The third week of Advent begins with the lighting of the
third candle of Advent, the candle for joy. The joy candle is a different
color than the other candles. Traditionally, it is the pink candle. Now
there will be three candles burning each evening.
Sunday, December 16th
Possible Readings
Tonight's story is the story of Jonah! There are a number of
children's picture books about Jonah, but I don't happen to own any of them. If
you know of a really great one, feel free to let me know in the comments!
Thanks!
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) -
The McCaughrean book uses a
different order and different stories from here until the end of Advent. If you
continue with a chapter each night, you will finish the McCaughrean book on
Christmas Eve, as planned. Rather than listing two options on days when they
don't match up, I'll refer back to this note. Simply keep reading a chapter
each night. Use the symbol/ornament that fits with that chapter.
Tonight's chapter should be "The Wisdom of Solomon."
Symbol(s)
Fish (Jonah)
Monday, December 17th
Possible Readings
In our house tonight we will be talking about the prophecies
of Micah and Habakkuk (two days of the Voskamp readings) and reading some of
the story of Elisha (not from McCaughrean, but this is the story covered by
McCaughrean tonight).
The Children's Illustrated Bible (Hastings) - There are 3
chapters about Elisha, beginning with "Elijah's Final Journey." Read
them all or choose how much you can read tonight.
One Wintry Night (Graham) - The beginning of chapter 9 speaks
of the prophecy in Micah.
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - Read the next chapter,
"War and Peace" (see my note from Sunday, December 16th)
Symbol(s)
Dove (to symbolize the Healing power of God/the Holy Spirit
through Elisha), City of Bethlehem (Micah), Tower/Castle (Habakkuk) You
do not need to use all the symbols! There will be a lot of doubling up in the
coming days. It is enough to use what you have!
Tuesday, December 18th
Possible Readings
Today's story is the story of Esther.
A children's picture book about Esther that we enjoy is:
You may also read:
Alternate Reading:
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - see my note from Sunday,
December 16th
Symbol(s)
Scepter (Esther)
Wednesday, December 19th
Possible Readings - Read the notes here. They're important!
Tonight's reading is about Zachariah and his son, John the
Baptist.
As we get closer to Christmas, the stories are all tied closely
together. It's hard to separate out the pieces. Do whatever works for you.
Maybe even read the whole nativity story each night...or find different
versions of it to read, and then focus for a minute on the piece of the story
for that night - the piece for that night's ornament. There is NO RIGHT WAY to
do this. You have six nights left, and you have many possible people/symbols
left to cover: Mary, Joseph, Zachariah, John the Baptist,
Census/Donkey/Travel to Bethlehem, Shepherds, angels, and the star...not to
mention that you may want to hang a nativity ornament on your Jesse Tree. This
is the way I plan to cover them for the next six nights. I have listed the
symbols that go with each night in parenthesis:
- Zachariah AND John (Pencil, Seashell)
- Mary AND Joseph (Lily, Hammer)
- Donkey and the travel to Bethlehem (Donkey or Town of
Bethlehem)
- Birth of Jesus (Nativity)
- Angels AND Shepherds (Angel, Shepherd's Staff or Sheep)
- Wise Men and the Star (Star)
So tonight:
Alternate Reading:
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - see my note from Sunday,
December 16th
Symbol(s)
Pencil (Zachariah), Seashell (John)
Thursday, December 20th
Possible Readings
Read about the appearance of the angel to Mary tonight AND
the appearance of the angel to Joseph assuring him that all was well.
Note: Explaining why Joseph was upset about Mary's pregnancy
can be a little sticky. We always said that Joseph was upset because the baby
was not his, and a woman is not supposed to have a baby that does not belong to
her husband. This was special because Mary's baby was from God.
The Children's Illustrated Bible (Hastings) - The Angel
Appears to Mary and the beginning of the section on the Birth of Jesus - just
far enough to cover Joseph.
As your children get older, these picture books may also be
worth reading about Joseph:
Alternate Reading:
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - see my note from Sunday,
December 16th
Symbol(s)
Lily (Mary), Hammer (Joseph)
Friday, December 21st
Possible Readings
Spend some time talking about that donkey and the trip to
Bethlehem!
This is a wonderful picture book that focuses on the donkey:
You may also choose to read:
Alternate Reading:
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - see my note from Sunday,
December 16th
Symbol(s)
Donkey
Saturday, December 22nd
Possible Readings
Tonight's focus is the birth of Jesus! We love the
children's picture book:
You can also read the story in the these places:
Alternate Reading:
The Jesse Tree (McCaughrean) - see my note from Sunday,
December 16th
Symbol(s)
Nativity
Just two more days of Advent left!!
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See other posts about the Jesse Tree and Advent by clicking the label "Jesse Tree" or "Advent" at the bottom of this post.
