Seeking Hope, Advent II

A Jesse Tree
The 11th chapter of Isaiah describes the ideal king in the line of Israel’s great king, David. The first verse of that chapter says,
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

Jesse was King David’s father. The image of a branch growing out of the roots of Jesse points to a new king in David’s line. Even as the people of Israel were cut down like a tree, a few remained faithful and held on to hope in God. The re-established Israel. The stories of our biblical ancestors are stories of hope -- of people holding on to the dream that the world will be the place we want it to be. That hope -- for our saving future -- is the hope we seek in the life and teaching of Jesus.

Our advent devotion for this week is to create a Jesse Tree decorated with symbols of the hopes of those biblical ancestors. The symbols on the "Jesse Tree" remind us that our belief grows out of deep roots of thousands of years of ancestors in the faith.

Making a Jesse Tree is as simple as placing a tree branch in a large tin can (such as a coffee can) and anchor it with rocks. Then, create the symbols on construction paper. Punch a hole in the paper ornament with a hole punch. Attach the ornament to the tree branch with yarn. Below are six pages of Jesse Tree ornaments for you to print and use. Each page contains four of the designs listed below for kids to color and decorate with glitter or cotton balls glued to the ornament. Copy the designs to your computer. Print the designs on card stock. Cut each page into four ornaments and you'll have patterns for two-dozen Jesse Tree ornaments.

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