Jesse Tree :: Advent Activity

We added another Advent activity this year as a new tradition so, as a family, we can continue to focus on the real meaning of the season--of Advent, a time to prepare ourselves for Christmas. We've always done a daily nativity Advent calendar, and we've always used an Advent wreath with readings at dinnertime...but the Jesse Tree is a visual reminder of Jesus' spiritual heritage (not just genealogical) through the Old Testament leading up to Christ's birth and into the New Testament.

The Jesse Tree Kit


Here's the description from the beginning of this book:

The symbol of the Jesse Tree comes from Isaiah 11: "The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants." The tree is named after Jesse, the father of the great King David of the Old Testament.

In Church art a design developed which illustrated the relationship of Jesus with Jesse and other biblical personages. This design showed a branched tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. The various branches had pictures of other Old and New Testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. Some trees also incorporated early Old Testament figures like Abraham and Moses, who lived long before Jesse's time. At the top of the tree were images of Mary and Jesus. This design was used mostly in stained glass windows in some of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe.

Another development in religious art during the Middle Ages was that of Mystery Plays--drama that depicted various Bible stories or lives of saints and martyrs. These plays were performed in churches as part of the liturgical celebrations. One such play was based on the biblical account of the fall of Adam and Eve. The
"Tree of Life" used during the play was decorated with apples. (Quite possibly this is also the forerunner of our own Christmas tree.)

This kit draws from elements of both the Jesse Tree window and the Tree of Life. Each ornament symbolizes a person or event in salvation history--the pattern of events in human history that accomplishes the saving action of God. By reflecting on salvation history, we see how God prepared the world for the coming of his Son.

Jesse Trees are meant to symbolize the spiritual heritage of Jesus, rather than his strictly genealogical origins. It is important to keep in mind that the Christian application of the Old Testament stories and symbols used does not minimize their own intrinsic value as Revelation.

Each day of Advent, we color one of the ornaments, read the daily scripture associated with the ornament's symbol and hang the ornament on our Jesse tree. I was looking for a manzanita branch to use as the tree, but no such luck finding one around here. So I just put a bunch of branches into a vase and placed it inside the Advent wreath in the middle of our dining table.



Our kids have been able to recall the specific biblical stories as they look at each of the ornament's symbols.

Here are some of them.

Noah

Joseph

Isaac and Rebecca

I really wanted to do a homemade Jesse Tree--one with ornaments the kids totally create themselves. I knew, however, that pigs would be in flight by the time I get around to making sure all the ornaments are made. So for this year and ? more years, we'll use these paper ornaments. Seeing these symbols for a while may help the kids become familiar with them so they'll be able to come up with their own version easier in the future. At least that's what I'll tell myself until we have all homemade ornaments!

Wouldn't it be nice to think that by the time all the kids left home, they'd have their own set of handmade Jesse Tree ornaments for their own tradition?

I've added this tradition to A Meaningful Family Christmas link party. Have a looksie at the wonderful family traditions others have posted.

Not a common sight

When was the last time you saw a nun...and one wearing a habit?


The new sisters that are to teach at our neighborhood Catholic school campus and work in our diocese just arrived from Michigan, so the ladies (& young ladies) at our parish greeted them with a welcome shower. Until now, the teaching sisters in these particular schools had dwindled down to...none.


These ladies are a joyful and fun bunch! The average age of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is 26 years old. They even play soccer in their habits...after they remove their Rosaries and (usually) don proper shoes.


Each one of them told us where they're originally from and their story of when they became interested in becoming a sister.

Fun fact: This order of sisters has ties to the guy who started Domino's pizza. In 12 years, he helped them grow from 4 sisters to now 99...and counting.

Other fun facts:
Two of the eight sisters are twins, one sister is originally from Austin, and two were homeschooled. Cool!

The sister on the left is originally from Austin and was homeschooled.

Okay, quiz time.
Is there a difference between a "sister" and a "nun"?

Yep...but in normal everyday conversation, not really--sisters and nuns call themselves by either name.
Short answer: Nuns live in monasteries, sisters work in their communities.
Long answer: Nuns make perpetual solemn vows, and sisters profess perpetual simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience...the difference has to do with patrimony, but that's a longer answer!

As their gift to us for the occasion, they sang a beautiful chant. Lovely.



I visited with one of the sisters' identical twin sister--who is not a "sister". Got all that? She's a local physician who is due with her first baby in December (we also have the same doctor). After I mentioned I was from the Twin Cities, she told me a story about the wife and baby of one of her medical school friends who was from there. You can read about the story on this website. I've never experienced postpartum depression but have had friends suffer from it. It's something that should be talked about, and this site does. What a story it is.



While I was visiting with all of the vibrant sisters, I thought I had seen this one before. I just couldn't place where or when.


Sure enough, it was on TV. These sisters also have a religious education program for youngsters on EWTN, the national Catholic TV station. Here she is on the cover of her DVD.

Turns out a couple of the other sisters who just moved here have done different grade levels in this series as well.

Behind her in this photo, you can see some of the plans for our soon-to-be-built new church that Joe has been working on so hard. He'll be overseeing its construction, which is planned to begin fall '10.


As I was leaving with the girls, Mary Kate reminded me to ask one of the sisters a question for Jimmer. His question was: "Are you sisters going to be taking people's spark plugs out of their cars?"

(I had to remind the sister that we had just watched The Sound of Music not long ago. The nuns removing the spark plugs from the Nazi's vehicles was the kids' favorite part!)

Homebound Mass & Luncheon

One of the ministries our family is involved with is serving the homebound by providing a communion service at their residence. Once a year though, we gather all of our homebound residents and bring them to our church for a special Mass and luncheon. Today was the day!

Confession: We've somewhat selfishly gotten involved in this ministry because our kids don't have a grandparent within 1100 miles and they have no great grandparents, so they love the interaction and have learned so much from these fun folks! I love how the children are naturally comfortable interacting with them whether the people like to joke around, need assistance, want to share their wonderful stories of the past, or ask for prayers. They also understand everyone needs a hug...and boy, do they know how to deliver!

As we pulled in to the church parking lot behind one of the home's vans, our kids dashed up to the doors to greet our guests.

Arrival.


Jimmer was a greeter/door holder (schmoozer, ham bone, charmer, etc.).


After Mass, Jimmer was walking to the dining room holding my hand and said in his regular (louder than normal) voice, "Do you know that lady in the bright pink outfit? She's 79 years old."

All I asked was if he had asked her or if she offered the information herself. Lucky for me, it was as I had hoped. Whew!

During the luncheon, Jimmer was snatched up by the same lady who he sat next to at last year's luncheon.


Reunited!


I'm not sure what it is about this little guy, but he's a magnet of sorts. Even our new associate pastor (first Mass at our parish, in fact!) started in on him!


Schmoozin'


Hammin'


The girls sat next to a few ladies who only had grown boys for children. They asked me if they could take them home with them for a while.


This lady just looked at Mary Kate's braided pigtails and said with nostalgia, "Ohhh...I remember so well how my mother did my hair like that when I was a little girl."


Mike had a lengthy conversation with another lady who said that he was just delightful.


(Always nice for a mother to hear--especially since after she said that, she turned to me and asked where his mother was.)

The kids visited some more with them as they waited for their buses to return.


Sweetness.
All the way around!

Mary Kate's special day

Did she get married?


Nahhhhhhhhh, Lambie wouldn't allow it...even if Jimmer wanted to be her groom today! (Really!)


I had fun helping her get ready!


Holy gifts!

Crucifix necklace

Lots of pictures


Church


As she receives


Fr. Danny...same guy who blessed all her gifts.








Jimmer looks like he's going in for a garter here, doesn't he?

Just helping MK take off her shoes. Sweetness.

See--only shoes.

Released from the bondage of dress shoes and tights.

Free to spin!


More holy gifts.

Gramma gave her a Rosary from the Vatican that was blessed by Pope Benedict!



Lambie was tasty!


Mary Kate, sweet soul, we're thrilled that we were able to help you celebrate your First Holy Communion. A joyous day for us all!

Easter :: Egg Hunt

Alleluia!


Late night last night.
A 3+ hour Easter Vigil Mass followed by a reception with cake and goodies.
(It was the first time we went to the vigil with kids. A beautiful Mass!)

Got home at 12:30 AM.
Kids got to bed around 1:00 AM!.
They woke up rarin' to go this morning at 6:30 AM.


First scene of the day.


Kids waiting to start the egg hunt--indoors this year since it's rainy out today!

It was all a blur for about 5 minutes...





...until all the eggs were found.

Then it began.




The sugar ingestion.