Advent Tree

December 6, 2011 by Sarah

I thought some of you might be curious to see how we do our Advent reflections. I wasn’t sure what to call it, actually, but I like reflections, because that’s what we do.

We spend a little time each day reflecting on the promises given in scripture of a Messiah to come. We re-live the days of God’s people in the Old Testament; we remember the failures of mankind and the faithfulness of God. We re-count the times of old, and anticipate with our forefathers (spiritually-speaking) the need, the desire, the longing for Christ.

This is our felt, hand-made, totally not fancy advent tree.
If you’re strategic, you can stand gazing at it and get kissed!

We follow the scripture outline I found online for a Jesse Tree. Here is one with the pictures and a reading.   We did a few things differently: I wanted it to all be done in the month of December, so that way it wouldn’t matter when Thanksgiving was or what day advent started that year, since that changes every year. So, we combined day 2 and 3 by putting the world and the serpent/fruit passages on the same day. Also, I don’t like cribs or cradles, so for the account of Sarah having Isaac, I made the silhouette of a pregnant woman in pink with silver glitter hair.

The tree has little velcro squares randomly all over it.  The pockets have their numbers stenciled on with gold glitter glue. I used the kind that comes in a little pen. It was easy.  The whole thing is made from felt- the kind that comes on a roll at the fabric store and lined with a wired ribbon, which I wouldn’t do again, because over the years it has poked me from time to time on the corners. I glued that on with fabric glue, because my sewing skills were minimal when I made this. On the back is a dowel rod that runs through three loops on the top. The dowel rod is hung by a couple of nails in the wall.

I could only find white velcro, so I went over it
with a green sharpie in hopes that it would look better when naked.

This is how the tree starts out- completely bare. Each pocket contains that day’s bible passage reference and the item, made in felt, that will be stuck on the tree.

The felt pieces are just simply cut from different colors of felt, in the basic shape that was on the link above and embellished with glitter glue. Thomas and I made this when he was about 3 or 4 and we had a lot of fun doing the designs together.

The labels I made by just printing them out and cutting them.
They have the date so we can put it back where it belongs
and a description of the “ornament” so we know what goes together after Christmas.
It stores all together in that day’s pocket.
As you can see, the ornaments are not fancy, but they are fun and interesting.
On the back of each one is velcro, so they stick to the velcro squares on the tree.
Close-up of the pockets. 

The star is always the last ornament, and we save the top of the tree for that one. The kids trade off years for who gets odd and who gets even numbers, so it’s “fair.” Of course, that will all be changing with Helen able to participate this year.

I love doing the advent reflections. It is a wonderful teaching tool for the kids, and an important reminder to Travis and I about what in this life really matters and why.

I understand that over at A Holy Experience you can also get the Jesse Tree Advent Readings in book form, or as part of the day’s blog post.  Ann’s blog is truly inspiring, and quieting, and good for reflection.

I hope you find new hope and joy this advent season. And may you be able to rejoice the way the angels did at Christ’s birth:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  “Glory to Godin the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)

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