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Jesus is Born

December 25th


Symbol: Baby in manger
Scripture: Luke 2:6-21

Jesus is born
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” … So [the shepherds] went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. .


Day 25: A Birth Announcement

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem

December 24th


Symbol: Sandals
Scripture: Luke 2:1-5

May and Joseph go to Bethlehem
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
 

Day 24: A Long Journey

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Angel Appears to Joseph

December 23rd


Symbol: Angel of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Angel appears to Joseph
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

 

Day 23: A Special Request

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

God Chooses Mary

December 22nd


Symbol: Virgin Mary
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

God chooses Mary
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

 

Day 22: A New Normal

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

John the Baptist

December 21st


Symbol: Baptism shell
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-6

John the baptist
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.’”

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

 

Day 21: A Time To Get Ready
Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story

 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

The God's Promise to Abraham

December 20th


Symbol: Praying hands
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Elizabeth and Zechariah
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. … He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

 

Day 20: A Long Silence

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Prophecy of a Saviour Born in Bethlehem

December 19th


Symbol: City of Bethlehem
Scripture: Micah 5:1-5

Prophesy of a saviour born in
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to rule in Israel,
… And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.

 

Day 19: A Promise of Peace

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Daniel and the Lion's Den

December 18th


Symbol: Lion
Scripture: Daniel 6

Daniel and the Lion's Den
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, “O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?” …

Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” …

Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” 


Day 18: The Best Lion

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Jonah and the Whale

December 17th


Symbol: Whale
Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5

Jonah and the whale
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

 

Day 17: A Dark Fish Belly

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Isaiah's Prophesy of the Second Coming

December 16th


Symbol: Wolf and lamb
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-9

Isaiah's prophesy of second co
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

 

Day 16: A New Parade

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Isaiah's Prophesy of a Saviour

December 15th


Symbol: Sun
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Isiah's prophesy of a saviour
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.


Day 15: A Bright Light

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Esther Saves Her People

December 14th


Symbol: Scepter
Scripture: Esther 4

Esther saves her people
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 

 

Day 14: A Big Risk

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Solomon Builds God's Temple

December 13th

 
Symbol: Temple
Scripture: 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Kings 6

Soloman builds God's temple
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to my father David, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.” …

Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David. I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.”

So Solomon built the house, and finished it. 

 

Day 13th: A Living Temple

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

David the Shepherd-King

December 12th


Symbol: Sheep/shepherd’s crook
Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5

David the shepherd-king
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The Lord said to [David]: “It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 

 

Day 12: A Shepherd-King

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

God Chooses David to be King

December 11th


Symbol: Crown
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-15

God chooses David to be King
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” …

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” … He sent and brought [David] in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him.

 

Day 11: An Underdog King

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Ruth and Boaz

December 10th


Symbol: Grain
Scripture: Ruth 2:1-4:12

Ruth and Boaz
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.” [Ruth] said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.”

 

Day 10: A loving Rescuer

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Rahab

December 9th


Symbol: Red rope
Scripture: Joshua 2:1-21

Rahab
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house.” But the woman took the two men and hid them. …

She came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land … The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the Lord that you in turn will deal kindly with my family.” … The men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land. … 

“Tie this crimson cord in the window. … If a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death.” … She tied the crimson cord in the window.

 

Day 9: A Red Rope

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

The 10 Commandments

December 8th


Symbol: Tablets
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-22

10 commandments
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

“Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the fire.”

 

Day 8: 10 Loving Rules

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Joseph

December 7th


Symbol: Joseph’s coat of many colors
Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Joseph
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Now [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. … So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

 

Day 7: A Special Son

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

The God's Promise to Abraham

December 6th


Symbol: Tent and camel
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-7

The promised land
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

[God] brought [Abraham] outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
 

Day 6: A Starry Sky

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

The Promised Land

December 5th


Symbol: Tent and camel
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-7

The promised land
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

 

Day 5: The Promised Land

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Noah's Ark

December 4th


Symbol: Noah’s Ark
Scripture: Genesis 6:11-14; 7:17-8:3; 9:8-13

Noah's Ark
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.
 

Day 4: A Fresh Start

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

The Fall

December 3rd


Symbol: Snake and apple
Scripture: Genesis 3

the fall
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. …

Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.

 

Day 3: God's Garden

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Creation of Humans

December 2nd


Symbol: Globe/Adam and Eve
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

creation of humans
(Picture credit: www.faithward.org)
 

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

 So God created humankind in his image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

 

Day 2: A Family Resemblance

Please click on the links below to read a short reflection on each day's story
 

Family Reflection

 

Individual Reflection

(for adults/teenagers)

(N.B. The full Jesse Tree is 28 days long. This link will take you to the entry which aligns with the reading for the shorter, 'advent-calendar' version - please don't worry if the date in the title doesn't match!) 
 

Jesse Tree Advent Calendar December 2025

Read the stories of God's People as we count down to Christmas
(To find out more about the history of the Jesse Tree, and to download tokens for each day that you can decorate your own tree with, please click here) 
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