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THE SYMBOLS SPEAK
How symbols display our basic doctrines and teachings
THE WEST WINDOW“Christian
Fundamentals”
W
E
S
T
w i n d o w s, stained glass, replacing the plain
glass, was installed with the . . .
In 1966, in the
W
E
S
T
. . . 12 symbols already embedded in them
CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS
The West Window
The West Window
CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS
12 symbols
Left section
THE WORD OF GOD
1 THE WORD OF GOD The Gospel
Latin cross Most common form
of Christian cross Symbolizes the
Gospel part of God’s Word
As a personal symbol, it shows one as being of the Christian faith
2 THE WORD OF GOD The Law
Two tablets of stone representing the two tables of the Law
Table 1 = Love God
Table 2 = Love your neighbor
Exodus 20
3 THE WORD OF GOD The Bible
Oil lamp The Bible, the
Holy Scriptures Represents Psalm
119.105: “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
4 THE WORD OF GOD The Lord’s Prayer
Open Bible with a sprig of wheat and a communion wafer
Word “PETITIONS” (requests) underneath Looking at our daily
bread as the Bread of Life--Jesus
Matthew 6.9-13
Center section
TRINITARIAN GODHEAD
5 TRINITARIAN GODHEAD The Trinity
Triangle & trefoil (interlocking circles)
God is “triune”--3 in 1 Artist’s abstract way
of showing complexity of equality, unity, and eternity all in one figure
On front of altar also
6 TRINITARIAN GODHEAD The Father
Upright hand Sign of blessing
with 3-rayed nimbus sur-rounding it showing divinity
About 100 references to God’s hand appear in the Old Testament
7 TRINITARIAN GODHEAD The Son
Chi rho--the 1st two Greek letters of Christ
Stands for Jesus Christ, the Son of God
One of earliest symbols to be used in the Christian church
8 TRINITARIAN GODHEAD The Holy Spirit
Dove with 3 rays coming off the beak and the nimbus circling the head
The 3 rays indicate the Trinity and the nimbus shows it is part of the Godhead
The Spirit was seen as a dove at Jesus’ Baptism
Right section
SACRAMENTS & RITES
All sacraments are ritesNot all rites are sacraments
9 SACRAMENTS & RITES Holy Baptism
Shell with 3 drops of water showing that Baptism is done in the name of the Triune God (Mt 28)
A sacrament
10 SACRAMENTS & RITES Confirmation
Dove with nimbus and 7 rays radiating outward
Seven rays indicate the 7 gifts of the Spirit referred to in the confirmation ceremony
A rite
11 SACRAMENTS & RITES Marriage
Complex symbol: cross--Savior’s blessing candles--light of Christ in the new home entwined circles--unity water--living water of Christ in marriage
A rite
12 SACRAMENTS & RITES Holy Communion
Grapes and wheat are the most familiar symbol for the Lord’s Supper
Wheat = bread/body
Grapes = wine/blood
Mt 26.26-28, Mk 14.22-24, Lk 22.19-20, 1 Cor 11.23-25
A sacrament
The West Window
