COVENANT LUTHERAN CHURCH "IT'S A NEW DAY... ... A NEW BEGINNING" |
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The stained glass windows along the east side of the sanctuary were dedicated on our 20th anniversary, May 4, 1969. These
windows portray the life of our Lord Jesus Christ from his lowly birth in Bethlehem to his coming as the Judge of the living and the
dead on the Last Day.
In a sense these windows proclaim to us the Good News of our salvation. Throughout the ages the Church has used various media to
bring men the message of life. To the spoken and written Word the Church very early recognized the value of the visual Word for
teaching the Gospel of Christ. We hope these windows will contribute something to our understanding of the Life of our Lord and the
true purpose of His becoming man. It is our hope that they will add a more spiritual atmosphere to our house of worship.
windows portray the life of our Lord Jesus Christ from his lowly birth in Bethlehem to his coming as the Judge of the living and the
dead on the Last Day.
In a sense these windows proclaim to us the Good News of our salvation. Throughout the ages the Church has used various media to
bring men the message of life. To the spoken and written Word the Church very early recognized the value of the visual Word for
teaching the Gospel of Christ. We hope these windows will contribute something to our understanding of the Life of our Lord and the
true purpose of His becoming man. It is our hope that they will add a more spiritual atmosphere to our house of worship.
The Nativity
The bed of straw on which Mary is
reclining with the child Jesus depicts
our Lord’s lowly birth. The wing
forms in the upper portion of the
window represent the multitude of
angels that sang, “Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good
will towards men,” on the night of
Christ’s birth. The aureole around
Jesus tells us that though he is Mary’s
son, he is also the Son of God. The
flower in the lower window is the
Christmas or Messianic Rose. The
promised Savior is called “the Rose of
Sharon” in the Song of Solomon, 2:1
The bed of straw on which Mary is
reclining with the child Jesus depicts
our Lord’s lowly birth. The wing
forms in the upper portion of the
window represent the multitude of
angels that sang, “Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good
will towards men,” on the night of
Christ’s birth. The aureole around
Jesus tells us that though he is Mary’s
son, he is also the Son of God. The
flower in the lower window is the
Christmas or Messianic Rose. The
promised Savior is called “the Rose of
Sharon” in the Song of Solomon, 2:1
The Presentation
When Jesus was presented to the Lord
in the temple, the aged Simeon took
the Christ-child into his arms and
spoke the beautiful words of our
Communion liturgy, “Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace, according to thy word; for
mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”
Luke 2:29,30. The cruciform rays
issuing from the Christ-child are
prophetic of his role of atonement.
Since the first male child under the
Old Testament covenant belonged to
the Lord, an offering was required for
his redemption, Joseph and Mary
offered two doves, which are pictured
in the lower window.
When Jesus was presented to the Lord
in the temple, the aged Simeon took
the Christ-child into his arms and
spoke the beautiful words of our
Communion liturgy, “Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace, according to thy word; for
mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”
Luke 2:29,30. The cruciform rays
issuing from the Christ-child are
prophetic of his role of atonement.
Since the first male child under the
Old Testament covenant belonged to
the Lord, an offering was required for
his redemption, Joseph and Mary
offered two doves, which are pictured
in the lower window.
The Baptism of Our Lord
In this window we see Jesus standing
in the Jordan river being baptized by
John the Baptist. Jesus was without
sin, but he put himself under the law
of God for our sake. The cross-staff in
the Baptist’s left hand depicts him as
Jesus’ Forerunner and foreshadows
Christ’s death in the cross. The Holy
Spirit in the form of a dove descends
form the opened heavens, from where
the voice of the father id heard, “This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.” Matthew3:17. The halo
about the head of Christ in this and
other windows remind us of his divine
nature.
In this window we see Jesus standing
in the Jordan river being baptized by
John the Baptist. Jesus was without
sin, but he put himself under the law
of God for our sake. The cross-staff in
the Baptist’s left hand depicts him as
Jesus’ Forerunner and foreshadows
Christ’s death in the cross. The Holy
Spirit in the form of a dove descends
form the opened heavens, from where
the voice of the father id heard, “This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.” Matthew3:17. The halo
about the head of Christ in this and
other windows remind us of his divine
nature.
The Temptation of Christ
It was to thwart Jesus from
redeeming the world that Satan
tempted Jesus. Of the three
temptations, only the third one is
depicted in this window. Withstanding
the first two temptations with the
Word of God, Jesus is then taken to a
high mountain and offered all the
wealth and glory of the world., as
symbolized by the golden city in the
mower window, if he will bow down
to the devil. To this temptation. Jesus
replied, “Get thee hence, Satan, for it
is written, “Thou shalt worship the
Lord, thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.” Matthew 4:10. In Christ
we can find our strength to resist the
Tempter today.
It was to thwart Jesus from
redeeming the world that Satan
tempted Jesus. Of the three
temptations, only the third one is
depicted in this window. Withstanding
the first two temptations with the
Word of God, Jesus is then taken to a
high mountain and offered all the
wealth and glory of the world., as
symbolized by the golden city in the
mower window, if he will bow down
to the devil. To this temptation. Jesus
replied, “Get thee hence, Satan, for it
is written, “Thou shalt worship the
Lord, thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.” Matthew 4:10. In Christ
we can find our strength to resist the
Tempter today.
The Sermon on the Mount
Jesus is seated on the mountain
teaching the Twelve. A small band of
Scribes and Pharisees, his enemies,
are pictures at the right. In the lower
window are shown the multitudes who
had gathered to see and hear Jesus
because his fame as a teacher and
healer had become widely known. The
Savior’s love and compassion for the
people is also portrayed by the basket
of bread and fish, symbolizing the
feeding of the 5,000. the eight stars
represent the beatitudes with which
Jesus began his sermon. Our Lord’s
prophetic office, embracing also the
Gospel of God’s love of John 3:16, is
portrayed by this window.
Jesus is seated on the mountain
teaching the Twelve. A small band of
Scribes and Pharisees, his enemies,
are pictures at the right. In the lower
window are shown the multitudes who
had gathered to see and hear Jesus
because his fame as a teacher and
healer had become widely known. The
Savior’s love and compassion for the
people is also portrayed by the basket
of bread and fish, symbolizing the
feeding of the 5,000. the eight stars
represent the beatitudes with which
Jesus began his sermon. Our Lord’s
prophetic office, embracing also the
Gospel of God’s love of John 3:16, is
portrayed by this window.
The Lord’s Supper
On Maundy Thursday Jesus ate the
last Passover supper with his
disciples. He then instituted the new
covenant of grace, the sacrament of
Holy Communion. The wheat and
grapes represent the bread and wine,
together with which we receive
Christ’s body and blood in the
sacrament. The twelve disciples are
represented by the 12 chalices, with
Judas’ chalice over-turned,
symbolizing his unbelief and fall. The
chalice Jesus is holding and the cross
point to his priestly office of
sacrificing himself for the sins of the
world. The face of Jesus speaks to us
of his impending suffering.
On Maundy Thursday Jesus ate the
last Passover supper with his
disciples. He then instituted the new
covenant of grace, the sacrament of
Holy Communion. The wheat and
grapes represent the bread and wine,
together with which we receive
Christ’s body and blood in the
sacrament. The twelve disciples are
represented by the 12 chalices, with
Judas’ chalice over-turned,
symbolizing his unbelief and fall. The
chalice Jesus is holding and the cross
point to his priestly office of
sacrificing himself for the sins of the
world. The face of Jesus speaks to us
of his impending suffering.
The Crucifixion
“It is finished!” John 19:30. With his
mission accomplished, Jesus expires
on the cross. The purple denotes his
royalty and is also the liturgical color
for penitence. The noon sun at right
center is darkened and for three hours
the world is shrouded in unnatural
darkness. The crowing rooster and
the bag of money in the lower window
speak to us not only of Peter and
Judas but of our own denials and
betrayals of Christ. This and the next
window reflect each other’s
relationship in the light of the
redemptive act by the cross extending
into the Resurrection window and the
tomb extending into the Crucifixion
window.
“It is finished!” John 19:30. With his
mission accomplished, Jesus expires
on the cross. The purple denotes his
royalty and is also the liturgical color
for penitence. The noon sun at right
center is darkened and for three hours
the world is shrouded in unnatural
darkness. The crowing rooster and
the bag of money in the lower window
speak to us not only of Peter and
Judas but of our own denials and
betrayals of Christ. This and the next
window reflect each other’s
relationship in the light of the
redemptive act by the cross extending
into the Resurrection window and the
tomb extending into the Crucifixion
window.
The Resurrection
“Destroy this temple (of my body)
and in three days I will raise it up.”
John 2:19. In Christ’s victorious
resurrection from the dead our faith
stands secure and our own bodily
resurrection assured. “Because I live,
ye shall live also.” John 14:19. Our
risen Savior appears in shining white
garments surrounded by a glory of
golden light, manifesting his glorified
nature and his triumph. At his feet is
the herb-filled tomb from which he
has arisen. His hands are no longer
nailed to the cross, but are now free
to bless and to invite all men to come
unto him for life and salvation.
“Destroy this temple (of my body)
and in three days I will raise it up.”
John 2:19. In Christ’s victorious
resurrection from the dead our faith
stands secure and our own bodily
resurrection assured. “Because I live,
ye shall live also.” John 14:19. Our
risen Savior appears in shining white
garments surrounded by a glory of
golden light, manifesting his glorified
nature and his triumph. At his feet is
the herb-filled tomb from which he
has arisen. His hands are no longer
nailed to the cross, but are now free
to bless and to invite all men to come
unto him for life and salvation.
The Ascension
Forty days after Easter Jesus met his
disciples on the Mount of Olives. With
his redemptive work finished, he is
about to return to his heavenly home.
Having commissioned his disciples to
evangelize the world, Matthew 28”18-
20, He blesses them and then rises
heavenward. In this window we feel a
coming together of the Celestial and
Terrestial – Jesus leaves his beloved
disciples on the mount, while he is
being received surrounded by angelic
spirits into the curved cloud forms,
above which the heavens have opened
to welcome him home. The flames tell
us that the day of Pentecost, when
Jesus will pour out his Spirit upon the
disciples, is not far away.
Forty days after Easter Jesus met his
disciples on the Mount of Olives. With
his redemptive work finished, he is
about to return to his heavenly home.
Having commissioned his disciples to
evangelize the world, Matthew 28”18-
20, He blesses them and then rises
heavenward. In this window we feel a
coming together of the Celestial and
Terrestial – Jesus leaves his beloved
disciples on the mount, while he is
being received surrounded by angelic
spirits into the curved cloud forms,
above which the heavens have opened
to welcome him home. The flames tell
us that the day of Pentecost, when
Jesus will pour out his Spirit upon the
disciples, is not far away.
The Last Judgment
Jesus is sitting on the throne of
Judgment in his royal robes. His
head, once crowned with thorns, now
wears a kingly crown. Here we have
the separation of the good and the
evil as foretold in Matthew 25:31-46.
The believers, represented by the
lamb in Christ’s right hand, are
looking up to their final redemption.
The crosses symbolize their good
works done in Jesus’ name. The
unbelievers, represented by the goat
in the Judge’s left hand are looking
down and see only thistles, the
transgressions and omissions of their
earthly lives. In the lower window we
see the curve of the globe
surmounted by a palm branch,
symbolic of the new and victorious
life that all true believers in Christ
shall enjoy eternally in heaven.
Revelations 7:9-17.
Jesus is sitting on the throne of
Judgment in his royal robes. His
head, once crowned with thorns, now
wears a kingly crown. Here we have
the separation of the good and the
evil as foretold in Matthew 25:31-46.
The believers, represented by the
lamb in Christ’s right hand, are
looking up to their final redemption.
The crosses symbolize their good
works done in Jesus’ name. The
unbelievers, represented by the goat
in the Judge’s left hand are looking
down and see only thistles, the
transgressions and omissions of their
earthly lives. In the lower window we
see the curve of the globe
surmounted by a palm branch,
symbolic of the new and victorious
life that all true believers in Christ
shall enjoy eternally in heaven.
Revelations 7:9-17.