Our big Advent activity in the Vicarage is always the Jesse Tree – a bare twig we cover in decorations that take us through the salvation story to Jesus. We don’t always manage to get all the way through the readings and the decorating, but we make an attempt each year and cover at least some of it.
If you’re thinking of following God’s story from creation to the birth of Christ with a Jesse Tree for the first time this Advent, an excellently easy way to get your kit together would be to use free printables. These colour-in ones over at Life Your Way look great – there are lots of others all over the internet if you don’t fancy the colouring in, or if you want different bible stories. You don’t even have to use a twig – an outline of a tree drawn on a poster would work just as well (and not take up as much space in the kitchen). In the next couple of days we’ll be digging out our battered Celebrations tin and hunting round for the decorations that went astray when we packed up last year.
Another great Advent activity, especially good for holiday clubs or the like, or if school breaks up way before Christmas, is making a Nativity set. You could use this gorgeous cut up and colour set by Dutch designer Marloes de Vries or buy a set of Nativity Shrinkles, which my kids had lots of fun with last year. My goddaughters have each been sent a set this year. Our schools break up on the Friday before Christmas, so we may not have time for colouring activities this year, but I shall keep the Marloes de Vries colouring to hand, just in case the kids need occupying. We may end up with a house full of nativity sets!
I’ve linked this post up with one of Tanya’s – she’s posting some Advent reflections over the next four weeks.
The Vicar's Wife 
Thanks for this, I’d forgotten all about Jesse trees!
Hey there – thank you so much for linking up! Did you get a chance to read & comment on the link before yours?
I have never heard of a Jesse tree before – it’s a great idea! Why do you put them on a twig rather than the Christmas tree itself – is it so you can see them more clearly? and is there an Easter equivalent that you know of? Great resource – many thanks!
Hi Tanya. I wasn’t sure which the link before mine was – sorry – was it your post or one of the other people who linked? I’m not sure why it’s a bare twig – it’s a lot easier to find one than a small tree I think! And you can certainly see the decorations better. I’ve heard of people decorating Easter trees, but we do Resurrection Eggs https://thevicarswife.wordpress.com/tag/resurrection-eggs/
Ha! The idea of nativity shrinkles has really made me smile – think my Dan would really like it. I’ve been nervous of trying a Jesse tree because I am SO bad at managing things every day – maybe I could work out a shorter version?! What ages did you start doing it with your children?
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and experience – I so often feel I’m learning on the job and it’s so wonderful to get your wisdom. x
I too am appalling at managing things every day and I don’t think we’ve ever managed more than about 15 of them. But doing even a few is good too – just take the set and do what you can. And next year do the other ones, or some of them. I think our kids were 4, 2 and nearly 1 when we started. It was all a bit approximate then, but now we can get a better bible study out of it. If they’re in the right mood. They always enjoy hanging the decorations up. If you manage to remind them of a bible story at the same time I count it as a win. With kids it’s great to do things that are familiar but can be changed to take account of their ages. I think the Jesse Tree works very well for that.
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