As an alternative to a Christmas tree this year why not create a Jesse Tree in your church and then send us a photo?

There are many websites giving ideas about how  to make the items to hang on your tree, for example this website gives the history behind a Jesse Tree, instructions on how to make the tree, lots of images to download and use, plus a list of the Jesse Tree scriptures and the symbols to go with them. So if you really don't know one end of a Jesse Tree from the other, then this is a good starting place.

There's nothing to stop you having a Christmas tree but instead of decorating it with the usual baubles and tinsel, this year get your congregation to make Jesse Tree symbols and hang these on your tree instead. One way to ensure all the symbols are created is to ask your class groups to create some, or the Uniformed Organisations and Junior church. This also ensures that the children will know what a Jesse Tree is, and a little more background knowledge of the Christmas story is imparted.

If you have a textile group maybe they could create your church a banner with a Jesse Tree on or create  individual characters stitched or appliqued to hang on your tree as a more lasting treasure.

A previous Minister at my church invited us for lunches leading up to Christmas and we created the symbols after homemade soup and crusty bread, however these symbols had to not only represent the traditional symbols of the Jesse Tree but also were relevant to ourselves, our hobbies, our work and our lives.

You will no doubt  find and create your own versions - please send us photos of your Jesse Tree, we would love to see them and share a brief explanation as to why yours is different.

Jacqui Hicks