1^st Sunday of Advent:

This season of Advent we celebrate God’s promise and God’s Messiah with the erection of a Jesse tree.

The idea of the Jesse tree is rooted in

a)      God’s promise that the Messiah would come from the line of King David (Jesse being David’s father) and

b)      The fact that the monarchy of the royal house of David came to an end with the destruction of the temple of Solomon (and finally with the destruction of the Second Temple)   

In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah received a vision from God that showed that God would still honor his promise to David for the promised Messiah.  He compared the fallen house of  king David to a cut off tree out of whose stump grew a branch. This is the branch of Jesse’s tree; this is the branch out of which Jesus would be born, tracing his lineage back to Jesse as recorded in Matthew and Luke. This is the branch that would once again grow into a mighty tree from the cut-down stump that was thought to be dead.

In Romans 15:12, Paul connects Jesus descending from Jesse to the hope of the Gentiles: "And again, Isaiah [11:10] says: 'There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.'"

With the Jesse tree we celebrate God’s promise to God’s people starting with Adam and Eve, over Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, John the Baptist and finally, Jesus, the Messiah.

During this season of Advent we celebrate God’s promises and we will recall the testimony of various ancestors of Jesus: Joseph, Jesse, king David, and John the Baptist.
 

Read Isaiah 11:1-19

 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 might,
   the Spirit of the knowledge and 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.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
   with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness will be his belt
   and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

 ⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,
   the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
   and a little child will lead them.
⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,
   their young will lie down together,
   and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
   the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy
   on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD
   as the waters cover the sea.

Today we erect a Jesse tree to remember that God is at work in History even when the cause seems lost.  [ Set up branch ]

Hymn:  Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

 

5 PowerPoint Presentations, including the script in Word format 

2^nd Sunday of Advent:

Introduction:  In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah received a vision from God that showed that God would still honor his promise to David for the promised Messiah.  He compared the fallen house of king David to a cut off tree out of whose stump grew a branch. This is the branch of Jesse’s tree named after King David’s father Jesse.  This is the branch out of which Jesus would be born, tracing his lineage back to Jesse as recorded in Matthew and Luke. This is the branch that would once again grow into a mighty tree from the cut-down stump that was thought to be dead.  And his reign will be forever.

One of Jesus’ predecessors was Joseph whose story shows how God provides for his people.

Scripture reading: Genesis 45, 1-8

 ¹ Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

 ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

 ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

 ⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Today, we hang a "Joseph coat" to remember how God always provides for his people.  [Hang coat]
  

Hymn: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
 

5 PowerPoint Presentations, including the script in Word format 

3^rd Sunday of Advent:

Introduction:  In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah received a vision from God that showed that God would still honor his promise to David for the promised Messiah.  He compared the fallen house of king David to a cut off tree out of whose stump grew a branch. This is the branch of Jesse’s tree named after King David’s father Jesse.  This is the branch out of which Jesus would be born, tracing his lineage back to Jesse as recorded in Matthew and Luke. This is the branch that would once again grow into a mighty tree from the cut-down stump that was thought to be dead.  And his reign will be forever.

One of Jesus’ predecessors was King David.  God established David on the throne of Israel and promised that the Messiah would come from his line to rule forever.  David was the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd boy of slight statue.

1 Sam 16:5-13:

⁵ Then he [judge Samuel] consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”

 ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

 ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

   “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

   Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

 ¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

   Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

 ¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.

Today, we hang a Shepherd's crook to remember that king David was a shepherd who became a shepherd to his people. His descendant, Jesus is the good Shepherd who will reign forever and ever.  [Hang Shepherd’s Crook]

Hymn: Praise Him!  Praise Him! 

5 PowerPoint Presentations, including the script in Word format 
 

4th Sunday of Advent:

Introduction:  In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah received a vision from God that showed that God would still honor his promise to David for the promised Messiah.  He compared the fallen house of king David to a cut off tree out of whose stump grew a branch. This is the branch of Jesse’s tree named after King David’s father Jesse.  This is the branch out of which Jesus would be born, tracing his lineage back to Jesse as recorded in Matthew and Luke. This is the branch that would once again grow into a mighty tree from the cut-down stump that was thought to be dead.  And his reign will be forever.

One of Jesus’ predecessors was his cousin John, the Baptist.  God sent John to prepare the hearts of the people of Israel for the arrival of the Messiah. 

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-9

 ¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— ² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

   “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
   every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
   the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’"

 ⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Today, we hang this sack of ashes to remember John, the voice in the wilderness, who prepared the coming of the Messiah by calling us to repentance. The ashes are a symbol of our contrition and repentance.

Hymn:  Cleanse Me


 

5 PowerPoint Presentations, including the script in Word format 
 

Christmas Eve:

Introduction:  In the 8^th century BC, the prophet Isaiah received a vision from God that showed that God would still honor his promise to David for the promised Messiah.  He compared the fallen house of king David to a cut off tree out of whose stump grew a branch. This is the branch of Jesse’s tree named after King David’s father Jesse.  This is the branch out of which Jesus would be born, tracing his lineage back to Jesse as recorded in Matthew and Luke. This is the branch that would once again grow into a mighty tree from the cut-down stump that was thought to be dead.  And his reign will be forever.

Luke 2:1-16

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Today, we place this Manger underneath the Jesse tree to remember that Jesus is the Messiah who continues the rule of the royal house of David—a kingdom that will never end. Like King David, Jesus was born a commoner who was anointed by God to be a just ruler over his people.

Hymn:  The Birthday of a King