new church life: november/december 2014
college athletic field dedication
September 27, 2014
President Kristin King welcomed friends and supporters to the dedication,
with particular thanks to:
• Our Donors/Supporters. Their generosity and vision have made possible
not just this beautiful field that surrounds us but the new athletic
program, with all its promise and excitement, and many other initiatives
to strengthen our programs and mission. We are grateful indeed!
• Thank you to the entire campus community – students, staff,
administration and faculty. You have embraced new programs with
energy and courage, growing with the challenges as they inevitably arise,
and celebrating with pride the extraordinary progress of the past few
years.
• Thank you, finally, to our athletic director, Matt Kennedy. Matt’s vision
and competence have moved things forward in remarkable ways. Matt
is a gifted leader, able to inspire best efforts and to unite people around a
common cause and shared values.
Dr. King also spoke about the features and symbolism of the Cedar of
Lebanon tree being planted to commemorate the event:
“This tree was highly valued in the ancient world and remains so today. Its
aromatic, durable wood was used for building ships but also palaces, temples
and houses of worship, structures that were meaningful and built to last, much
as the College and its mission are being built to last. How reassuring to have
cedar wood growing on our campus!
“This tree is also known for its impressive stature (though our specimen is
deceptively small, a mere sapling at this point, much as we are).
“The Cedar of Lebanon can grow 100 feet tall. This splendid height reflects
our spiritual purpose and upward reach. Its canopy, the spread of its branches,
can extend 50 feet, symbolizing the College’s outreach into the world. The tree’s
massive trunk – as broad as six feet – reminds us of the solid educational base
supporting that impressive canopy and outreach. Finally, there is endurance
and longevity. Some Cedars of Lebanon in the Mediterranean area have been
growing for 1000 years. We hope the College’s mission will also endure long
into the future.
“The book of Ezekiel refers to the Cedar of Lebanon as, ‘Exalted above all
the trees of the field,’ such that, ‘the birds of the heavens make their nests in its
boughs.’ (Chapter 31) A long poetic description follows. The Writings explain
the correspondence of this tree as being the power of knowledge, learning, or
rationality when properly subordinated to higher values and truth.
“Isn’t this what we’re doing here at the College, whether on the athletic
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