Advent III and IV & the Advent Jesse Tree

On Sunday, we talked at length about God's story and it's culmination in the miraculous life and redeeming death of Jesus. We have been reviewing the previous symbols and making some incredible connections between the events in God's story. Please take a moment to ask your children about these images and the stories that accompany them. Also, you are more than welcome to borrow the symbols that we have been using, or I can email you a file with the images so you can print out your own. 

Over the last couple of weeks, we discussed the remaining symbols, as described below. 

Day 13: Prophecy of the Shoot from the Stump of Jesse (represented by a stump with a fresh root or leaf); John 1:14a 

Day 14: Prophecy of the Lion & the Lamb (represented by a lion & a lamb); Isaiah 11:10b 

Day 15: Prophecy of the Prince of Peace (represented by a a dove & a crown); John 14:27

Day 16: Prophecy of the Gentle Shepherd (represented by a lamb & a shepherd); John 10:27

Day 17: Prophecy of the Suffering Servant (represented by a cross); John 10:15 

Day 18: Prophecy of the New Covenant (represented by a heart) Jeremiah 31:33a

Day 19: Prophecy of Bethlehem (represented by Bethlehem silhouette & star); Philippians 4:13

Day 20: The Exile (represented by a fiery furnace); Jeremiah 1:8 

Day 21: The Return to the Land (represented by an ancient wall) Revelation 22:20 

Day 22: The Star (represented by a star); Matthew 2:10 

Day 23: The Light of the World (represented by a candle or light); John 8:12

Day 24: Angels Proclaiming the Coming of Christ (represented by an angel) Luke 2:14

Day 25: The Birth of Jesus (represented by a nativity scene); John 3:16

Thank you for celebrating Advent with us! 

the Advent Gospel story... in pageant form

 
   On Saturday, the children did a fantastic job sharing the story of our Savior's birth, as told in the books of Matthew and Luke. It was glorious. There were so many precious moments of grace, innocence, and sweetness (with a little mischief, as well, of course). Nearly 200 community and family members attended to learn of the mysterious and miraculous beginning of Jesus' life on earth.
   Thank you especially to Marty Reardon and the other Worship musicians that assisted in making the pageant a unique and beautiful opportunity to glorify God. Thank you to Glen Sutton for doing an excellent job with the sound, lights, and perfecting the traveling star. Also, I am so thankful for Emily Braund and Corrie Madlem, who helped to herd our sheep and cow chorus from behind the scenes.
    Please look forward to photos coming soon, courtesy of the magnificent Andy Lee and Ashley Jones.

Resources for Celebrating Advent at Home

     Throughout the Advent Season, things can become overwhelmingly busy with holiday parties, family traveling, cookie decorating, and the countdown to Christmas morning. There are a lot of wonderful resources available to assist Trinity’s families in adding an element of contemplation to your Advent season. Please let me know if you have are looking for ideas on how to incorporate these resources at home.

*Bartholomew’s Passage, Jotham’s Journey, and Tabitha’s Travels by Arnold Ytreeide are fantastic books that provide a daily reading for children and their families to read together and discuss. The stories are historical fiction and are told during the days preceding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. These stories are interwoven and are recommended to be read one at a time, over a three year period. This is an incredible resource!

*These website also offer great ideas and links to other books and stories for children:

www.onlineministries.creighton.edu & www.anglicansonline.org/special/advent.html

Advent II & the Advent Jesse Tree

On Sunday, we talked at length about God's story and it's culmination in the miraculous life and redeeming death of Jesus. As we walked through the first six symbols of the Advent Jesse Tree, some beautiful insights were shared by the children. The realization that Jesus was with God in Creation, in the need for reconciliation after Adam and Eve's betrayal in the garden; His presence was even acknowledged in the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One child thoughtfully added, "Jesus was really the lamb that let Isaac not get killed." What a beautiful synthesis of God's plan! 


This week, we will be discussing the next six symbols, as described below. 

Day 7: Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors (represented by a picture of a colorful coat); Romans 8:28a

Day 8: Moses and the Ten Commandments (represented by a tablet with numbers); Psalm 119:11

Day 9: Canaan, the Promised Land of Many Blessings (represented by a cluster of grapes); Psalm 103:2

Day 10: Ruth and Boaz (represented by a sheaf of wheat); Ruth 1:16b

Day 11: King David (represented by a slingshot); Psalm 23:1

Day 12: Josiah Finds the Law (represented by a scroll) Psalm 119:105