“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches (Ezekiel 17:22,23).

[Editor’s Note: We started writing this week’s Connect Devotionals when it appeared that we’d be in our new building on December 5.  We had decided to take a small break from our current sermon theme and re-visit our church’s “noble cedar” vision from Ezekiel 17. As you know, that opening date will need to slide a bit, but we felt that the re-visiting the noble cedar might refresh our hope as we await the final and official “opening of the doors” on Andrews Store Road!]

My husband is delightfully nerdy when it comes to plants and growing things, so I picked his brain about these verses in Ezekiel 17.

When replanting a cutting of a tree, does it make a difference where on the original plant/tree the shoot is taken from? “The topmost part of the tree would be the newest, most vibrant growth, and it would be the most thriving part of the plant.”

Would it make any difference if the shoot were to be planted on a mountaintop versus a valley, or slope? “There would be more direct sunlight on a high point, and likely better drainage of rainwater. It would be more windy on a mountain versus in the valley, but over time winds would create a stronger root system.

Why do you ask? “Top secret research!” :)

Our pastors have long cast the vision of Chatham Church being like the tree mentioned in Ezekiel 17, and our “noble cedar” has been taking in sunlight and rain to help it grow and flourish in Chatham county the last 14 years. When the winds have come, the roots of our cedar have grown sturdy and strong; the branches have become a shelter for all who’ve entered, be it for those just passing through or those who have chosen to make their permanent home here.

Our church family is meant to be a place for “all the birds of the air to find their rest and make a nest.” While we are so excited to welcome one and all to our new building in north Chatham soon, the building is simply a resource to further the mission we’ve been working towards all along: to connect people to God, to each other, and engage their world for good!

Trees don’t reach maturity overnight, and neither do church families. Some seasons bring more or less rain needed for growth, unusually high or low temperatures, and high winds; all have the potential to be damaging if not planned for and handled properly. As we work toward becoming more like the “noble cedar,” what’s one way you can help a newcomer find a home in the branches of Chatham Church?

To read or re-read the overview/summary of this week’s passage, you can click here.