Rev Andrew Kingston, Methodist Centenary Church, Leeson Park, Dublin Sent ECI this reflection:
The National Botanic Gardens is an absolute treasure, and is enhanced at the moment by a wonderful sculpture trail. Many biblical trees, including most that are featured in the attached photograph that I put together recently can be found in the collection there. Each one tells a story.
After Samuel anointed Saul with a flask of olive oil he was told that he would meet three men at the “oak of Tabor”. I picked up acorns from the Quercus macrolepis, the Tabor oak, underneath a specimen growing close to the walled vegetable garden. It was either the squirrels or me! In fact it was me because of the squirrels, and it was their foraging in the canopy above that had dislodged the acorns and leaves.
Saul shared a Holy Communion of bread and wine underneath that great tree, and subsequently the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
Trees provide fruit for people and nature during this “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.” Trees are also important environmentally, they are landmarks the dress both town and country and their shade provides meeting places for Church communities in hot places. We thank God for the gift of trees.