When Ron Rienstra first showed me Marty Haugen’s song “Beneath the Tree of Life” I knew we had to sing it at Church of the Servant. Haugen already has a good track record with COS, having written some of our favorite songs, such as “Gather Us In” and “Now the Feast and Celebration.” “Beneath the Tree of Life” comes from a complete communion liturgy that is similar enough to the COS liturgy that we’ll be using it in its entirety today. Most importantly, it highlights the central focus of our church’s architecture: the tree of life.

When Gunnar Birkerts designed the church, he conceived it using the metaphor of a village encircling a town square. Viewing Church of the Servant from the outside, the patchwork of colors gives the impression of a bustling city. Upon entering the building, the “village” gives way to a “town square”—that is, the sanctuary. At the center of this town square/worship space is a steel “tree” reaching 60 feet into the sky that holds up a 32 foot diameter translucent skylight, allowing the light of God’s good creation to stream down on worshipers as they join in a circle around the Lord’s table.

Of course, the tree metaphor didn’t begin with Gunnar Birkert or Church of the Servant. No, it’s a symbol as old as time itself, playing a pivotal role in the opening act of the human story. Adam and Eve enjoyed a lush garden with the Tree of Life at its center, but instead of enjoying the Tree of Life they chose fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were banished from the garden and all humanity since that time has labored under the shadow of sin. Jesus came to end the reign of sin by dying on another tree—the cross. With his resurrection, that simple wooden cross has became a Tree of Life for all who believe. Another Tree of Life will play a pivotal role in the final act of the human story:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)

Every time we gather underneath the steel beams that form the “tree” at COS, we remember the history of the garden’s trees and the cross of Christ. But as we circle the tree to share the communion meal or to be washed in the waters of baptism, we look forward to our future as well. We experience a brief taste of the eternal banquet that will be shared underneath the branches of the Tree of Life.

Come and gather beneath the tree of life.
Come and gather beneath the tree of life.
Root of wisdom, branch of peace,
Fruit of healing and release.
Come and gather beneath the tree of life.

Can’t tell a Tree of Life from a Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Contact Greg: greg.scheer@coscrc.org.