and is a way of teaching the Old Testament background for the coming of the Messiah, which is the first long "Advent."

"A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots" - Isaiah 11:1

Last year we used a big branch that Pumpkin picked out spray painted gold and and printed these pictures and cut them out as ornaments. We also colored coordinating coloring pages. This year I ordered this kit (pictured above) for making felt ornaments. A couple friends came over the other night, and we cut ornaments out, getting about half way through in one evening as they are pretty intricate. These are our ornaments so far. Each night after lighting our Advent wreath, we will hang the ornament for that day on the Jesse tree.

Since every year the number of days in Advent is different, I tweaked last years reading list for this year. I also changed it to better match this particular ornament kit, which meant deleting some significant Old Testament stories. So next year, I think I will make a few extra ornaments on my own to match those stories. There are various symbols for each story that will coordinate with multiple different ornaments. Here is a link to a calendar with additional daily activities for the Jesse Tree. Below each reading and symbols is a link to a coloring page that corresponds to the story (I have a coloring page for each day except I could not find one for Tobiah's Journey, please let me know if you do).

November 29

Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4

Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth

Creation coloring page

November 30

Adam & Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24

Symbol: Man & Woman, tree

Adam & Eve coloring page

December 1

Fall of Man/Original sin: Gen. 3:1-24

Symbol: Serpent, tree, apple

Adam 7, 8, 9:1-17
Symbol: Ark, animals, dove, rainbow

Noah's Ark coloring page

December 3

Abraham: Gen. 12:1-9, 15:1-6

Symbol: Stars, torch, sword, mountain

Abraham coloring page

December 4

Jacob: Gen. 28:10-22

Symbols: Ladder, kettle

Jacob wrestling with Angel coloring page

December 5

Joseph & his brothers: Gen. 37

Symbol: Multi-Colored Coat, bucket, well, silver coins

Joseph coloring page

December 6

Joseph's Greatness: Gen. 41

Symbol: shock of wheat

Joseph storing food coloring page

December 7

Moses as Prince & Burning Bush: Ex. 1,2,3

Symbol: basket, baby in basket, river and rushes, burning bush

Baby Moses and Moses burning bush coloring pages

December 8

Moses - Plagues & Parting Sea: Ex. 5-12:1-36

Symbol: frog, parted sea

Moses Parting Sea coloring page

December 9

Moses receiving Ten Commandments: Exodus 19, 20, 24:12-18

Symbol: stone tablets

Ten Commandments coloring page

December 10

Moses water from the rock: Exodus 17:1-7

Symbol: staff

Water from rock coloring page

December 11

Samuel: 1 Sam. 3

Symbols: Oil lamp, candle lamp, temple

Samuel hears God's call coloring page

December 12

David Chosen King: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Symbol: sheep

David chosen king or Star of David coloring pages

December 13

David & Goliath: 1 Samuel: 17

Symbol: slingshot

David & Goliath coloring page

December 14

Solomon's Wisdom: 1 Kings 2:1-6, 3:4-28

Symbol: Scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword, crown

King Solomon coloring page

December 15

Elijah's Contest: 1 Kings 18:3,21-39

Symbol: burning rock

Elijah burning rock coloring page

December 16

Jonah: Jonah 2:1-2, 11 or entire book of Jonah

Symbol: Whale

Jonah & the Whale coloring page

December 17

Tobiah's Journey: Tobit 5, 6:1-9, 10:1-6, 11:1-15

Symbol: fish

December 18

Daniel and the Lion's Den: Daniel 6:1-29

Symbol: Lions

Daniel coloring page

December 19

John the Baptist: Luke 1:5-25, 57-80

Symbol: sandal, Shell with water, river

St. John Baptizing coloring page

December 20

Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38

Symbol: Angel

Annunciation coloring page

December 21

Visitation: Luke 1:39-56

Symbol: Mary

The Visitation coloring page

December 22

Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25

Symbols: Joseph, Carpenter's Saw, hammer, chisel, angle

St. Joseph coloring page

December 23

Journey to Bethlehem: Luke 2:1-6

Symbols: manger

Journey to Bethlehem coloring page

December 24

Jesus is Born: Luke 2:6-20

Symbols: baby Jesus

Jesus in manger coloring page

Epiphany - January 6

Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1-12

Symbol: shining star

Three Wise Men coloring page

Reference: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com