From the Associate Pastor
Although it’s time take down the lights, put the ornaments back in the box and haul the dead Jesse tree to the curb, let us not forget all the Christmas promises that have been made in 2009. Let us begin 2010 remembering the words of Isaiah and all the symbolism that Isaiah holds.
“A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots.”
This passage is used as a vehicle to tell the story of God in the Old Testament. The branch that is mentioned became a way for the people of God to speak of the coming Messiah (look at Jeremiah 23:5 for an example). And, it is from this passage that we celebrate Christmas with a tree in our homes. The Jesse tree represents the newness of life out of darkness (remind you of Advent?) How appropriate it is to have a Christmas tree to help celebrate the newness of Christ through his birth, but how sad it is to begin a new year with a dried out, needle free, dead tree in our living rooms! Maybe we should begin a new tradition of bringing in the Jesse tree in January! We may not be ready to change all the Christmas traditions (especially one as big as the Christmas tree) but let us remember in the New Year all that we celebrated this Christmas and all that the birth of Jesus represents. Have a wonderful and very Happy New Year!
Kristen
