Sanctuary Windows
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There are twenty-six stained glass windows along the exterior walls of the sanctuary. The following information was taken from a pamphlet made for the church dedication service in 1980. Starting on the left as you enter the sanctuary, the windows depict familiar stories from the Bible.
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Window One
God the Father A hand reaching down from above to earth is used to symbolize God’s light on earth. The rays demonstrate that light. A note of judgment finishes the picture in this window. Here we find a flaming sword which tradition says guards the path to the tree of life after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden. |
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Window Two
Noah and the Flood This picture has a number of symbols which represent the story of Noah. The window is framed with angry skies and seas on the one side and a stylized rainbow on the other. The ark is also visible, and while the dove does not appear the olive branches which conveyed to Noah the presence of dried land do occur. |
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Window Three
Sacrificial Altar In this window, Isaac’s bundle of wood is not tied into the traditional form of the cross, but stacked straight. There is a stone altar, and a foreboding knife, waiting for the hand of Abraham. |
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Window Four
The 10 Commandments This window holds what appears to be the burning bush, which represents the call of Moses. God spoke to him from this unusual place. God also gave him tablets of stone with the commandments represented there. In Roman Catholic and Lutheran usage these tablets appear with three Roman numerals on the left and seven on the right. In our window the alternative used by other denominations is found: four numbers on the left and six on the right. |
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Window Five
The Bread of Life The anchor superimposed on a St. Andrew’s cross is a variation of the anchor cross used in the catacombs by early Christians. The wheat represents the bread of life. The manufacturer suggests the anchor and cross may signify either worship or livelihood. |
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Window Six
His Teachings Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The scroll, pen, and lamp are all symbols of the teaching and learning process. The lamp is a symbol for the word of God. |
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Window Seven
The Annunciation Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” The stars are most like the Epiphany star, or the star of Jacob It is used for the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. The hardy white flower is a conventionalized Christmas rose of Sharon which blooms at Christmas time. The rose is a symbol of the nativity and a Messianic prophecy. |
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Window Eight
Mary and Child The lighted heavens suggest that angelic visitation to Mary. Mary’s symbol is often a pierced heart, in our window an unusual ray pierces her heart. The daisy began to be used from the 15th century onward to symbolize the innocence of the baby Jesus. |
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Window Nine
The Miracle of the Fishes and the Loaves The symbol of fish, bread and knife are clear reminders of the gospel story of a miracle in which a young lad shares his bread and multitudes are fed. |
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Window Ten
The Good Shepherd Jesus, the good Shepherd, is recalled in this window. Primary symbols are the staff which not only represents authority, but signifies a shepherd, and the sheep. |
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The next two windows depict the Holy Sacraments of Communion and Baptism
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Window Eleven
Holy Communion Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness wil rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. The chalice, bunch of grapes and loaf of bread or obvious signs of Eucharist. The disc with rays and the Jesugram depicts the sun of righteousness. The circle represents eternity, and IHC are the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus and were used as an abbreviation for Jesus. |
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Window Twelve
Holy Baptism The scallop shell with drops of water is a symbol of the baptism of Jesus. The dove represents innocence and purity. The Holy Spirit depicted here is related to creation, as the spirit hovers over the water and to the baptism of Jesus. The three rayed nimbus, which is a halo meant to represent a member of the Trinity, is a necessary part of the symbol. |
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Window Thirteen
Christ, the Light of the World John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life. This last window on the left side, depicts Christ as the Light of the world. The artist has chosen several candles in an open Bible as a symbol for our consideration. The candlestick on the left side reminds us Jesus is the light of life. The open Bible stands for the word of God. |
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The next seven windows portray the suffering and crucifixion of Christ
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Window Fourteen
Christ Unrobed This sad picture brings the symbol of the sun standing still. In its eerie light a cross empty except for the garments of the savior is seen. The dice which had been used to gamble for the clothing are there, and a nail can be seen, perhaps left over from the nailing the body of the Savior to the cross. |
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Window Fifteen
The Crucifixion John 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. The theme of Jesus’ suffering is continued in this window where the cross gets a new emphasis. In addition to the cross of Christ there are two other crosses, suggestive of the scene of Golgotha. John 19:19 tells of an inscription on the cross INRI, which means in Latin “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” |
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Window Sixteen
Suffering John 19:17-18 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and two others- one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Matthew 27:48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The theme of the cross, and the centrality of the cross event, is continued in the 16th window which features the nail, the crown of thorns, the reed and sponge, and the vinegar basin. |
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Window Seventeen
Scourging On the way to Calvary, Jesus is scourged with cat-o-nine-tails as shown here. The pillar and chain are also pictured. |
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Window Eighteen
Peter’s Sword John 18:10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) John 18:12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him… Peter’s sword and Malchus’ ear are featured here. Peter cut off the guard’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane. The rope signifies the arrest of Jesus. |
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Window Nineteen
In the Garden Jesus’ suffering combines a dark and cloudy night, the barbed edges or bitterness and the cup and the cross into a picture which evokes sadness. The cup stands for the bitterness of the sufferings of Jesus at Gethsemane and the cross stands for his crucifixion. |
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Window Twenty
The Betrayal The thirty pieces of silver spread over the window are the coins which were given to Judas Iscariot for pointing out Jesus to those who came to arrest him. |
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Window Twenty-one
The Resurrection This window features a butterfly which stands for the new life. |
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Window Twenty-two
Ascension 2 Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, ean Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. The chariot of fire represents the dramatic way Elijah was carried to heaven. The symbol suggests that the ascension of Jesus was something out of this world. |
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The final four windows look at the life and ministry of Jesus
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Window Twenty-three
Miracle of Healing Non-biblical symbols are used here for healing. The spoon of medicine and bowl represents healing through medicine. The caduceus on the left side of is the symbol for medicine used today and comes from the sign for the healing god Aescalapius…who was a spiritual healer, unlike Hippocrates, the scientist. |
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Window Twenty-four
Sermon on the Mount Dominant ideas in this window are the mountain, the cross and a field |
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Window Twenty-five
Christ and His Teachings Scroll and pen stand for Jesus’ teaching, the candle for Jesus the light of the world. Compare this window to Window Thirteen, Christ the Light of the World. |
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Window Twenty-six
Victory Over Death The window has three symbols: a banner, a scepter and a crown. The banner is a banner of victory and in symbolism is often carried by a lamb which relates the victorious nature of the sacrifice. The scepter is a symbol of authority often used in conjunction with a crown. The crown reminds us of royalty. |
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