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Advent

Advent begins November 30 and continues through the month of December until the 24th and the Christmas Eve services. Advent comes from the Latin word "adventus" meaning, "coming". As a season it dates back to the 6th century, making it one of the youngest of the church seasons.

 

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a unique Advent tree that can be very useful and fun for teaching about the Bible at Christmas time. The Jesse Tree represents the family tree, or genealogy of Jesus Christ. It tells the story of God's salvation plan from creation and throughout the Old Testament, to the coming of the Messiah.

The use of a Jesse Tree during Advent is a great way to "show and tell" the redemption story and the "coming" of a promised Savior! Each day of Advent, a homemade ornament is added to the Jesse Tree, a small tree made of evergreen branches. These symbolic ornaments can each represent a prophecy foretelling of Christ. Other variations include creating ornaments that represent the ancestors in the lineage of Christ, or using the various monogram symbols of Christianity as handmade ornaments.

During this Advent season, the elementary school children will be learning about a Jesse Tree. Each week during Advent the children will make an ornament and talk about the meaning of the symbol on the ornament. Over the course of the Advent season, the Jesse Tree will come alive with their creations! The children will also receive their own packet of Jesse Tree symbols so that they might create their own Jesse Tree at home. This would be a great activity for involving the entire family during the season of Advent.

Jesse Tree symbols will be hung on a tree at the front of church and small banners will be made of the Jesse Tree symbols and placed where the 150th anniversary banners now hang in the church.

For your own packet of symbols, and further information, please contact Ann Kleppe or Fr. Klutterman.

Nativity scene (or creche')

The Nativity scene can be put out during Advent, but instead of the whole set, build the scene slowly over the season, and wait until Christmas Eve to place the figures of Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the scene. The Wise Men can be seen at various places across the room, finally arriving on Epiphany, January 6.

 

The Advent wreath . . .

The circle of the wreath and the evergreens signify God's enless mercy and love. If you use candles, there are four, usually purple or deep blue (one might be pink), representing the four Sundays of Advent. As another candle is lit each week, it reminds us of the coming of Jesus into our lives. On Christmas, place a large white candle in the center of the wreath, and light it and the four other candles to represent the fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus.

 

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