Resources for Families in Advent

Please join us for a potluck and Advent wreath making after the service on Sunday, December 1.

 
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Old Testament Prophecies of Christ

These beautiful cards are what we use in the Atrium during Advent.  We provided materials for families to make and use them at home in the past.  Contact Lisa McCowen (lisa@holytrinitych.org) if you would like to see some.  A brief presentation by catechist Nancy Robinson on how to prepare and use them here.

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Jesse Tree

Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas Tradition and first started in medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story.

The name comes from Jesse, the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the book of Isaiah, says:

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. 
Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV)

The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained glass windows put in Churches that helped illiterate people to learn about the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. Now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. 

Many great guides and books are available.  Here are some for young children (using readings from the Jesus Story Book Bible); and a good chapter book for older children.  And here's a beautiful picture book for families.

 

 

Books for Advent & Christmastide -

Please check out this wonderful list from Aslan’s Library.

Advent & Christmas Books