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November 2024 Clergy Letter


Last year, in an article on the life and spirituality of trees, Rev Christine drew our attention to the iconic Sycamore tree in the gap on Hadrian’s Wall which had tragically been felled in September 2023 in a deliberate act of vandalism. The heart of the nation was moved and many people shared photos of what the tree had meant to them and their family memories.

Ten months later the Northumberland National Park reported that twelve shoots had been found sprouting from the base of the felled tree. One of our close friends and a fellow rambler reported seeing them on a recent walk along the Wall; what a testimony to the incredible capacity of nature to rejuvenate and heal.

This imagery appears in our Bibles in the form of a prophecy, written about 700 years before the birth of Christ, by the prophet Isaiah:  

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord”

(Isaiah 11 vv1-2)

Jesse was the father of King David. David’s family line continued, but they had long been removed from Kingship in the land and its people exiled in neighbouring countries or occupied by foreign armies, from Babylon, Greece and Rome. Then after many generations we read that,

Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born….” (Luke 2 vv.4-6)

This Advent in our Benefice we will be encouraging everyone who wants to join us, to create their own ‘Jesse Tree’ at home, tracing Jesus’ family line from Creation to the Crib, as recorded by Matthew and Luke at the beginning of their Gospels, lingering on the way to explore the stories of the very human characters we encounter on our journey. Look out for updates on our Benefice website and Facebook page.

As every gardener knows when they cut down and clear in Autumn; Spring will bring new life and hope; so too with humanity.

Behold I am making all things new.” (Rev 21 v.5)

Rev Becky Richards

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