“Advent is a time of waiting. Knowing that Jesus is always with us, we remind ourselves to wait for the many ways of his coming. Advent is a time of hope. We hope and work for the fulfillment of God’s promises. Advent is a time of prayer. We pray that the coming of Christ will make a difference in our lives so that by our words and actions, all will know that Christ is always near.”
We gathered after our November Family Liturgy to learn about advent wreaths and The Jesse Tree. Materials were provided to make and take one or the other home. Posted below is info on the Advent Wreath and prayers to go along with each week as you light another candle.
Jesse Trees are a way to celebrate the ancestors of Jesus, with each ornament representing one ancestor who waited for the coming of the Messiah. The Jesse Tree is kind of like an advent calendar, where you mark the days by hanging one ornament each day of advent.
Isaiah the prophet called it a Jesse Tree when he wrote, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
In the Old Testament we learn Jesse was the son of Obed and the grandson of Ruth and of Boaz. He lived in Bethlehem and was of the Tribe of Judah; he was a farmer, and owner of sheep. Jesse is important in Judaism because he was the father of the most famous king of Israel, David. David was chosen by God to serve as king of Israel. David was the first member of a new royal family which ruled over Israel for many years. Jesse, David, and their children and grandchildren were ancestors of Jesus.
As we decorate our Jesse Tree with symbols of these people we remember that we too, wait, pray, and live as part of Jesus’ family.
This year, all the kids colored at least one of the paper ornaments for Jesse Trees that will help decorate our altars in both worship sites during Advent. The copies come with descriptions of who the symbols represent and why they are important, and a corresponding bible verse to look up. If you'd like a set of copies for your family I can provide a set or email you the document.
(For those outside our parish, find them through Fashioning Faith via The Pastoral Center.)
Here are the handouts for the Advent Wreaths with basic instructions, a wreath blessing, and table prayers for each of the 4 weeks. "O come, O come Emmanuel".
Blessings for your upcoming Thanksgiving and looking forward to our group field trip to visit to Our Lady of Victory Basilica!
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