"A Daily Jesse Tree Devotion"

In case you're not following Full Homely Divinity's Advent Calendar, here's something else very interesting, also from FHD and its "Rediscovering Advent" page.  It's chock full of Biblical people and readings and themes and symbols, and very worth doing at home each day, I think - even if you don't have an actual Jesse Tree.  I believe these are the same Old Testament readings you find in the Advent Calendar, but for me the enumerations and additions make this even more rich and resonant - even though the readings from Revelation are not included here.

A Daily Jesse Tree Devotion

Leader: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. (Isaiah 11:1)

Hang an ornament on the Jesse Tree and sing:

O come, thou Branch of Jesse's stem, From every foe deliver them That trust thy mighty power to save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Refrain:  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Read the Lesson for the day. Someone appointed may then give a brief reflection or explanation of the reading. Since one of the purposes of the Jesse Tree is to teach the history of salvation, it is especially important that children have an opportunity to learn more about the story and the symbol. Some Advent resource books provide questions for reflection.

Leader, or all together: Eternal Father, we thank you for all of the people who have been part of your plan of salvation from the very beginning of the world. As we remember all that you have done to prepare for our salvation, help us to be prepared to receive your Son Jesus Christ when he comes, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer may also be said and, if a meal is to follow, the usual grace before meals.

A Table of Suggested Lessons and Symbols for the Jesse Tree

The earliest Sunday on which Advent can begin is November 27th. When it begins later than that, either drop one or more of the starred (*) days, or double up as many days as are necessary. Always add Ruth to the tree on December 9th, and continue on from there to the end of Advent.

Day	Person	Theme	Reading	Symbol
First Sunday of Advent		Jesse Tree	Isaiah 11:1-3	Tree
Monday		Creation	Genesis 1:1-3, 26-31	Sun and Moon
Tuesday	Adam & Eve	Sin	Genesis 3:1-24	Apple & Snake
Wednesday	Noah	The Flood	Genesis 6:11-19; 7:11-12; 8:6-11	Ark or Dove & Olive Branch
Thursday	Abraham	The Promise	Genesis 12:1-7	Tent & Camel or Field of Stars
Friday	Isaac	Sacrifice of Isaac	Genesis 22:1-14	Altar & Ram
*	Jacob	Jacob's Dream	Genesis 28:10-22	Ladder
*	Joseph	God's Providence	Genesis 37:1-28; 45:1-11	Joseph's Coat
*	Moses	God Calls Moses	Exodus 3:1-14	Burning Bush
*	Balaam	God Blesses his People	Numbers 22:4-6, 21-35; 24:1-2, 15-17	Donkey
*	Joshua	The Fall of Jericho	Joshua 2:1, 8-18; 6:1-5, 15-17	Ram's Horn Trumpet or City Wall with Scarlet Cord
*	Gideon	Victory against Odds	Judges 7:1-21	Clay Pitcher
December 9	Ruth	Foreign Ancestress	Ruth 1:1-18; 3:1-9; 4:13-17	Sheaf of Wheat
December 10	Jesse	Root of the Family Tree	1 Samuel 16:1-13	Tree Stump with New Shoot
December 11	David	Shepherd King	2 Samuel 5:1-12	Shepherd's Crook
December 12	Nathan	A Royal House	2 Samuel 7:1-17	Prophet's Scroll
December 13	Solomon	Wisdom on the Throne	1 Kings 3:3-15	Crown
December 14	Elijah	Rejecting False Gods	1 Kings 18:17-39	Altar and Lightning
December 15	Isaiah	Prophet of the Advent	Isaiah 6:1-11	Advent Rose or Throne
December 16	Hezekiah	A Faithful King	1 Kings 18:1-8	Broken Idol
December 17	Jeremiah	A New Covenant	Jeremiah 31:31-34	Heart
December 18	Haggai	Splendor Renewed	Haggai 2:1-9	Temple
December 19	Habakkuk	Watchfulness	Habakkuk 2:1-4	Watchtower
December 20	Micah	A Ruler from Bethlehem	Micah 5:2-4	Town of Bethlehem
December 21	John the Baptist	Forerunner of the Messiah	Luke 3:1-17	Dove Descending to Water
December 22	Gabriel	The Annunciation	Luke 1:26-38	Angel or Lily
December 23	Joseph	Trusting God's Plan	Matthew 1:18-24	Carpenter's Tools
December 24 (morning)	Mary	Mother of God	Luke 1:46-55	Lily or MARIA Monogram
Christmas Eve	Jesus Christ	Christ is Born	Luke 2:1-20	Manger
Christmas Day	Emmanuel	The Word Made Flesh	John 1:1-18	Chi Rho Monogram