Faith United Methodist Church Sanctuary Window - F,5
As you enter the narthex entrance to the sanctuary at Faith United Methodist Church, this is the fifth window from the back on the left side of the sanctuary, and is designated for this journey as window F,5.
All of the windows at Faith United Methodist Church have the same main structure. The information about the cut glass surrounding the central eight-pointed star is in the text just below. If you wish to skip this part and just read about the star and the symbol contained therein, CLICK HERE. Otherwise, read on.
The glass at Faith United Methodist Church is a mixture of cut and hand stained glass. The hand-staining, however, is much more for accent and detail purposes meant to accentuate the stained color of the cut class used in the design of the window.
We will begin our journey from the frame edge of the window and work our way in to center. We are drawn to the first row of cut glass made of blues and red that remind us of our connection with Heaven through the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Themes of Hope, Sincerity and Piety in the blue cut glass bring us to the reality that without the great love of God in the gift of his son Jesus, our hope would be lost and our journey futile.
The main body of the window is full of pastel colors of pink, green, yellow, blue and orange cut glass affording us the view of a rainbow in all it's splendor as the light floods through and fills the sanctuary with a heavenly show. This rainbow of light reminds us of the union between humanity and God and God's covenant with us for all time. There are also interspersed wedges of cut glass that are Blue, Red and Yellow. Reminding us that the unity and covenant of God are powerful and accessible to us, bringing us hope through the blood of Christ.
Surrounding the center symbol is a ring of red glass that reminds us that our journey through life through the blood of Christ is what enables us to truly experience each of the gifts depicted at the center of the window. The blue background reminds us of hope, sincerity and piety. The shape of the center focal point at first glance seems to be a diamond. If we look closer, however, we will see that in fact it forms an eight pointed star. This is a special star representing for us a symbol in itself of Regeneration and Holy Baptism. Through each of these symbols in the sanctuary at Faith United Methodist Church, we are invited into a journey of regeneration and reminded of the holy family that we are adopted into through our baptism.
The center symbol for this this window is a combination of two symbols: The Red Cross and the Open Bible. We will look first at the symbol of the Red Cross. The cross is made of a beautiful red cut glass with black, hand stained accents. This in ancient history is a symbol of martyrdom and those who have given their lives for their faith. Most especially, the red cross is a reminder for us of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on the cross. The Open Bible is a clear symbol of the living word of God. We are reminded in 1 Peter 1:25 of the latin words "Verbum Dei Manet in Aeternum," which translates to "The Word of God endureth forever." These two symbols, the Red Cross and Open Bible, together remind us that the Living Word of God is open to all and a clear pathway to the gifts of God, most especially salvation bought for us by Christ on the cross.
I end by giving thanks for the life of Mr. John B. Bradley and those who gave this window in memory of him. The dark yellow cut glass, hand stained in black, reminds us of the Gates of Heaven that await all those who are called God's good and faithful servants.
May God bless and keep you along the way, and shine his colorful light all around you!
RevMoll
(Much of the information on the symbolism in this blog was taken and adapted from the book "Church Symbolism, An Explanation of the More Important Symbols of the Old and New Testament, The Primitive, The Medieval and the Modern Church," by F. R. Webber, Copyright 1938, J.H. Hansen, The Central Lithograph Co., Cleveland, OH)
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