The Jesse Tree is an Advent custom that uses symbols for Biblical characters for each day during the Advent season. This tree is not just any tree—it is the family tree of Jesus. In Isaiah 11:1 we read “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” The tree that grows with the symbols each day is a way in which to tell the Biblical stories, bridge the Old and New Testament stories together, and lead us through the Advent season to the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Jesse Tree: Advent Devotion book is a good resource for sharing a daily devotion in a group, as a family, or as an individual. It includes the daily scripture, the Jesse Tree symbols, a daily devotion written by a Cumberland Presbyterian, and a prayer to close your time together. It also has Story Stretchers at the end of each devotion to “stretch” the story and help you think about how the story relates to your life. We encourage to gift a copy of The Jesse Tree: Advent Devotion book to each family in your church.

But whether or not you use the book or simply use the resources below, we encourage you to make a Jesse Tree. A Jesse Tree can be as simple as a poster that you can add the daily symbols to, or as elaborate as a small tree decorated with the symbol ornaments for each day. Symbols to copy for use on a Jesse Tree are found at the back of The Jesse Tree: Advent Devotion book or can also be found online. The directions to make your own ornaments and supplies needed to do so are provided below.