The Church of St. Bede
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from the archives.....
November 1, 2009
The Tree of Life
Dear Friends in Christ,
In celebrating our 85th
Anniversary as the Christian
Community of St. Bede, I invited
you, earlier this year, to identify
with the biblical image of the “Tree
of Life.” Thanks to the artistic
abilities of Sharon Zagrodney and
my son Mark, we were presented
with two different drawings of the
image of the “Tree of Life.” It has
also become a popular image for
other organizations. However, we
will reflect on the Biblical
representations and meanings of
the “Tree of Life.”
In describing the creation process,
the writer of Genesis said that
“God made to grow.....the tree of
life also in the midst of the garden.
”(Genesis 2:9) We have another
recording in Genesis 3:22. After
Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s
instructions not to eat from “the
tree of the knowledge of good and
evil,”(Genesis 2:9) God is
concerned that Adam and Eve
would “take also from the tree of
life and so live forever.” In the
book of Revelation 22:2, we have a
good description of the location of
the “Tree of Life” in the city, the
New Jerusalem;
“ On either side of the river is the
tree of life. With its twelve kinds of
fruit, producing its fruits each
month; and the leaves of the tree
are for the healing of the nations.”
Our last scriptural reference about
the “Tree of Life” is very vital for
this study and it is found in Psalm 1:
3. Here the righteous “ are like
trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.”
What is common about these
references to the “tree of life” is
the meaning of fertility,
fruitfulness, and the sense of
vitality of life. We will reflect on
our lives as a Community of Faith
in Christ, called St. Bede’s Church
which is like a tree panted by God
through Jesus Christ, in whose
Life for several generations for
the past 85 years, has been rooted
and grounded in faith, hope and
love in the power of the Holy
Spirit. As present members, let us
identify ourselves as “the leaves”
that “do not wither.”
Leaves are very vital to the tree.
Through the process of
photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is
The Tree of Life
Dear Friends in Christ,
In celebrating our 85th
Anniversary as the Christian
Community of St. Bede, I invited
you, earlier this year, to identify
with the biblical image of the “Tree
of Life.” Thanks to the artistic
abilities of Sharon Zagrodney and
my son Mark, we were presented
with two different drawings of the
image of the “Tree of Life.” It has
also become a popular image for
other organizations. However, we
will reflect on the Biblical
representations and meanings of
the “Tree of Life.”
In describing the creation process,
the writer of Genesis said that
“God made to grow.....the tree of
life also in the midst of the garden.
”(Genesis 2:9) We have another
recording in Genesis 3:22. After
Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s
instructions not to eat from “the
tree of the knowledge of good and
evil,”(Genesis 2:9) God is
concerned that Adam and Eve
would “take also from the tree of
life and so live forever.” In the
book of Revelation 22:2, we have a
good description of the location of
the “Tree of Life” in the city, the
New Jerusalem;
“ On either side of the river is the
tree of life. With its twelve kinds of
fruit, producing its fruits each
month; and the leaves of the tree
are for the healing of the nations.”
Our last scriptural reference about
the “Tree of Life” is very vital for
this study and it is found in Psalm 1:
3. Here the righteous “ are like
trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.”
What is common about these
references to the “tree of life” is
the meaning of fertility,
fruitfulness, and the sense of
vitality of life. We will reflect on
our lives as a Community of Faith
in Christ, called St. Bede’s Church
which is like a tree panted by God
through Jesus Christ, in whose
Life for several generations for
the past 85 years, has been rooted
and grounded in faith, hope and
love in the power of the Holy
Spirit. As present members, let us
identify ourselves as “the leaves”
that “do not wither.”
Leaves are very vital to the tree.
Through the process of
photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is
taken from the atmosphere and
through other chemical reactions,
the leaves produces oxygen that
is released in the air. These
activities happen only when the
leaves are green and “do not
wither.” Another vital function of
leaves is the process known as
transpiration. The water is
absorbed by the roots, and is
released by the leaves into the
atmosphere and so contributes to
our rainfall. No wonder there are
many organizations that are always
making protests at the alarming
rate that we are cutting down
trees. We depend on the leaves
of trees for contributing to our
healthy climate. If we can identify
ourselves as the present “leaves”
of the “Tree of Life” of St. Bede’s
Church in our 85th Anniversary, I
invite us all to reflect on our lives
in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
A few Sundays ago, through the
help of our NCD Coach, Steve
Mason, we reflected on some of
the meanings of the results from
the Natural Church Development
process, which we began in May
this year. We have begun on our
journey to develop a healthy
consciousness of our church, as
leaves, which will not wither. Let
us always pray for this journey,
that we will listen to God and
commit ourselves to God’s vision
for us. The Holy Spirit working and
praying through us will make our
journey and vision clearer day by
day.
Water is vital to the “Tree of Life.”
Water is also a well-known image
of the new life of the Holy Spirit in
the scriptures. For example,
Jesus promised “living water” to
the Samaritan woman. He also
promised to those who believed in
Him an experience of new life.
Jesus then quoted this scripture:
“‘out of the believer’s heart shall
flow rivers of living water.’” (John
7.37-39)
By faith therefore we can
experience the “living water” of
the Spirit. We believe the “Tree of
Life” is “rooted and grounded” in
the love of Christ. (Ephesians
3.17) As “leaves” of the “Tree of
Life” at St. Bede, we can witness to
Christ’s mission and ministry
among us. Living in Christ, we will
encourage one another in his or
her ministry in Christ’s Name.
Only the Spirit of Christ can
transform our cultures and us so
that we will become “one in the
Spirit and one in the Lord.”
through other chemical reactions,
the leaves produces oxygen that
is released in the air. These
activities happen only when the
leaves are green and “do not
wither.” Another vital function of
leaves is the process known as
transpiration. The water is
absorbed by the roots, and is
released by the leaves into the
atmosphere and so contributes to
our rainfall. No wonder there are
many organizations that are always
making protests at the alarming
rate that we are cutting down
trees. We depend on the leaves
of trees for contributing to our
healthy climate. If we can identify
ourselves as the present “leaves”
of the “Tree of Life” of St. Bede’s
Church in our 85th Anniversary, I
invite us all to reflect on our lives
in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
A few Sundays ago, through the
help of our NCD Coach, Steve
Mason, we reflected on some of
the meanings of the results from
the Natural Church Development
process, which we began in May
this year. We have begun on our
journey to develop a healthy
consciousness of our church, as
leaves, which will not wither. Let
us always pray for this journey,
that we will listen to God and
commit ourselves to God’s vision
for us. The Holy Spirit working and
praying through us will make our
journey and vision clearer day by
day.
Water is vital to the “Tree of Life.”
Water is also a well-known image
of the new life of the Holy Spirit in
the scriptures. For example,
Jesus promised “living water” to
the Samaritan woman. He also
promised to those who believed in
Him an experience of new life.
Jesus then quoted this scripture:
“‘out of the believer’s heart shall
flow rivers of living water.’” (John
7.37-39)
By faith therefore we can
experience the “living water” of
the Spirit. We believe the “Tree of
Life” is “rooted and grounded” in
the love of Christ. (Ephesians
3.17) As “leaves” of the “Tree of
Life” at St. Bede, we can witness to
Christ’s mission and ministry
among us. Living in Christ, we will
encourage one another in his or
her ministry in Christ’s Name.
Only the Spirit of Christ can
transform our cultures and us so
that we will become “one in the
Spirit and one in the Lord.”
| 85th Anniversary Message November 2009 |
defining moment for our church. It
defined our ability to embrace
diversity and disclose for us our
identity in Christ. I experienced
the event as a catalyst for healing,
health, growth and fellowship in
Christ. May God increase our
faith, gifts and strengthen all our
resources, for the redeveloping of
our church in the vision, which
God in Christ will make clearer to
us by the empowering of the Holy
Spirit. If indeed, we are seeking
God’s vision for us what might we
be doing differently?
Let us commend ourselves to
Jesus Christ who died on an
“awful tree” and was raised as the
Eternal Tree of Life for all God’s
creation. May God grant us in this
our 85th year, “more than we can
ask or imagine.” May we also
rededicate and recommit our lives
to grow in faith, hope and love,
and engage in the wonderful
process of building up our Church
through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Yours in His Service,
The Rev. Derek A. Stapleton
Priest-in-Charge
