WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE WINDOW?

(Excerpted from a “Stewardship Temple Talk” by Bob Larson, 

St. Paul’s Church Council Member, November 9, 2014) 

Before worship each Sunday I find myself gazing at our stained glass window area. I often wonder about the artist or the contractor that installed the window over 44 years ago. Perhaps some of you know the history but I will share some of my observations. 

It may not look like it from a distance, but the window is in need of repair much like we need a little repair each time we gather here for worship. 

The stained glass window adds to our worship and presents some symbols common to our Christian heritage. 

First and most obvious is the stained glass cross but in all there are twelve crosses or points where the frames cross together counting the center cross. This reminds me of the twelve apostles and the command to go and tell. 

Notice that two of the three main crosses are thicker and rise from floor to ceiling and the third cross is thinner and shorter. One is the thief saved and the other is the thief that was lost. 

Now go to the horizontal piece that is longer as if to reach out to the lost one much like the grace of God reaches out to all or the Shepherd going out to save one lost sheep. 

On the center stained glass cross, the horizontal piece is uneven; much like we are uneven by sin and Christ is here to level things out again by His love for us. 

At the center of the cross where we see yellow panel--could be where the head of Christ was present or the crown of thorns rested. 

The red panels indicate the blood of Christ flowing downward but end up in panels of green & yellows representing Life & Joy! Our life is connected in communion with Christ our Savior by His body and blood. 

There are a few darker panels on each lower side of the window which I have concluded the artist wanted to remind us of the tumult around us, the suffering we know or temptations we encounter in our daily life. In spite of the darkest threats, our eyes scan upwards where we see some blue sky around the center of the Cross. Much like heaven, we may not see things clearly but if we keep our eyes on Jesus we will see Him as He is! 

What we do see clearly is the early Christian symbol of a fish, one swallowing the other, the story of Jonah held in darkness much like Christ and the three days before resurrection! I may not have included all of the images seen here so let me know if you notice others. 

Perhaps I am seeing too much in this window, but the crosses, the arrangement of colors and the fish symbol are all part of the story of our faith. 

May each time we gather here be a reminder of the commitment Christ made for our salvation and our commitment to do His work with our time and talent and our dedication to repair and maintain this blessed house of worship.