By Mary Reid Barrow

A beautiful live oak in a garden behind Our Savior Lutheran Church is a new claim to tree fame for the church that has long been proud of the huge cedar trees lining the back of their property.

The live oak was recently deemed a Notable Tree by Brent James, founder of LRNow’s Notable Tree program, and was probably on this earth about the time John Quincy Adams was president.

“It’s over 200 years old!” Brent said.

“I’m beyond excited,” said Cheryl Wolfe, chair of the church’s Social Ministry Committee.

The dozen or so cedar trees out back, up to three stories tall, also have a history all their own. Each was once a living Christmas tree in the church’s sanctuary and then was planted outside after the holidays, Cheryl said. This was back in the 1950s and 60s soon after Our Savior was founded.

That was also back in 1956 when someone made the wise decision to build the church around the towering live oak and not cut it down. The tree is now the highlight of the church’s Mitchell/Teal Garden and Columbarium.

The live oak probably began its life before any Lutheran church arrived in the area. Now the big tree spreads its limbs over the garden as if to stretch out to meet the cedars out back.

The stunning presence of the trees is a testament to Our Savior’s caring environmental ethic. Decorating live holiday trees in the church was a tradition until city laws banned the use of live trees indoors because of fire danger.

Cheryl’s Social Ministry Committee is where many of the church’s environmental efforts arise now. Under her leadership, the church became a LRNow Faith Community in 2023. She pointed out a nearby rain barrel and native plant garden where blanket flower is blooming now to feed the pollinators.

A little free library out under one of the cedars keeps used books in circulation, another of the obvious signs of environmentalists at work.

“Every year, we hold an Earth Day cleanup,” Cheryl said, “where we pick up trash around the church and the surrounding neighborhoods.”

Weekly after church, sewing workshop volunteers meet to convert used pillowcases into dresses for children in Africa. The church also collects food and clothing for various groups in need around the area and so much more.

And the new Notable Tree and big row of cedars are silent cheerleaders watching over all of Our Savior’s good works.