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God’s Story
as Told in the Windows
| Our
windows were designed and constructed by the
Willet Stained Glass Studios
in
Philadelphia, PA., a world renown company. Mr. Willet,
founder and president, came to Columbia and visited the
church before suggesting the type of glass and designs he
felt would be appropriate for our church. The windows were
made possible by gifts from generous members and friends of
the congregation. These windows were dedicated on June 3, 1979. |
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WE READ THE
WINDOWS FROM THE BOTTOM OF EACH PANEL |
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The first window on the left
as you enter the Sanctuary is the Old Testament window.
In these three panels we see people and events that happened
some 4000 years before Christ was born.
This window begins with the symbol of God’s hand reaching
down to create. The story of creation is found in Genesis:
i.e.:
1.8 the heavens are created
1:10 the earth is created
1:11 vegetation, plants, fruit trees
1:14 day, night, seasons, sun with rays
1:20-24 fish, birds, cattle
1:25-27 God creates male and female |
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Next we see Adam and Eve, God’s human creatures,
silhouetted in matrix. Because of their sin,
Genesis 3:23 records their expulsion from the Garden of
Eden.
As our eyes move upward, a rainbow is clearly seen arching
over Noah’s Ark. Genesis 9:13-16 speaks of the covenant God
has made with his people and His promise that water will
never again destroy them. A dove above the Ark assures Noah
the rains have ceased. |
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Next we see a pot of smoking coals which symbolizes
Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son Isaac. (Genesis
22:1-19)
In the middle of the window, Moses is represented by the
Tablets of the Law…God gives the rules by which mankind is
to live. (Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Moses is
also represented by a staff with a bronze serpent. (Numbers
21:5-9) |
THE SECOND
WINDOW
At the bottom of the second window is the six pointed
star of David — topped with a crown. The story of David
as king of the Israelite nation is found in I Samuel 16
— II Samuel 5. The crown is a symbol of his kingship —
the star is a symbol of the Jewish race still used
today. David is credited as having written many of the
Psalms we find in the Old Testament (61, 63, 66, 70,
71).
The next
symbol we see is that of the Ark of the Covenant.
(Exodus 25:10 which begins an elaborate description of
how it was to be constructed.)
The Ark
became the center of Israel’s worship. It was carried
before the people as they journeyed toward the Promised
Land. It was the symbol of God’s presence with them at
all times. |
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The
Shepherd’s Crook is a symbol for the prophet Amos one of
the minor prophets...Amos was shepherd.
Next to the Shepherd’s
Crook, is the symbol of the fallen idol. There were
many other people living on the earth in Biblical
times...people who worshipped all sorts of idols. Idols
became a problem for God’s people. In Genesis 35:17–
God tells Jacob to go to Bethel and make an altar to
him. Jacob tells his household to get rid of all their
idols…”so they gave to Jacob all the foreign idols they
had and all the rings that were in their ears and Jacob
buried them.” But the problem persisted. God was
totally against idols and He gives the first commandment
recorded in Exodus 20:1-6. This passage includes these
words “I am the Lord, thy God, thou shalt have no other
gods before me.”
The flaming chariot
we see in this window represents Elijah. The story of
this great prophet is found in First and Second Kings.
The account of his ascending into heaven ends in II
Kings 2:11 ff. |
| The harps
hanging in the willow trees symbolize the sadness of
Israelites when they were captives in Babylonia and
Egypt (Psalm 137:1). Jeremiah prophesied during the
period of their captivity.
At the top of this
second window we see a set of tongs – holding a burning
coal. This symbol reminds us of another great prophet
in Old Testament times. Isaiah (6:6-7) records Isaiah’s
lips being sealed to purify them so that he might
prophecy some of the great things God would do for his
people, His vision of Jesus as the suffering servant
shows Him standing in the wine press (Isaiah 63:3) and
Jesus’ coming (9:6). |
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THE WINDOWS
ARE EITHER SIDE OF THE ALTAR ARE CALLED THE CHRIST
WINDOWS |
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The third
window begins the story of Jesus with a fleu de lys.
The lily symbolizes the purity of the Virgin Mary. Her
story begins in Luke 1:26. Next we see a manger with
child…flanked by 3 shepherd’s crooks. (Luke 2:8-17 “and
there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
fields…and they came and found Mary and Joseph, and a
babe lying in a manger.”) |
| Two doves in
a basket – Luke 2:22-24 – Mary and Joseph brought Jesus
to the Temple in Jerusalem and offered the gift of two
doves in thanksgiving to God for their child, Jesus.
Rays coming from the star represent the Wise Men along
with three crowns.
The gifts they
brought were gold, frankincense, myrth. |
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At the top of this
window, we see a scroll and lighted lamp which symbolize
Jesus’ visit to the Temple in Jerusalem when He was 12
years of age (Luke 2:41-52).
Next we see pyramids
and palm trees (Matthew 2:13-15) which symbolize the
Holy Family’s flight into Egypt to escape Herod.
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THE FOURTH
WINDOW begins with a symbol of Jesus’ baptism which
combines a fish in water, a Chi Rho (the monogram for
Jesus Christ) and a dove which lighted on Jesus’
shoulder following His baptism (Matthew 3:16-17, Mark
1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:31-34). |
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In this
symbol, we find a high mountain with a city at its base,
a loaf of bread and a crown...these are symbols which
represent Jesus’ temptation by Satan. (Matthew 4:1-10
and Luke 4:1-14.) Jesus is tempted to make stones into
bread, throw himself down from the mountain, become
temporal ruler of the world.
The boat with a fishnet
(in matrix) symbolize Jesus’ call to his disciples
(Matthew 4:18 and Matthew 10:1-4 which lists them all.)
Simon
Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James,
Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
His first miracle was
to turn water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana
(see a water pitcher) (John 2:1-11). A second symbol of
this event is two lamps with entwined rings which
symbolize two individuals joined in marriage. |
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The well at
the top of this window is Jacob’s well where Jesus met
the Samaritan woman and promised to give her living
water (John 4:5-15). The symbol we see at the bottom
right of the window is Jesus’ finger dipping in clay.
This symbol reminds us of the time Jesus anointed a
blind man’s eyes and restored his sight. (John 9:1-35
for a full account of this miracle.) This living water
is also symbolized by water flowing from a rock
surmounted by a Chi Rho. |
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WINDOW FIVE
continues with symbols for the life and ministry of
Jesus. Jesus is portrayed at the bottom of the window
preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 4:1
ff).
The five circular
loaves you see next and the two fish recall for us the
miraculous feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:15-21).
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| Next we see
a symbol of the Transfiguration of Jesus, i.e., an IHC
(for Jesus) flanked by the Ten Commandments
(representing Moses) and a flaming chariot (representing
Elijah). (Matthew 17:1-8)
Next we see Jesus’ hand
raised in blessing over the children seen in silhouette
(Matthew 19:13-15 “Let the children come to me…”).
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The symbol
of a lamb and shepherd’s staff appear next as these two
represent the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7).
At the very top of
this window is a palm branch symbolizing Jesus’ entry
into Jerusalem (Luke 19.37-38). |
| WINDOW SIX
is devoted to the Passion of our Lord and His
Resurrection. Beginning at the bottom we see loaves of
bread and a chalice. Close by we see wheat and
grapes. These are symbols for the Last Supper.
The cup with the
cross emerging from it represents the cup of suffering
Jesus prayed to have removed from Him. In Gethsemane
Jesus ends His prayer with the words “nevertheless not
as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39) |
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The
cock crows when Peter denies Jesus. (predicted Matthew
26:34)
The actual account
Matthew 26:74-75.
Next we see Pilate
washing his hand…after he gave Jesus over to the crowd
which would crucify Him (Matthew 27:19-25) Behind
Pilate’s hands is a guard’s ax. |
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The cross
of Jesus is purple, encircled with a crown of thorns.
His cross is flanked by the two smaller crosses of the
two thieves who were crucified with Him. |
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At the top
of this window, we see Jesus, the Lamb of God emerging
from the empty tomb. John the Baptist has spoken of
Jesus earlier as the Lamb of God. The Lamb lifts high
the banner of the victory of life over sin and death.
(John 1:29) |
| IN THE LAST
WINDOW (on your right as you face the Altar), the
windows begin the story of the church with the arrival
of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1).
We see seven flames
coming from the dove. The flames represent the seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding,
counsel, might (moral), knowledge, godliness (spiritual)
and the fear of the Lord (respect). These are named in
Isaiah 11:2 and Revelations 5:12. |
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The next
symbol we see is a book and on it are stones – this
symbol recalls for us Stephen’s sermon and martyrdom
(Acts 6:5 and on through to Acts 7:60).
Saul of Tarsus is
silhouetted next – falling on the Damascus road (Acts
9:3-4). His vision and Christ’s words from heaven are
shown by a Chi Rho in a cloud. |
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A number of
different animals being let down in a
sheet symbolize the
vision Peter had before he and Christ’s followers were
lead to accept Gentiles into their company. (Acts
10:9-16) The
sword superimposed on a book is a symbol for Paul’s call
and commission. (Acts 13:2
A ship symbolizes the
many missionary voyages the followers of Jesus took to
spread the Christian message to the then known world.
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IN THE LAST
WINDOW (beginning at the bottom) we see a rose. We turn
back in the Old
Testament to Isaiah (35:1) which speaks of Christ’s
kingdom as a rose. Luther’s coat of Arms was a rose. A
rose also is thought of as a symbol of the Reformation.
A circuit rider (in
matrix) is pictured next to remind us of the pastors who
traveled from place to place (here in America) spreading
the good
news. They carried personal belongings in their saddle
bag and always a Bible. Most wore a broad brim hat to
protect them from sun and rain. |
| The Eastern and
Western hemispheres are shown together under the shelter of
the cross.
The next symbol we see is
that of a dark and light hand clasped together in
brotherhood. |
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People gathered
around a table to talk, to settle differences or perhaps a
couple consulting (in matrix) with their pastor are
silhouetted next above.
The 20th century symbol
for peace seen next is made up of the wig wag symbols for ND
( nuclear disarmament).
At the top of the window
is a ship topped with a cross which represents the church
secure in seas of disbelief — going throughout the world
carrying people telling the good news of Jesus Christ! |
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