The days of observing Christmas Advent this year are as follows: Sundays November 27 December 4 December 11 December 18 You will find much variation in the names and theme of the candles for each of the Sundays leading to Christmas, but usually the third one is reserved for the pink candle of  “Joy”. I…
Advent traditions
Festive Decorating, Bulbs and Baubles
I had never really thought of it before, but no other holiday in the year has so many light bulbs, so much glitter, and such as array of trinkets and baubles. The more tinsel, the better, for many of us. I have boxes of the stuff that I haul out,even though they must all be…
What is the Jesse Tree?
Never heard of this tradition before? I find many people unfamiliar with this way to observe Advent. Jesse Tree Kit on Amazon Definition of a Jesse Tree From the Wikipedia site: The Tree of Jesse is a depiction in art of the Ancestors of Christ, shown in a tree which rises from Jesse of Bethlehem,…
Ways to Observe an Advent Tradition
Are you ready for the Christmas season? Advent tradtions can be one of the most enriching observances of the holiday. Many of us take time to go shopping (probably more than we should, or even want to!), we bake our cookies and make candy, we deck the halls, and the walls, and the railings! But…
A Jesse Tree
Another addition to the advent season is this idea, a Jesse tree via Rocks In My Dryer blog. She describes some of what the company, Jesse Trees , provides in resources. For those unfamiliar with this tradition, a small tree is used to hang one symbolic ornament for each day of Advent. Some ideas for devotions…
Dec. 18
The Jesse Tree The idea comes from Isaiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.†Long ago I decorated our Christmas tree as a “Jesse” tree, but if you use a small artificial tree or a branch in a vase (…
Firsts
When our family was young and our children were small, I had visited the Christian bookstore looking for Advent celebration ideas. I bought a few slim idea books, nothing more than magazines, really. Within one of them the idea of making a log with candles for each day of advent caught my imagination.