Thought for the Week - 29th May 2022

Dear Friends, 

One of the things that I found during the lockdown times we were all subject to was how much more I appreciated God’s creation during my times out for my daily walk, especially the beauty and variety of the trees. I suddenly became aware of these towering structures, the skyscrapers of nature, some with different coloured leaves and blossoms, all magnificent to see. I wonder if you have you heard of the Queen’s Green Canopy? In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, this is a unique project that invites people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’, with the aim to increase and protect trees in the UK, and as a lasting legacy to honour the Queen’s leadership and service to the nation. It began in the planting season (October-March) in 2021, and this year there will be another opportunity to get involved when the planting season for 2022 begins. There are a number of different kinds of tree mentioned in the Bible including sandalwood, cedar, fig, palm and sycamore, but we read at the beginning and end of the Bible about the tree of life. In the book of Genesis we read of God’s creative activity and that at the heart of the Garden of Eden there was ‘the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ (Genesis 2:9). And then in Revelation 22 we learn that the tree of life bears twelve crops of fruit every month, and that the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. We know that because of the sin of Adam and Eve in disobeying God they were banished from the Garden of Eden, but that through the blood of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross (another tree of sorts) forgiveness for sins and reconciliation with God came. The picture in Revelation of the tree of life gives us an indication of just what life in all its fullness will mean for all who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their lives. To get involved with the Queen’s Green Canopy go to https://queensgreencanopy.org/         

Grace and peace,

Neil 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thought for the Week - 28th January 2024

Dear Friends, In 1985 the Congregational minister and hymn writer Fred Kaan reflected on ‘For the healing of the nations’ saying, ‘Of all the hymns that I have written, this is the text that has been more widely reprinted and incorporated in major hymnbooks than any other’. It was first used in 1965 and it expresses something of the deep longing and desire for peace and reconciliation, for God’s justice to be known, and for an end to all conflict and violence. Fred Kaan was a committed pacifist and, in an obituary, following his death in 2009 at the age of 80, it read, ‘His theology reflected a God committed to and immersed in a world crying out to be set free from every form of injustice. Fred’s poetry centred on a Jesus who embraced the whole of creation and excluded no one and nothing from his love. In Fred, the Christian peace movement found its voice.’                                      Grace and peace, Neil         1.   For the healing of the nations,                     
Read more

Thought for the Week - 29th October 2023

Dear Friends,  Today we are celebrating two things, firstly it is the Bible Society’s Bible Sunday, a day when we can give thanks to God for the scriptures and echo the apostle Paul’s words, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timohty 3:16-17). And secondly, as a church we are celebrating the 140 th Church Anniversary of Beckenham Baptist Church, founded in 1883 as Elm Road Chapel, the opening services took place on Wednesday 31st October – 9.30am Prayer Meeting, 2.45pm Public Service, 4.45pm a Meeting in the Chapel, and at 6.30pm another Public Service – with various Baptist luminaries of the day in attendance. The public reading of the Scriptures has always been at the heart of all we do as a Christian community, for it is there that we can hear the stories of the Bible and reflect upon our own place in God’s never-ending story of c
Read more

Thought for the Week - 14/11/2021

Dear Friends, This last week I have attended the Order for Baptist Ministry’s yearly Convocation which took place online over two days. I’ve been associated with the Order for several years and last year, at another online Convocation, I took my vows and commitments which are to live a life of prayer and discipleship, to covenant to maintain community in Christ with the Order, and to live a life according to the rule of life that the Order offers. Part of this is the saying of a Daily Office which includes these words under the title, Reflecting on our Roots . ‘Living God, enable us this day to be pilgrims and companions: committed to the way of the Christ, faithful to the call of Christ, discerning the mind of Christ, offering the welcome of Christ, growing in the likeness of Christ, engaging in the mission of Christ, in the world that belongs to Christ.’ The Convocation this year focused on being attentive to God, in the rhythms of grace in our vulnerability, to the world and plan
Read more