Pentecost219 viewsFifty days after the Resurrection of our Lord, His Twelve Disciples were gathered with other believers in a house in Jerusalem. As He had promised would happen, the Holy Spirit [here represented in the form of a dove] descended upon them. "Tongues as of fire" rested upon the disciples. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, who enabled them to speak the Word of God in foreign languages they had not known.
The postures of the disciples portrayed in this window depict the various responses which this phenomenal miracle must have evoked: the posture of humble penitence in recognizing this powerful presence of the Spirit of God; the posture of praise in another disciple, the posture of prayer in yet another; and the posture of exhortation assumed by Peter, who powerfully preached both Law and Gospel on Pentecost Day.
The Holy Spirit is still the One who enables His people to repent, praise, pray, and proclaim the Word of God.Apr 08, 2014
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Nativity254 views"And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger..." [Luke 2:7]
The Virgin gently lays in the manger the Holy Child, God in the flesh come to save us. His earthly guardian, Joseph, looks on, as the angels who had sung, "Glory to God in the highest!" now watch in awe. A star overhead marks the place of His birth: a stable that He shares with cattle. A lamb and shepherd's staff [which forms the vertical beam of the stable] remind us of the shepherds to whom the Christmas message was first proclaimed. A cross behind the head of the infant Savior declares His later words: "For this purpose I came into the world." [John 18:37] And, the descending beam of light from above portrays the presence of God the Father, who "so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son." [John 3:16]
In Luther's words, Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest, in Whom this sinful world is blest!
Apr 08, 2014
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Crucifixion294 viewsThe sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross is made for the sins of the world. "We have been sanctified," Scripture says, "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." [Hebrews 10:10]
From his side--pierced with a spear--blood and water flow forth. [John 19:34] Water droplets from the cross flow to the Baptismal stream, reminding us of the Sacrament of Baptism. Blood droplets from the cross flow to the Cup and Host of Holy Communion where we receive the very Body and Blood of the Lord. Both Sacraments bring us the benefits of the Cross "for the forgiveness of sins," as printed at the window's base.
Apr 08, 2014
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Epiphany156 viewsThe Church, in the Epiphany Season, celebrates the various ways in which the Lord Jesus manifested His glory through His miracles, thus revealing His divine identity to all.
The "epiphany event" portrayed in this window is the first miracle which Jesus performed: the changing of water into wine at the wedding of Cana in Galilee. "This beginning of His miracles," St. John writes, "Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth His glory, and His disciples believed in Him." [John 2:11]
Notice the lines and colors of Jesus' garment flowing into the lines and colors of the garment of the servant. Both move the viewer from the commanding posture of the Lord through the servant to the water changing into wine.Apr 08, 2014
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Second Coming156 viewsThe Sacred Scriptures end with the promise of the Lord Jesus: "Lo, I am coming quickly." The Bride of Christ, the Church, responds in faith, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, come!"
He is, indeed, going to come again. Visibly He shall return in glory, encompassed by clouds and heralded by heaven's angels. Their trumpets will sound, and all created things will behold the One who is forever called "The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords." His kingdom will last forever and ever!
"The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us," St. Paul declares. Thus, the waiting Church sings:
The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings!
Apr 08, 2014
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Martin Luther148 views"Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture!" These words of Dr. Martin Luther should, indeed, be echoed by every church that bears his name. With open Bible in hand--facing out toward the world--Luther reminds us all that the Word of God is God's Word to us and God's Word for the world.
As we leave the sanctuary, having heard the Word of God and having seen the life and love of our Savior portrayed in faceted glass, may we proclaim the eternal truths which God restored to His Church through the great Reformer: "We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!"Apr 08, 2014
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"Come Unto Me"295 viewsThe words of the Savior bid us welcome as we enter His sanctuary. Note:
the three crosses, two in the light, one in the dark; the baptism of Jesus; John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world;" the dove and the vertical beam of light symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit and God the Father and the baptism of God the Son; the lamb in the thicket reminding us of the sacrificial substitute which god provided for Abraham and Isaac, thus foreshadowing the supreme sacrifice of God's own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; the nail prints in the hands of the welcoming Lord; the pastoral setting of the window which, like Psalm 23 says, "The Lord is my Shepherd."Apr 08, 2014
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Easter160 views"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen!" The Gospels record that an angel appeared and rolled the stone away, "his appearance like lightning, his garment white as snow." Jesus also appeared to Mary Magdalene near the tomb. "Mary!" He said. She turned and replied, "Rabboni!" "Stop clinging to Me," He said; I have not yet ascended to My Father."
The window portrays the glorious ray of resurrection light emanating from the open and empty tomb, casting itself in heavenly hues of gold upon the garments and wings of the angel as well as upon the garments of the Risen Lord. The flowers are the heralds of nature's "Hallelujah!" The ascending steps upon which Christ stands remind us that He will soon ascend again unto His Father, represented by the descending crystalline glass behind the Lord.Apr 08, 2014
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Advent173 viewsThe Advent Prophet Isaiah, who in a sitting position, has inscribed the Hebrew word "Immanuel" upon his scroll. (Is. 7:14) Other prophesy figures:
the beam of light: "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light...for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." (Is. 9:2-7)
the dove: "Behold...My Chosen One...I have put My Spirit upon Him." (Is. 42:1)
the stump and the stem: "Then a shoot shall spring forth from the stem of Jesse..." (Is. 11:1)
the flowers:"...the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose..." (Is. 35 1-2 from which the Savior is called "The Rose of Sharon" and the Church sings, "Lo, How a Rose is Blooming.")
the white stone: "Behold, I am laying in Zion...a costly cornerstone..."and we sing, "Christ is our Cornerstone!"
the brown cross beams on the ground behind the prophet: "The Lord hath laid on Him the inquiry of us all." (Is. 53)
the palm branches: "Say to the daughter of Zion...your salvation comes!" (Is. 62:11 - Palm Sunday)
the prophet: "Prepare the way for the Lord...then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed!" (Is. 40: 1-5)Apr 08, 2014
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854 viewsMar 03, 2013
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Baptismal Font Cover897 viewsMar 25, 2007
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Baptismal Font Cover102 viewsMar 25, 2007
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