We begin decorating our church Christmas tree every year with just white lights and then add decorations that symbolize the advent themes of Hope (star), Peace (dove), Joy (harps, trumpets, angels) and Love (hearts). The decorations are added by the members of our congregations each Sunday. This year, instead of the Advent themes, I thought it would be good to make our Christmas tree into a “Jesse Tree” – a tree with symbols of the Old Testament and New Testament people who led to the birth of Jesus, beginning with Adam and Eve. I cut out circles of art foam and glued on paper, felt or foam symbols. It is a good reminder of how the prophets and Kings of the Old Testament contributed to the line of David and eventually to the lineage of Jesus. I’m hoping that this will start a new tradition in our church as each Sunday of Advent I have the congregation guess the person that each symbol represents and have the children put the symbols on the tree.
penpaletteheart 