ella was sick the morning this project was in the advent calendar so we didn’t get around to it for a few days. thankfully she is all better now and as you can see, her crafting skills have not suffered. :)
you may copy and print out the note the advent goblins left us if you wish. the goblins wish it to be known that the first two paragraphs of their note came from the reform church of america’s page, jesse tree family devotions: advent 2010, and the next three paragraphs came from marietta community church’s page, awaiting our deliverer.
Jesus had an earthly father named Joseph, who was a carpenter.
God sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. The angel explained that God had chosen Mary, and that Mary's baby would be very special. When Joseph woke up, he knew that he and Mary were a part of God's plan. Joseph knew that he would be a good father to Jesus.
We don't know much about the earthly father of Jesus. We do know that he was of the royal line of David, but that was of little worth in his day. We know he was a working man, a carpenter. And we know that he was a man of compassion.
But this news must have taxed every ounce of compassion within him. What was Joseph supposed to think? His fiancée was pregnant, and he knew he wasn't the father. Some men would have given free reign to ego and anger. But not Joseph. He resolved to break the engagement quietly to spare Mary from public disgrace.
This whole episode must have grieved him to distraction. It's a wonder he could fall asleep long enough to have the heaven-sent dream. But dream he did. And when he woke up, he followed the angel's orders--which tells us one more thing about Joseph. He was a man of faith.
Matthew 1: 18-25
Have a grown up cut off the ends from two popsicle sticks. Have your grown up cut one of the popsicle sticks shorter than the other one. Paint the longer popsicle stick silver or grey. When it is dry, use a marker to draw inch and half-inch marks on one side of the stick.
Lay the painted popsicle stick on the table with the marked side facing up. Glue the ends of the two popsicle sticks together so that they form a right angle and let them dry. You've made a carpenter's square, the traditional symbol for Joseph, who was a carpenter.
Hang your ornament on your Jesse Tree as a reminder that even when we don't understand God's plan for our lives, we can trust that his plan is good.
here are a few pictures of how we made this ornament:
