26 July 2024 Olive Trees

Opening Prayer

Creator God …

we thank you for this time and space to meet together …

we give thanks today for your beautiful gift of Olive Trees – first mentioned in the book of Genesis … which have become, down the ages, one of the most widely used natural commodities in today’s world – and a blessing to so many.

As we ponder this morning, may our thoughts, listening, stillness, and prayer be transformed through your Holy Spirit.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen

Judy

Well, it seems rather a long time ago when I first thought about the theme of Olive Trees for us to reflect on today! When the initial thought hit me … I had a picture in my mind – a picture that I often hold, to meditate and feel at peace. It was of a hillside in Turkey, where we were looking down towards a most beautiful forest – it was definitely more than just a grove (!) – a forest of olive trees, interspersed with fig trees.

Some of you might have visited places where olive and fig trees grow abundantly – and you may have also experienced the beauty, and sensation, of seeing what might be described as a ‘sea of greens’ … with the silvery greens of the olive trees glistening in the sun.

[The sight really IS something beautiful to behold – and can be seen in many mediterranean countries, and other parts of the world, as well as, of course, The Holy Land – of Israel and Palestine]

I feel as though I have always loved olive trees although, as I pondered earlier this week, I suddenly realised that, apart from references to olive trees in Jewish and Christian scriptures, I probably didn’t know much about them as a child!

Long ago, when I first visited my cousin in East Jerusalem, I felt very envious of their small plot of garden, which has both olive and fig trees growing there … and producing fruit! Although I now have a small olive tree of my own (just in a large pot, at the moment) I have to admit to feeling envious of a friend’s wonderful olive tree, probably quite old, growing in her garden, not too far from here.

It would be rather strange, perhaps, when talking about olive trees, in a biblical sense, not to mention the Garden of Gethsemane (Gethsemane is from the Aramaic word for olive press) … a place which is usually a ‘must’ … on the itinerary for Christian pilgrimages!

The Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of All Nations, lie at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, this area of Jerusalem is often mentioned as a favourite place for Jesus and his disciples to rest and pray beneath the evergreen olive trees. Today it is remembered as an area where Jesus is said to have prayed his last prayer - before his journey towards the Cross – In many Christian Churches, this time is marked by a Vigil onHoly (Maundy) Thursday in Holy Week.

When we come to our time of stillness, shortly, there are plenty of Thoughts to Ponder, from many different sources … although you may wish to just be still with your own thoughts and experiences. Before we do so, let’s just note some of the uses and benefits attributed to beautiful olive trees: (there are more references to these in the Thoughts to Ponder)

Peace – a sign of peace and reconciliation as the dove brought an olive branch back to Noah

and therefore, from the same story, a sign of Hope

Food – a source of food over centuries

Fuel – for lamps – still used today

Sacrifice - often used in biblical times

Harvesting – is a very important task, and has provided work down the ages – even today - in many mediterranean countries … some interesting videos on YouTube of people shaking the trees to release the olives!

Medicine – of which there are quite a number of references

Anointing - Remember King Charles’ Coronation last year … and how, prior to that occasion, we saw the news from Jerusalem that Hosam Naoum, The Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, blessed the oil to be used at the King’s Coronation … and the oil was from the olive trees in Jerusalem.

and so … just to leave you with a couple of quotes ….the first anonymous, and the second from Thomas Jefferson

‘Olive Trees’

God’s great gift – rooted in the past

Anonymous

The olive tree is surely the richest gift of Heaven.

I can scarcely expect bread.

Thomas Jefferson

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Introduction to Silence 30 minutes - followed by sharing

Blessing

May the Blessing of Light be upon you

Light on the outside, light on the inside.

With God’s sunlight shining on you,

May your heart glow with warmth,

Like a turf fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike.

May the Light of the Lord shine from your eyes,

Like a candle in the window,

Welcoming the weary traveller.

May the blessing of Gods soft rain be on you,

Falling gently on your head

Refreshing your soul with the sweetness

of little flowers newly blooming.

May the strength of the winds of heaven bless you

Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean

Sparkling after in the sunlight.

May the blessing of Gods earth be on you

And as you walk the roads

May you always have a kind word for those you meet.

May you understand the strength and power of God in a

Thunderstorm and winter

And the quiet beauty of creation

And the calm of a summer sunset

And may you come to realize

That insignificant as you may seem

in this great universe

You ARE an important part of Gods plan.

May he watch over you

And keep you safe from harm.

Amen

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Phil Coulter

Spoken and sung by Roma Downey

YouTube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3Md-4w3gk