Family tree
Decorations are teaching students the Bible, from creation to Christmas.
Aholiday tree at one south Oklahoma City church has brought Jesus’ family tree to life for students at an affiliated school. Each class at St. James the Greater Catholic School created an ornament for the tree displayed near the altar at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 4201 S McKinley. Alicia Vasquez, the school’s principal, said the premise of the “Jesse Tree” comes from Isaiah 11:1, which says, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” It is an Advent custom that has its roots in medieval times. Named for Jesse, the father of King David, it helps tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas story. Following that premise, ornaments hanging on the Jesse Tree are bright, colorful and symbolic, Vasquez said. “First of all, it’s part of our religion, our theology. Second, it brings students closer to knowing parts of the Bible, knowing what each symbol represents,” she said. Students at the school, 1224 SW 41, from prekindergarten through eighth grade, were responsible for creating an ornament for the tree. Pre-K through thirdgrade students made an Earth ornament to symbolize creation. Seventh-graders made an ornament featuring the Bethlehem landscape. The Joseph’s coat of many colors ornament was made by the school’s third-graders. Fourthgraders crafted the Lion of Judah ornament. Other ornaments included Adam and Eve, a lamb, Jacob’s ladder, a rainbow symbolizing Noah and his ark, a tree stump representing Jesse, Jonah and the whale and, finally, Jesus in the manger. Vasquez said the school had a prayer service before students decorated the tree together. Agatha Gasperoni, one of the school’s teachers, said students look forward to the annual project because it is a schoolwide effort. “It’s community building. They know each other’s brothers and sisters, and we kind of do this altogether,” she said. One of the school’s seventh-graders shared similar comments. “My favorite part of the Jesse Tree is how we come together to put the ornaments up,” Arlety Rodriguez said. Another seventhgrader, Ivan Estrada, said the project keeps his focus on the Christmas story and Scripture. “It kind of helps me because I already know it (Bible story). I would just say it helps me to understand it better,” he said. Displayed near the altar of the church, the Jesse Tree will remain on display through Christmas.