You can find an updated version of this post for 2010 here: Jesse Tree Readings and Coloring Pages for 2010
Last year I compiled the following list of coloring pages, activities and bible passages (used in addition to the stories in our Children’s Bible), to go along with our Jesse Tree.
I adjusted the dates for this advent, and I have checked most of the links to make sure they still work, but please let me know if you run across one that doesn’t. (I have a file of all the coloring pages already, so I didn’t need to print them out again this year.)
You’ll also notice that many days we will be reading more than one bible story and hanging more than one ornament on our tree. The number of days in advent changes each year, and so I tend to just double up some days so we have the opportunity to read all the stories and use all of our ornaments each year.
For those of you that do not already have a Jesse Tree, and are looking for something simple, here is a link to a pdf file of some Jesse Tree Symbol and Shape Patterns that could be colored by your children. Another version is also available from Domestic-Church. Oh, and here is one more… Hopefully you can find one that will work well for your family!
November 30
Readings & Ornaments:
Creation: Gen .1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: Earth
Coloring Activities:
Creation or God Created the World
December 1
Adam & Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbol: Man & Woman
Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbol: Serpent
Coloring Activities:
Adam & Eve
Adam & Eve Expelled from the Garden
December 2
Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbol: Ark
Noah’s Ark (we will make a collage with these pictures)
and maybe one of these for the girls
December 3
Readings & Ornaments:
Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbol: Stars
Melchisidek: Gen. 14:17-20; Ps. 110:4; Heb.20 Symbol: Bread & Wine
Coloring Activities:
Abraham or Abraham with his son Isaac
High Priest for Melchisidek
December 4
Readings & Ornaments:
Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: Bundle of wood
Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: Ladder
Coloring Activities:
Isaac
Jacob wrestling with Angel
Star of Jacob from Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book.
Readings & Ornaments:
Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbol: Multi-Colored Coat
Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbol: Stone Tablets/Ten Commandments
Coloring Activities:
Joseph
Moses receiving Ten Commandments
Readings & Ornaments:
Joshua: Joshua 6:2-5; Jos. 1,3,6-11) Symbol: Sword & Trumpet
Ruth: Ruth 2:15-17 Symbol: Sheaths of Grain
Coloring Activities:
Joshua
Ruth gathering wheat
Readings & Ornaments:
Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: Oil lamp
Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: Shepherd’s staff
Coloring Activities:
Hannah prays for a Son and Samuel
For Jesse we will color this Shepherd with Staff
Readings & Ornaments:
David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbol: Harp
Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbol: Scales of justice
Coloring Activities:
David & the King
David & Goliath
King Solomon
Readings & Ornaments:
Elijah: 2 Kings 17:2-4, 6; 2 Kings 17-18:21-39 Symbol: Raven
Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:1-6; 2 Kings 18-20 Symbol: Teardrops
Coloring Activities:
Elijah Praying
Readings & Ornaments:
Nehemiah: Neh. 2:17; Neh. 1-7 Symbol” Walls of Jerusalem
Raphael: Tobit 11:7-8 Symbol: Fish
Coloring Activities:
Here is a fun maze for the wall of Nehemiah.
Readings & Ornaments:
Judith: Judith 13:7-10 Symbol: Sword
Esther: Esther 2:17 Symbol: Queens Crown
Coloring Activities:
Esther or this one of Esther meeting the King
Readings & Ornaments:
Isaiah: Isaiah 7:14 or Ecclesiastes 48:25 Symbol: Scroll
Jeremiah: Jeremiah 30:21-22 Symbol: Stone
Coloring Activities:
Bible & Scroll
Readings & Ornaments:
Daniel: Daniel 6:12-23 Symbol: Lions
Jonah: Jonah 2:1-2, 11 Symbol: Whale
Coloring Activities:
Daniel in the Lions Den
A Couple other options for Daniel can be found here and here.
here and here.
Jonah & the Whale
Readings & Ornaments:
Zachary and Elizabeth: Luke 1:11-13 Symbol: Angel
Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: Carpenter’s Saw
Coloring Activities:
I couldn’t find a color page of Zachary & Elizabeth, so we will color a picture of The Visitation.
Here is one of St. Joseph
Readings & Ornaments:
Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: Lily
Gabriel: Luke 1:26-38 Symbol: Angel with lily
Coloring Activities:
Picture of Mary out of our Mother of God Coloring Book.
As an option, here is a coloring page with a lily.
Angel Gabriel appears to Mary
December 16
John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: Shell with water
Coloring Activities:
St. John Baptizing
I plan on doing an extra activity or gift instead of a coloring page each day this week based on the selections in Celebrating the Faith in the Home Series. I have quoted the ideas under each date.
**Actually, here is my “O Antiphons” post from last year that shows exactly what we did for each of these days!
Reading & Ornament:
O Wisdom (Jesus is Wisdom): Sirach 24:2; Symbol: Open book
“Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, one could give a special book, perhaps a family catechism. Or each individual could receive a small, inexpensive prayer book.”
Reading & Ornament:
O Lord (Jesus is Lord): Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbol: Burning bush
Tonight, a fire could be started in the fireplace. The family could gather together and roast marshmallows and drink hot chocolate. Or maybe a flaming dessert could be served.”
Reading & Ornament:
O Flower (Jesus is Flower of Jesse): Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbol: Flower
“An obvious choice for this evening is a floral gift. Maybe the family could receive their first poinsettia for the holiday season. Since some translations read, “O root of Jesse,” a special fruit or vegetable could be served–a carrot cake, for example.”
Reading & Ornament:
O Key (Jesus is Key of David): Isaiah 22:22 Symbol: Key
“In the monasteries the monk in charge of the wine cellar would bring forth a special bottle of wine to serve that night. Similarly, you could allow some special treat or priviledge that is normally off limits.”
O Radiant Dawn (Jesus is the Radiant Dawn): Isaiah 41:25-26 Symbol: Sun rising
“Tonight you could have a candlelit dinner… You might also consider taking time this evening fo a walk or a ride to view the Christmas light displays in your community. If your unable to wait until Christmas eve to decorate and light your home, you could do it this night.”
Reading & Ornament:
O King (Jesus is King of the Gentiles): Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbol: Crown
“Most little ones love crowns and would be delighted to wear a crown made out of gold or silver for this meal.”
Reading & Ornament:
O Emmanuel (Jesus is Emmanuel): Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbol: Holy Eucharist.
“Emmanuel means “God is with us.” Since Christ is present to us in the Blessed Sacrament, the gift tonight could have the Holy Eucharist as its theme. For example, each member of the family could receive a Holy card with a picture of the Holy Eucharist or a prayer book with prayers to the Blessed Sacrament.”
Reading & Ornament:
Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbol:Infant Messiah
Attend Mass in honor of the Birth of Christ!
Jessica, I just posted about my Jesse Tree today too. It will be the first time for us as it has taken me a long time to get my act together on it! Thanks for the coloring pages, we will try to add some of those too!
Thanks so much for all of these links! My mom and I crafted ornaments a few weeks ago. My kids are thrilled!!!
Aimee
Well this is just BEYOND helpful. You’ve got a daily visitor to this post during advent. Thanks you so much!!
This is JUST what I needed for our first Jesse tree!
This is fantastic, thank you!!!
I’ll be linking this post as a favorite on my blog – and I’m sure checking back frequently for ideas! Thank you especially for the Jesse Tree pdf; I haven’t had time to coordinate ANYTHING involved with a Jesse Tree (thought I’d just wait till next year) but as Lloyd is starting to love coloring, these may be just the right first step for both of us!
You are such a blessing!
Best,
Sarah
This is terrific Jessica. Thanks for sharing!
This is so great!! I ordered some books for our Jesse tree, but they haven’t come in yet!
Now, to get that ink in our printer…might have to wait for daddy tonight!
Thank you so much for your hard work!
Thanks for the links. I tagged you for a meme.