The Jesse Tree is an Advent Tradition.

Make an ornament to go with each day's story and hang it on a bare branch or on your Christmas tree.

Each of the 31 stories is only about 5 minutes long.

The ornaments can be as simple as a line drawing on a piece of paper. Keep it simple and fun for everyone.

If you'd like to see the set I purchased, click here.

A special downloadable PDF version is available until Dec 14 here!

Advent Day 1

The symbol today is a bright sun.

Creation. The Word spoke. Let there be light.

Jesse Tree Day 1Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:53

Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-5,14; Proverbs 8:22-31

Advent Day 2

The symbol today is a fruit tree.

Two mysterious trees: The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Jesse Tree Day 2Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 07:04

Genesis 3; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; Revelation 22:1-2

Advent Day 3

The symbol today is a scene in a field.

Cain and Abel. The first murder.

Jesse Tree Day 3Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:01

Genesis 4:1-15

Advent Day 4

The symbol is an ark on a stormy sea.

Noah, the Ark and lots of animals.

Jesse Tree Day 4Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 05:33

Genesis 6-9

Advent Day 5

The symbol today is a boy on an altar.

Abraham, Sarah and their miracle son Isaac.

Jesse Tree Day 5Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 07:15

Genesis 12-22

Advent Day 6

The symbol today is a camel.

Rebekah, the bride with the water jar and the generous heart.

Oops! I refer to Rebekah's father in this segment. It was actually her brother!

Jesse Tree Day 6Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 05:42

Genesis 24

Advent Day 7

The symbol today is a stairway
with angels going up and down it.

Dreaming of a Ladder.

Oh, good grief. Sometimes I get carried away telling the story. Another correction: Isaac only gives Jacob his blessing. Esau himself sold Jacob the inheritance in return for a bowl of stew.

Jesse Tree Day 7Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 08:18

Genesis 27

Advent Day 8

The symbol today is the Lion of Judah.

Blessing the 12 sons of Israel.
Judah gets a special blessing.

Jesse Tree Day 8Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:04

Genesis 49

Advent Day 9

The symbol today is a coat of many colors.

Joseph--and his big mouth.

Jesse Tree Day 9Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 10:02

Genesis 37, 39-47

Advent Day 10

The symbol today is a burning bush.

God rescues the Hebrews.

Jesse Tree Day 10Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 08:19

Exodus 1-13

Advent Day 11

The symbol today is a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.

God in sight.

Jesse Tree Day 11Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:56

Exodus 14-15

Advent Day 12

The symbol today is a clay jar used for storage.

Manna in the desert. God provides.

Jesse Tree Day 12Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:56

Exodus 16

Advent Day 13

The symbol today is a stone tablet.

The Ten Commandments and the Law.
Written by God's own hand.

Jesse Tree Day 13Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:58

Exodus 19-31

Advent Day 14

The symbol today is the Ark of the Covenant.

The Traveling Box of Promises.

Jesse Tree Day 14Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:09

Exodus 37:1-9

Advent Day 15

The symbol today is a red cord handing from a window.

Rahab, prostitute, heroine, ancestor of Jesus.

Jesse Tree Day 15Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 05:45

Joshua 2:1-21

Advent Day 16

The symbol today is a sheaf of wheat.

Ruth and Boaz. Love at first sight.

Jesse Tree Day 16Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 06:12

The Book of Ruth

Advent Day 17

The symbol today is the town of Bethlehem.

O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Jesse Tree Day 17Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:59

Micah 5:1-5

Advent Day 18

The symbol today is a sheep.

David, shepherd of God's people.

Jesse Tree Day 18Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:59

1 Samuel 17-31; 2 Samuel; Psalm 23

Advent Day 19

The symbol today is Solomon's Temple.

The man of war yields to the God of Peace.

Jesse Tree Day 19Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:04

2 Samuel 7

Advent Day 20

The symbol today is Jonah and the Whale.

What happens when people listen...or not.

Jesse Tree Day 20Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 09:53

The Book of Jonah

Advent Day 21

The symbol today is a lion with a lamb.

For unto us a child is born..

Jesse Tree Day 21Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 05:24

Isaiah 9:1-3,6-7; Isaiah 11:1-10

Advent Day 22

The symbol today is a stone mason.

Zerubbabel and the Second Temple.

Jesse Tree Day 22Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 05:14

Ezra 1-6; Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 4:6

Advent Day 23

The symbol today is the star of David.

There are lots of stars in the Jesus story.

Jesse Tree Day 23Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 06:00

Matthew 2:1-12

Advent Day 24

The symbol today is a crown and a cross.

Jesus: King and criminal.

Jesse Tree Day 24Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 04:39

Isaiah 53

Advent Day 25

The symbol today is the nativity.

Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

Jesse Tree Day 25Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 06:52

Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 2:1-20

Advent Day 26

The symbol today is a stone.

Jesus the stumbling stone.
Stephen the first martyr, stoned to death.

Jesse Tree Day 26Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 08:13

Luke 20:17-18; Acts 2; Acts 6-7

Advent Day 27

The symbol today is a quill pen.

The record. The journal.

Jesse Tree Day 27Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 03:52

Deuteronomy 31:24-26; Jeremiah 36:4

Advent Day 28

The symbol today is a fetus.

The unborn.
The slaughter of the innocents.

Jesse Tree Day 28Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 02:33

Matthew 2:16-18

Advent Day 29

The symbol today is an angel.

Warned in a dream. Escape to Egypt.

Jesse Tree Day 29Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 01:56

Matthew 2:19-23

Advent Day 30

The symbol today is a pyramid.

Homeless. Hidden.

Jesse Tree Day 30Pastor Gayle Evers

00:00 / 02:47

Ephesians 2:17-22

Advent Day 31

The symbol today is bread and wine.

Eating, drinking and remembering together.

Jesse Tree Day 31Pastor Gayle Evers