Advent: prepare for the four Sundays before Christmas!

[musicalpilgrim]

I hope we can include lots of fun, a 'Jessie tree', yes, music and cooking, craft work, related Bile Readings, in fact everything that you get up to relating to Advent;

Any thoughts?
While we are likely to become tired of consumerism associated with Christmas, we know that the Church of Christ has the answer...it lies in the title of the season; Advent means, the coming of something Extremely important.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

“Commercialization has obscured the meaning of Christmas. The commercial has become more important than the carol. What man has to sell more important than what God has given.” – Anonymous


“The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world.” – Stuart Briscoe Telling the Truth

 

[brinny]

Awwwww amen. May we ALWAYS be mindful on WHO it is we are celebrating and what "Christ-mas" means.

 

[brinny]

What's a 'Jessie tree'?

 

[musicalpilgrim]

What is a Jesse Tree? It is below, a small, leafless tree decorated with symbols portraying Jesus' spiritual heritage. It is a kind of family tree which was suggested by Isaiah's prophecy: "there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots."

It can be any shape or made out of anything,

It is a way of looking at the ancestors of Jesus... starting with Jessie the father of King David.

It started in Christian art in the Medievil period but has had a bit of a revival in English schools and churches.
They can be found in stained glass windows and old carvings. English Cathedrals have lots...
So it follows the ancestors, each one depicted in its own tag or whatever.

The Jesse tree represents Jesus' family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David.
The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus' birth.

 

[brinny]

Isn't that lovely? I had never heard of one....it's a BEAUTIFUL and MEANINGFUL tradition and a glorious history lesson. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[country woman]

That is so cool
it sure reminds us of what Christmas is all about
Its Jesus's birthday and we should reflect on this

 

[country woman]

in my home when I was growing up we had five candles we lit every week

 

[brinny]

Yes, and i especially need to keep it in mind.....

what a BEAUTIFUL choir this is...

i'm going to look for their full album...what a glorious and beautiful treasure this is....

O Come O Come Emmanuel - Full choir and orchestra with children's Choir - YouTube

 

[brinny]

Another precious version...the "real-ness" of how it must've been...and it isn't spoken of much, but wasn't Joseph a dear and precious husband to Mary?

O Come O Come Emmanuel Phillips, Craig and Dean - YouTube

 

[brinny]

The Nativity Story - YouTube

 

[country woman]

my old church used to light a candle every week and had a bible verse too

 

[brinny]

That's a beautiful thing to do.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

The candles are lit in the order of: Purple, purple, pink, purple, and finally, white. This is what each of the candles mean:
1 – Purple -The Candle of Hope – This candle reminds us that God keeps His promises. He promised a Savior, and He sent one.
2 – Purple – The Candle of Preparation – This candle reminds us to be prepared to receive the Lord.
3 – Pink – The Candle of Joy – This candle remembers the multitudes of angels that joyfully announced the birth of Christ.
4 – Purple – The Candle of Love – This candle represents the love of God. It was out of His incredible love that God sent His only Son Jesus.
5 – White – The Christ Candle – When this candle is lit on Christmas Eve, it symbolizes Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Read more at The Advent Candle - Faithful Provisions

There is quite a lot on the web about the advent candles, I am still learning.
I will make a wreath this year for certain...

 

[brinny]

i'm just learning too...they're beautiful, with a beautiful meaning for each one...

 

[musicalpilgrim]

I love the two recordings of O COme, O Come Emmanual! thank you Brinny...

 

[brinny]

You are soo welcome.....i was drawn to them because of the meditative quality of them, and they drew my thoughts to why we celebrate. I'm glad they blessed you too

 

[musicalpilgrim]

JESSE TREE SCRIPTURES (The symbols are only suggestions)
December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth
December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman
December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite
December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow
December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain
December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush
December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder
December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic
December 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes
December 10 Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, temple
December 11 Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff
December 12 David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star
December 13 Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword
December 14 Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle
December 15 Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heart
December 16 John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river
On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.
December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book
December 18 Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets
December 19 Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower
December 20 Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chains
December 21 Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols: sun rising or high in sky
December 22 Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter
December 23 Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host
December 24 Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun

Taken from: Liturgical Year : Activities : Jesse Tree Instructions - Catholic Culture

A very good site that gives some very practical ideas on how to create a Jessie Tree in your own home, Sunday school, church etc.

More ideas welcome, and maybe make one with the family?

 

[country woman]

advent candles

 

[musicalpilgrim]

A lovely advent song!

The Bara Macniels- O Come Divine Messiah - YouTube