Shrove Tuesday -- My Last Chance to Post Jesse Tree Ornaments

Ok, I've fooled around and fooled around. I took photos a month ago before I put the Jesse Tree way and then I realized I also put away the sheet of paper with the readings and symbols. And could I ever remember to get it in the 100 or so odd times I've been in the basement doing laundry since then? Of course not.

So, now I've intentionally gone to the basement just to get it because I refuse to post about my Jesse Tree ornaments after Ash Wednesday. I also thought you might want to start now if you have any desire to stitch these yourself for your own Jesse Tree.

There are many different versions of the Jesse Tree readings, so if you have different symbols on your tree, neither of us is doing it wrong -- there is just more than one version. I have seen dozens. Our parish published these in their bulletin several years ago, and I saved them and used them for our version. The last eight ornaments are the O Antiphons, and so, from December 17-24, I put two ornaments on each day, one from the readings and one O Antiphon. Because I have 27 readings and the O Antiphons, I believe I have enough for the longest Advent possible -- that's the only reason I can figure why I have so many. At some point during Advent (if we don't have the longest Advent possible), I just pick which will be extras and put them on the tree.

I hang mine on a tiny little tree my mother gave me the year my son Noah was born. It has a cute little Noah's Ark as the base. I bought a tiny red glass tree topper and all of my ornaments fit just perfectly.

The ornaments are about 1-1/8" across and they are made from 100 wool felt (from this shop). I used standard DMC embroidery thread for stitching. After each design was stitched, I sandwiched the front piece with a matching piece of felt and stitched them together, after pinking the edges.

The readings our parish published are long. There were times when I found the verse most pertinent to my symbol and read it instead of the entire passage.

God -- Creation: sun and moon / Gen 1:1-31; 2:1-4

Adam and Eve -- The First Sin: apple / Gen 2:4-3:24

Noah -- The Flood: ark / Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 8:20-9:17

Abraham -- The Promise: field of stars / Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6

Isaac -- Offering of Isaac: ram / Gen 22:1-19

Jacob -- Assurance of the Promise: ladder Gen 27:41-28:22

Joseph -- God's Providence: coat / Gen 37, 39:1-50:21

Moses -- God's Leadership: baby in basket / Exod 2:1-4:20

Israelites -- Passover and Exodus: lamb / Exod 12:1-14:31

God -- Giving the Torah at Sinai: tablets of the Torah / Exod 19:1-20:20

Joshua -- The Fall of Jericho: trumpet / Josh 1:1-11, 6:1-20

Gideon -- Unlikely Heroes: clay water pitcher Judg 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 6:11-8:28

Samuel -- The Beginning of the Kingdom: crown / 1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9

David -- A Shepherd for the People: harp / 1 Sam 16:1-23, 17:58, 2 Sam 5:1-15, 7:1-17

Solomon -- scales of justice / 1 Kng 3:5-14, 16-28

Elijah -- The threat of False Gods: stone altar / 1 Kng 17:1-16, 18:17-46

Hezekiah -- Faithfulness and Deliverance: an empty tent / 2 Kng 18:1-19, 19:32-37

Isaiah -- The Call to Holiness: fire tong with coals / Isa 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7

Jeremiah -- The Exile: tears / Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:11

Habakkuk -- Waiting: stone watchtower / Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19

Nehemiah -- Return and Rebuilding: city wall / Neh 1:1-28, 6:15-16, 13:10-22

John  the Baptist -- Repentance: scallop shell / Luke 1:57-80, Mark 1:1-8

Mary -- The Hope for the Future: pierced heart / Luke 1:26-38

Elizabeth -- Joy: mother and child / Luke 1:39-56

Zechariah -- pencil and tablet / Luke 1:57-80

Joseph -- Trust: hammer / Matt 1:19-25

Magi -- Worship: star / Matt 2:1-12

Jesus -- Birth of the Messiah: manger / Luke 2:1-20

O Antiphons

Jesus is Wisdom -- open book / Ecc 24:2, Wis 8:1

Jesus is Lord -- burning bush / Exod 3:2, 20:1

Jesus is Flower of Jesse -- plant with flower / Isa 11:1-3

Jesus is Key of David -- key / Isa 22:22

Jesus is the Radiant Dawn -- sun rising / Ps 19:607

Jesus is King of the Gentiles -- scepter / Ps 2:7-8, Eph 2:14-20

Jesus is Emmanuel -- chalice and host / Isa 7:14, 33:22

Jesus is the Light of the World -- sun / John 1:1-14