Pilgrim Lutheran Church presents 2017 Reflections

The Tree Celebrating the Coming of Christ in Story and Symbol

Oh come strong branch of Jesse, Free your own from Satan’s Tyranny From the depths of hell your people save And give them victory o’er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you o Israel. O come, strong branch of Jesse once again, And save the whole family of human kind. O Come, O come Emmanuel.

Who is in your ? Genealogy, the study of families and their history, attracts many who are drawn to the stories and lineage of their ancestors. Families conceal secrets that we often reveal while uncovering our heritage. Are there people in your family history that you are embarrassed about: heroes, famous kings or leaders that make you proud? ' heritage from the beginning of creation is revealed in the , his coming and the new covenant are found in stories. During advent, we turn our hearts and minds inward and reflect on God's plan of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. As story tellers and symbol makers, we respond well to imagery and one way to walk the advent journey is through the symbol of the Jesse Tree.

What is a Jesse Tree? A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots. - 11:11

The Jesse Tree is a tradition used during Advent. Its name is taken from :11 which predicts the coming of Christ from the ‘stump of Jesse’, one who would take the throne of , and rule as King of both Israel and the world. Through symbol and story, the Jesse Tree rehearses God’s plan to rescue the world, beginning with creation and culminating in the coming of Christ. This devotional is intended to provide you and your family a depth of joy at the birth of Christ as well as a longing for when He comes again. We have included a list of themes, symbols, and suggested readings to accompany each day, leading up to advent. A Suggested Outline 1. Read the biblical story. We have provided readings designed to show how the stories point to Jesus.

2. Reflect. We have presented questions each day that may be used as conversation starters at family devotional times. We invite you to reflect on these questions throughout the day.

3. Create. Each day's meditation includes symbols that represent the theme. Your family might enjoy creating ornaments, coloring the symbols and hanging them on a "Jesse Tree" in your home.

2. Pray. Give thanks for God’s gift to us in Jesus. Each day we have included a suggested prayer but feel free to pray in a way that seems fitting to you and your family.

Third week of Advent

Sunday, December 17 Reading: 1 Kings 18:36-39 - 36 At the time of sacrifice, the Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of , and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, LORD; answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” Symbol: Stone Altar The prophet Elijah is called by God to dispel the myths of false gods increasingly worshipped by the people through a period of drought and famine in Israel. Elijah tried to remind the people about God’s promises. He entered a contest with Baal and God sent down fire to prove that he was true light1. A representation of the stone altar Elijah built used on today’s ornament is shown being consecrated by the Lord with fire. To read the full story, turn to 1 Kings 17:1-16, 18:17-46. Questions for reflection: How do we begin to slip into old behaviors, maybe even worshipping modern day idols or perhaps growing away from God? Prayer: Loving God, forgive us for serving idols of work, busy-ness and material concerns. Reignite our desire to keep you foremost in our lives. Call us to be faithful in our worship time with you.

Monday, December 18 Reading: I Kings 3:3-28 - 10 The Lord was pleased that had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. Symbol: Crown (the Wisdom of Solomon) Solomon followed his father David as king of Israel. He was remembered for many things, the great temple he built and its splendor, but mostly for his wisdom. He is credited for the wise sayings of the book of proverbs. His temple served as a place of worship for 350 years2. But Solomon was human, and he was an oppressor even though he was a great administrator. Ultimately this character flaw led to the demise of his kingdom.

1 Breckinridge, Marilyn S., Jesse Tree Devotions: A Family Activity for Advent, Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1985. 2 Breckinridge, Marilyn S., Jesse Tree Devotions: A Family Activity for Advent, Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1985. Questions for Reflection: How do we experience wisdom as different from knowledge? Worship continues to be central to the lives of God’s people. Is it necessary to worship in a church building? Prayer: Lord God, help us learn from our mistakes and those of others so that we stop repeating them. Thank you for the beautiful churches, cathedrals and temples of the world. Help us to respect them as holy places where you teach us your word and where we worship you.

Tuesday, December 19 Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8 1“In the year that King died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah was one of the greatest of the old testament. His prophecies have stood the test of great literature because even though they were written 700 years before Christ, they are still relevant today. His writings speak to the human need. The people of Israel were comforted by the prophecies of the coming . Isaiah told of a child who would be born who would be called Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us.” The child would be a new branch on the family tree of Jesse. Read about Isaiah and some of his prophesies about the Messiah in Isaiah 1:10-20; 6:1-13, 9:1-7. Symbol: Scroll and Lampstand (Isaiah) Questions for reflection: What are some of our favorite books, ones we read again and again? Do they teach us to trust? What makes literature worthwhile? God’s word gives us hope and makes it easier for us to trust, he has never broken a promise. Prayer: Thank you Lord for the writings of the prophets in the Bible. May Isaiah’s prophecies be received in our hearts this Christmas.

Wednesday, December 20 Reading: Luke 3:16 “John answered them all saying, ‘I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the and fire.” John the Baptizer was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth when they were elderly. Zechariah gave the credit for John’s birth to the God of promisei. He was the last of the great prophets that came to prepare the way for Jesus, the one who would change everything. He preached a message of repentance. Through the water of baptism, we become connected in Christ’s death and resurrection and together we await his return. Read more about in Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-20; 7:18-30. Symbol: Baptism (Birth of John the Baptist) Questions for Reflection: What does it mean to be baptized? Why were you baptized? What is the meaning of your name? Prayer: Thank you Lord for the gift of Baptism. Help us Lord to prepare the way for Christ to come into the lives of others. Hold us together as families helping us to be more grateful for each other and the opportunities we have to serve you.

Thursday, December 21 Reading: Luke 1: 30-33 “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” It is time for the prophecies to be fulfilled. God’s promise to send a savior is about to happen. The Virgin Mary, was visited by the angel Gabriel who told her she had pleased God and would have a son and call him Jesus. Mary was a poor woman from Nazareth, but well chosen by God. She was a faithful servant, a patient and loving mother. From the earliest of times she has been called “blessed.ii” Read about Gabriel’s visit with Mary and her response in the of Luke 1:26-38 and in Hebrews 13:1-2 Symbol: Angel Questions for Reflection: How should regard the Virgin Mary? Does she have a special appeal to you and why? Prayer: O God, thank you for Mary the Mother of Jesus and for all mothers. Make us your “angels” to others. Teach us to tell everyone about the birth of your son Jesus.

Friday, December 22 Reading: : 20-22 “…the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” 22 All this took place to bring about what the Lord had said would happen. He had said through the prophet, 23 “The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) The name Immanuel means “God with us.” 24 Joseph woke up. He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not sleep with her until she gave birth to a son. And Joseph gave him the name Jesus. There is no story more beautiful that the Christmas story. The fulfillment of all the prophecies, a branch from the root of Jesse, laying in a manger, the greatest sign of God’s love for us. There is not much written about Joseph in the Bible. We know he was a carpenter and a descendant of David. In today’s reading, Joseph showed his overwhelming concern and love for Mary. His inner struggle and concern for self was quickly replaced with his obedience and faith in God. He stood by Mary and may have been responsible for Jesus’ religious trainingiii. Read more in Matthew 1:19-25. Symbol: Carpenter’s Tools (Joseph) Questions for Reflection: What qualities did Joseph symbolize? How does Joseph’s relationship as a father in his family shed new light on what it means to be a father today? How does this change or affect the way you view adoption? Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for Joseph and for all father’s everywhere. Saturday, December 23 Reading: Micah 5:2-4 2The Lord says, “ Ephrathah, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come for me a ruler over Israel. His family line goes back to the early years of your nation. It goes all the way back to days of long ago.”3 The Lord will hand over his people to their enemies. That will last until the pregnant woman bears her promised son. Then the rest of his relatives in Judah will return to their land.4 That promised son will stand firm and be a shepherd for his flock. The Lord will give him the strength to do it. The Lord his God will give him the authority to rule. His people will live safely. His greatness will reach from one end of the earth to the other. A special star appears to the Magi to lead them to worship Jesus, the king of Israel. The king of the Jews is the world’s true king. The Magi are the first of many gentiles who will bow down and worship the true king. God's special king would be from the humble town of Bethlehem, as the prophecy of Micah had said. Not only was Bethlehem the hometown of Jesus’ family, but it was where and Ruth, their son Obed, his son Jesse and Jesse’s son David lived. The Star of Bethlehem was significant not for what it was, but what it did in the story. Its light guided the three magi to Jesus, shining brightly above his birthplace. They prostrated themselves before the manger and acknowledged the infant as king and offered him gifts. They did not turn the child and his parents over to King Herod. You will find the story in Matthew 2:1-12. Symbol: Star of Bethlehem Questions for Reflection: What should be the chief motive for giving a gift? Should we limit our expenditures for gifts? How might we contemplate whether we are motivated by obligation, fear of offending or expectations of getting a gift in return? Prayer: Open our hearts and minds, Lord, to the Christmas Story and its message. Help us to see more clearly, the true meaning of Christmas. Welcome, Jesus, King of our Hearts. Overwhelm us today with Your presence, that we never be the same. The Fourth week of Advent

Sunday, December 24 Reading: Luke 2: 10-12“The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’” Christ Jesus is born and laid in a lowly manger, a shoot from the root of Jesse and the greatest sign of God’s love for his people. Against all expectations, Jesus, the long-awaited savior, is born in the humblest of places, not in a king’s palace, but in a barn and laid in a feeding trough, could this really be the world’s true king come to make all things right? This is our God, the servant-King. Let us worship him! Symbol: Manger Questions for Reflection: How can we make room for Jesus in our hearts? Prayer: Dear Jesus, be with us as we celebrate your birthday. As we open our gifts, we rejoice that you are the best gift of all.

Monday, December 25 Reading: :1-18 14 The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth. John 1:34 “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” The apostle John bears witness to the coming of the Light of the World, the only Son of God, briefly retelling some of the history we have learned through the Jesse Tree. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who was born into the family tree of Jesse, the “son” of David, the child of Mary, the Son of God. The Chi-Rho monogram is a combination of the first two letters for the Greek word of Christos, Christ. This reminder that the child born in a manger in Bethlehem was no ordinary baby, but God’s son, born human, like us. God, in His tremendous grace and love, worked out this intricate plan to rescue the world from sin, an entirely undeserved gift. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies. The story continues. There is no story more amazing than the one we celebrate at Christmas, when God came to us, and nothing has ever been the same. The introduction of St. John’s Gospel, verses 1-34, will take you through John’s testimony. Symbol: Chi-Rho Questions for Reflection: How many names for Jesus can you recall? What does each name tell us about him? What light does Christ give for dealing with other people? Are we willing to be a “light” for Christ? Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we praise your holy name. Son of David, Branch of Jesse, Immanuel, Good Shepherd, Light of the world, guide us and help us. We are filled with wonder and joy today because of your great love for us.

i Anderson, Raymond and Georgene, the Jesse Tree: The Heritage of Jesus in Stories and Symbols of Advent for the Family, Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1966. ii Anderson, Raymond and Georgene, the Jesse Tree: The Heritage of Jesus in Stories and Symbols of Advent for the Family, Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1966. iii Breckinridge, Marilyn S., Jesse Tree Devotions: A Family Activity for Advent, Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1985.