Our Jesse Tree in Bloom!

The Jesse Tree stood starkly bare that morning as people filed into church for our First Sunday of Advent Liturgy. As the parishioners came into church, each person was given their construction paper leaf with instructions to write what they desired from this Advent Season.

Frances Pope, our liturgical minister, spoke to the congregation again before Mass began, to encourage the people to write of their hopes, petitions and praise; and to hang the leaves on the tree at the appointed time. The Liturgy Committee hoped that many of our people would participate in this Advent activity and that it would be a meaningful one for all of us.

After Communion, Frances alerted the congregation that the time had arrived; She invited everyone to come to the Jesse Tree and attach their leaves to its branches. To our delight, the parishioners rose as one and came forward to place their petitions, hopes and praises on our bare tree. It was an absolutely moving moment. The stump of Jesse had done more than sprout! Our tree was clad in leaves!