Project: Advent
Advent is a time of waiting, a time of anticipation and preparation for the coming of Jesus. As Christians, we want our focus to be on Jesus, not on the commercialism or busy-ness of getting ready for Christmas. There are many ways to get ready for Christmas, one idea is through a Jesse Tree.
What is a Jesse Tree?
It is a tree branch decorated with symbols representing the stories of people in Jesus' family tree. In Isaiah 11:1 we read, "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Jesse was the father of David, Israel's greatest king. And it was from David's lineage that Jesus came. That's where the idea of using a Jesse Tree to celebrate Advent came from. Before a symbol is hung on the branch, a Bible passage or a story from a story Bible is read.
I want to do a Jesse Tree Project with all my Scrapbook U friends.
So this is what I was thinking:
* 25 SU Friends pick one of the Advent days (see list below) and create an ornament that represents that advent day.
* You will then create 25 of that same ornament to exchange with the rest of the group.
* We will meet on November 18th to exchange ornaments, read the Bible verses, and of course have some holiday treats. This date will allow us time to create the ornaments yet still have them done in time to share with our families on Advent.
* I want to make this a family event but still want everyone to get a nice ornament to hang on their own Jesse tree. So if you want to include your child in this activity the age limit is 12. But if you have any questions please call.
*Make the ornaments dimensional or textured. It can be out of scrapbook paper, clay, watercolor, photos, WHATEVER. Use your imagination and creativity to think of ways to tell your "chapter". Make sure your ornament has some kind of hanger to attach to the tree.
If you Google: Jesse Tree, there will be a ton of hits. I will be working off of the Dean Lambert book, which you can order at the Christian Bookstore or Hastings. The following website has some good ideas in it.
25 Days of Christmas List:
1) The Light in Creation
2) The First Sin
3) Inside the Ark
4) The Call to Abram
5) Isaac and the Lamb
6) Jacob's Ladder
7) Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
8) Moses and the Ten Commandments
9) Canaan, the Promised Land of Blessings
10) Ruth and Boaz
11) King David
12) Josiah Finds the Law
13) Prophecy of Shoot from the Stump of Jesse
14) Prophecy of the Lion and Lamb Resting Together
15) Prophecy of the Prince
16) Prophecy of a Gentle Shepherd
17) Prophecy of the Suffering Servant
18) Prophecy of the New Covenant
19) Prophecy of Bethlehem
20) The Exile
21) The Return to the Land
22) The Star
23) The Light of the World
24) Angels Proclaiming the Coming of Christ
25) The Birth of Jesus
Please call and choose the ornament you want to create, by November 3rd. I will need to make sure we have enough to create a full Advent Tree. If you would like to do more than one (and receive more than one set back- which would make an awesome Christmas gift with a copy of the book) let me know and sign up for whichever you would like to do.
I hope this all makes sense. Please ask if you are confused.
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