Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Advent Devotions - The Jesse Tree

Isaiah 11:1 - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

This [no longer in print] set of devotions for the season of Advent stems [hee hee] from those words of Isaiah. The series of 29 Bible readings (designed for the longest-possible season of Advent) begins with Creation and goes up through the Nativity, focusing on God's promise of a Savior in prophecy and the lives of OT heroes of faith. We have often doubled up on some of the shorter stories to accommodate a season shorter than 29 days, and it is also possible to simply reference one story in another if time is very short (ie, in a classroom).

Each daily devotion has a Bible reference, a hymn suggestion, and a specific symbol to portray the story. My family has little felt ornaments for each symbol (pictured below), but you can print off pictures or omit the symbols entirely and still be edified by the journey from sin to Savior. The series is designed to start on the first Sunday in Advent and continue through Christmas Day.

Our Jesse Tree, with ornaments
1. (First Sunday) The Jesse Tree 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Isaiah 11:1. Hymn 23. Symbol: Jesse Tree banner or stump.
2. The Birth of Life Gen. 1:24-28. Hymn 237. Symbol: world
3. Adam and Eve Gen. 3:1-24. Hymn 378. Symbol: apple and snake
4. Noah and the Flood Gen. 6:11-22; 8:6-12. Hymn 429. Symbol: ark
5. Father Abraham Gen. 12:1-7; 13:2-18. Hymn 439. Symbol: tent and camel
6. Isaac and the Ram Gen. 22:1-14. Hymn 435. Symbol: agnus Dei (lamb)
7. Jacob and his Dream Gen. 27:41-28:22. Hymn 589. Symbol: Jacob's ladder
8. (Second Sunday) Symbol of Prophecy Isaiah 9:2-7. Hymn 47. Symbol: (advent) rose
9. Joseph and his Coat Gen. 37:1-36. Hymn 17. Symbol: coat of many colors
10. Moses and the Law Exodus 20:1-17. Hymn 286. Symbol: Ten Commandments
11. Blessing of Aaron Numbers 6:22-27. Hymn 332. Symbol: hand of benediction (two fingers)
12. Samuel and the Word of the Lord 1 Sam. 3:1-21. Hymn 283. Symbol: oil lamp
13. David 1 Sam. 16:14-23. Hymn 360. Symbol: harp
14. Symbol of Shepherds Psalm 23. Hymn 436. Symbol: shepherd's staff
15. (Third Sunday) Wisdom of Solomon 1 Kings 3:3-28. Hymn 4. Symbol: crown
16. Elijah and the Raven 1 Kings 17:1-16. Hymn 414. Symbol: raven
17. Elisha and Healing 2 Kings 5:1-27. Hymn 564. Symbol: hand of blessing (hand with dove)
18. Isaiah Isaiah 6:1-8. Hymn 11. Symbol: scroll
19. Jeremiah Jer. 31:31-34. Hymn 279. Symbol: Bible in heart
20. Nehemiah the Builder Nehemiah 13:10-22. Hymn 9. Symbol: church
21. Angels Hebrews 1:1-14. Hymn 35. Symbol: angel with candle
22. (Fourth Sunday) Zechariah and Elizabeth Luke 1:5-25. Hymn 13. Symbol: altar
23. Virgin Mary Luke 1:26-38. Hymn 24. Symbol: lily
24. Magnificat Luke 1:39-56. Song of Mary, p. 57. Symbol: Mary
25. Birth of John the Baptist Luke 1:57-80. Hymn 16. Symbol: baptismal shell
26. Joseph of Nazareth Matt. 1:18-25. Hymn 14. Symbol: carpenter's tools
27. Symbol of Bethlehem Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1-12  Hymn 66. Symbol: Star of David
28. (Christmas Eve) Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-20. Hymn 54. Symbol: manger
29. (Christmas Day) Christ our Lord John 1:1-8. Hymn 47. Symbol: Chi Rho
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3 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 27, 2012 at 2:01 PM

    yup...totally share next year at PWR! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sarah BethDecember 27, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    I love the idea of 29 days to include Christmas Day. What is the hymnal your hymn numbers are linked to?

    --Sarah Beth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LeahDecember 28, 2012 at 6:30 AM

      The hymns are from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. If you use a different hymnal, here are the hymn titles:
      1. Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel
      2. Lord of Lords, the Sparkling Heavens
      3. All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall
      4. What God Ordains is Always Good
      5. Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
      6. The Will of God is Always Best
      7. Now the Day is Over
      8. Behold, a Branch is Growing
      9. God's Own Son Most Holy
      10. The Law Commands and Makes Us Know
      11. Go, My Children, with My Blessing
      12. Speak, O Savior; I am Listening
      13. The Lord's My Shepherd; I'll Not Want
      14. Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep
      15. Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates
      16. I Leave All Things to God's Direction
      17. There is a Balm in Gilead
      18. Comfort, Comfort All My People
      19. O Word of God Incarnate
      20. Jesus, Your Church with Longing Eyes
      21. Of the Father's Love Begotten
      22. There's a Voice in the Wilderness Crying
      23. The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
      24. Song of Mary (Magnificat)
      25. On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
      26. Arise, O Christian People
      27. O Little Town of Bethlehem
      28. Where Shepherds Lately Knelt
      29. Behold, a Branch is Growing [Reprise :)]

      Thanks for the comment! I hadn't thought about which hymnal people would have.

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