usually used during the Advent season decorated each week by ornaments representing events from Creation through the Birth of Christ. The name “Jesse Tree” comes from Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots.” The Jesse Tree is a method of telling of God’s faithfulness from the Old Testament into the New Testament.
In addition to the site above, this site will give you symbols that you can print or use to make your own ornaments for such a tree: http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=1628. You should definitely read the article by “Rocks In My Dryer” for more information and inspiration!
This idea of a Jesse Tree so inspired me! And then, last year, as part of our Advent story reading, I began using the book “One Wintry Night” by Ruth Bell Graham & illustrations by Richard Jesse Watson. As I read through it to our family, I realized that it had much of the same content as the Jesse Tree devotional. So, that stirred my creative juices! This year, we are using symbols from this book to make our own version of a “Jesse Tree”. As far as I know, it is an idea that is original to us. Perhaps we will alternate in the future, using Jesse Tree devotions one year and “One Wintry Night” in the future. In any case, I strongly encourage you to to purchase this book. It has a great story and the illustrations are some of the most amazing that I’ve ever seen! They really are breathtaking.
I love this picture from page 49:
I am so anxious to share this book with you, that I’m giving away two of them! If you’d like to get your own free copy, share one of your favorite Christmas or Advent traditions with us in the comments section (either on this blog or via my Facebook link). Make sure to leave a valid email address if you don’t have an account on here. I’ll draw names on December 14th and post the winners on December 15th!
**ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 12PM EST ON DECEMBER 14TH**
Many blessings,
Ashlie
17 comments:
That book is wonderful. I won a signed copy several years ago in an employee giveaway. Love this post--thanks so much for sharing.
(I am not entering the drawing, BTW. :o))
Oh gooooody!!!! I LOVE giveaways. How creative. I had not heard of the Jesse Tree but LOVE Rocks in My Dryer AND One Wintry Night! Thanks for taking this initiative, Ash! BTW, Karen is a RWAV contributor (that's why she's not entering). In that case, I guess I don't qualify either. :)
We have an Advent Tree that we started last year because we felt like AG could understand the meaning behind it. So each night, starting on the first we open each drawer along with an ornament to hang on the tree, they find 2 pieces of chocolate and then Jason reads one or two verses from the Christmas story to them. He always finishes up the verses the night before Christmas and then we read the whole story on Christmas.
Thank you for the link! I'm so glad this tradition has been meaningful to your family--it certainly has been to mine as well.
I'm so glad you posted about this book. We actually already have it. I started to read it one night, but then I quit because it looked a little long. You know how at night you kinda scan through a book to see if it's short or long. I need to read this one to Will. I'm gonna send some friends on over here to enter the drawing. :)
We have a tradition of watching Christmas movies each weekend through the Christmas season. As the kids get older, they look forward to this fun family time.
We love to play games, so every December, as soon as the tree is up, I place all the games I have purchased over the last 12 months under the tree...all wrapped up. I'll pick up card games to board games as they go on sale. Then each evening, the kids take turns choosing which one to open that night. Whatever they open...we play. it has become a tradition that my oldest now talks about even after moving away from home. it is the thing he misses the most.
oh this looks like an incredible book! My friend made a Jesse Tree Advent calendar (perfect for adding to your Christmas Crafty notion ideas!)
Our favorite traditions are just beginning--our daughter is a little over a year old so we haven't done anything too exciting yet BUT our favorite thinga s a couple was to put our tree up together and reminisce about our ornaments (each one has a special meaning and is picked with a purpose!)
Thanks for the giveaway, too!
Hi Ashlie. I appreciate your kind comments about "One Wintry Night". I illustrated this book and so enjoyed working with Ruth Bell Graham. I do have some of the images from the book available as prints (www.RichardJesseWatson.com), if your readers are interested. Thank you for sharing your creative Advent ideas.
Many blessings.
We are just beginning our traditions. Right now our traditions are pretty much like everyone elses. Tree, outside lights, advent house, village scene etc. But when I was a kid my favorite Christmas was when the entire day was a game day. We kept a running total of whom won what game and at the end of the day, the winner got a huge casserole of rice krispie treats all to themselves. I think second place was a smaller casserole of brownies, and third was cookies. It was awesome! I can't wait to do that type of tradition one day. Right now we will be lucky if I can get Christmas cards out without baby Henry teeth marks on them! =)
The book loos amazing. Our traditions involve carving out special time to spend just as a family. We focus our time on placing special moments on the calendar so my hubby and I know when we are taking the boys to special outings to see lights, hear music etc. We also read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve and open an Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas Day. Lastly, I bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus and we sing to him after Christmas dinner.
Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Caroline
thegrossmans@carolina.rr.com
Our family began the Thankful Tree last December. I bought a 3 ft tree at AC Moore and we put it in the upstairs foyer (the middle point between the kids bedroom). Each night after the kids put on their PJ's and brushed their teeth, we all sat as a family "under" the Thankful Tree- I had a sign set up beside it. We kept a tin canister beside the tree that had cut out construction paper "ornaments" of various colors. The idea is that each person takes an ornament from the canister and writes down what they are thankful for that day. Last year, only one of the kids could write, so we would ask the younger kids what they were thankful for and write it for them. It was such a special family time for us. We started on Dec 1 and went through Christmas day evening. This year the kids were asking for the Thankful Tree in November, so I feel confident it left an impact on them. I truly beleive that this new tradition helped keep us all set on the Lord during this busy holiday season. It forced us to take a moment each day and count our blessings. I put all the "ornaments" from last year back in the tin can and it was heart-warming to reread the blessings from last year!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing and I love the giveaway. I love Christmas family traditions. Each year, we always have a birthday party for Jesus and the kids help me make a cake and we have the party Christmas morning. We also each give a gift to baby Jesus and put it in a manger that my husband built(the gift is something that we give to someone in need and pray that God will use it to meet a need in that person's life).
If my name happens to be drawn, here is my email kristen.garrett@comcast.net
How fun! Traditions to me are important. We have fun decorating as a family and all going to my mom and dad's to still help them w/ their tree even though we are grown w/ children of our own. Family time is so sweet and special!
Book sounds great! A family tradition from my "growing up" years ... As a family, we lit the Advent candles for 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. After Sunday night "lighting," we would draw the name of someone in the family. For one week, we had to do anonymous acts of kindness and service for this person. For every act, we had a jar to put money into, which would be used as part of our family offering for a needy family, missionary, etc. Every Sunday night, we got to guess who our "Advent person" had been for the week before. A wonderful tradition we plan to implement in our own home when our youngest is old enough. C.McVey, gcmcvey@tks-net.com
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