The Stained Glass Windows

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Christ the King Triptych Window

Created by the Erskine Mitchell Stained Glass Studio | Baton Rouge, LA

Christ the King Window – CENTER

The Crown represents Christ’s rightful place on the throne of heaven. [Matt. 25:31] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, he will set upon his royal throne.” The Word symbolized by the sword and book (Gospel & Law) is what he gave us to restore our faith and redeem us; an act of magnificent forgiveness and love. Like the sword in the window God’s word is edged, separating those who hear it and believe it from those who are deaf to the word. Our faith and belief in the Gospel leads us to salvation. [Rev. 19: 11-16] Christ is the perfect presentation of God’s Law and will. [John 1:17] The heart in this window signifies the more human, compassionate nature of God’s second covenant with man. The first covenant was written on stone and was made void by the coming of Christ. Through Christ, God’s second covenant was written not in the minds of man but in the hearts of man. This new covenant was made possible by the perfect innocence of Christ and his willingness to shed his blood for man’s sins. [Heb. 10:12-16] “I will place my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts.”

Sacraments Window – LEFT

Holy Communion and Baptism are physical acts which when performed heal the broken spirit and reduce our separation from the Holy Spirit. They are performed and have an effect because of our faith and belief in Christ as the Savior of Man. It is through the healing of the spirit that our body is made whole with the Body of Christ. [John 7:37-38] “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The symbols used for this are the waters of baptism and the rivers of living water, the wheat of the Holy Eucharist and the Chalice of Wine.

Salvation Window – RIGHT

The cross and the crown of thorns symbolize the suffering and sacrifice of Christ that made salvation possible for man. [Heb. 10:19] [Eph. 1:7] Christ uses the allegory of the vine to say that belief in him leads to salvation, that living within his teachings will lead to a fruitful life. [John 15:1-11]

Organ & Pulpit Side Windows

The Nativity Window

Topped by the Alpha and Omega representing Christ as the beginning and the end. In the upper center of the window is the guiding star whose light lead the three wise men to the Christ child. Below the star are three crowns suggesting the crowns the three wise men wore who came to worship the Christ child. The gifts of the magi, gold, frankincense and myrrh fall just below the crowns.

The Baptismal Window

Topped with the dove symbolizing the baptism of the Spirit. The dove is surrounded by the light of God which enters our hearts when we are baptized. Below the dove is the shell with the waters of baptism flowing from it feeding the seed at the bottom of the window which grown and is both Christ and the potential for new life that can be called forth with baptism. The vine which springs from the seed is ivy, the symbol of eternal life through faith and belief.

The Resurrection Window

A banner inside a circle at the top symbolizes victory and rejoicing. Below is an empty cross, the symbol of the death and resurrection of Christ. The empty tomb, joyful light and the rainbow are signs of resurrection, life and hope. The bursting pomegranates in the background are a symbol of the power of our Lord who was able to burst open the tomb and come forth. (The pomegranate is a symbol of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life. Because of its abundance of seeds, it can also symbolize royalty and the church, where the seeds represent the many believers who make up the one universal church.)

The Ascension Window

A Chi Rho (This monogram is the oldest known monogram of Jesus Christ dating back to the second century. It is sometimes referred to as a Christogram. The Chi (χ = ch) and the Rho (ρ = r) are the first three letters of Christ (Christos) in the Greek language. ) in a circle at the top, the symbol for Christ within the symbol for eternity. Below is Elijah’s Chariot the symbol for our Lord’s ascension into Heaven. The palm branches were a symbol of victory in Roman times and symbolize Jesus’ triumphant entry into Heaven and his return in the future.

The Luther Rose Window

Martin Luther personally oversaw the creation of the Luther Seal, also known as the Luther Rose. It provides a beautiful summary of his faith, a faith that is common to all Christians of every place and time. Here is how Luther explained the meaning of the seal:

Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal which you sent to me has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The ﬁrst should be the black cross in a heart which retains its natural color so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Cruciﬁed saves us. “For one who believes from the heart will be justiﬁed.” [Romans 10:10] Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortiﬁes and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. “The just shall live by faith” [Romans 1:17] but by faith in the Cruciﬁed. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose to show that faith in joy, comfort and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives. [John 14:27] That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels. Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue ﬁeld, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this ﬁeld is a golden ring, blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my compendium theoligae (summary of theology). May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.

Christ the King Cross

There are many forms of crosses that have appeared over the years. One of the earliest representations that predates the crucifix is a “Christ the King Cross”. This style of cross comes from the earliest years of Christianity and has a long-honored tradition. It is a symbol of victory. The Christ the King Cross is an early representation that shows a risen, majestic Christ clothed in kingly or priestly robes reigning from the cross. The cruciform halo, the halo with a cross within the circle, is used to represent the persons of the Holy Trinity. Christ’s arms are outstretched in an open and welcoming way and the image is one of triumphant glory.

The Christ the King Cross in our sanctuary was crafted in Italy. It depicts the risen Christ, still bearing his wounds, as the Universal King who has triumphed over death and opens arms for all in loving, serving, embrace.

The four Gospel accounts adorn each corner of the cross. The Angel at the top represents Saint Matthew. As we face the cross, on the left is the Lion which represents Saint Mark, on the right the Ox which represents Saint Luke, and at the bottom the Eagle which represents Saint John.