Peace Lutheran Church

Windows of Peace Church

Those familiar with Peace Lutheran Church know of the beauty of the many stained glass windows within, and the stories of Jesus and the history of Christianity which they convey. A few are shown and described here.

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THE CHANCEL WINDOW
+ + + CHRIST TRIUMPHANT + + +

To worshipping Christians through the centuries, the placement of the altar at the east end of the church has had great significance. The rising sun itself is a powerful natural symbol of resurrection and new life, and of Christ as the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. With fervent anticipation, the first Christians awaited the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about his return, truly expecting to see him reappear soon in divine glory in the eastern sky. Worshipers today still look toward Christ's second coming and celebrate Holy Communion at the Lord's Table as "a foretaste of the feast to come."
Although the east window is not the largest, it attracts our attention imediately as we enter the church to worship at God's command and invitation. It keeps our focus as a worshiping community on God's presence among us and on our new life in eternity won by Jesus' victory over sin and death.

The Trinity, in whose name we gather to worship, is represented symbolically at the top of the window by -- the HAND OF GOD THE FATHER/CREATOR, reaching down to bless his people; Jesus as the LAMB OF GOD, carrying the banner of victory; and, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a DESCENDING DOVE, as seen at the baptism of Jesus.

The central figure of the ascended CHRIST IN MAJESTY, resplendent in his kingly robes, stands before the RISING SUN, with the RAINBOW at his feet signifying his place of honor, glory, and power on the throne of heaven. He is flanked by ANGELS in worship and adoration. The SERAPHIM, highest ranking of the nine choirs of angels, are depicted in the traditional manner here as heads surrounded by three pairs of wings, hovering over the throne of God. We are reminded that in the time to come at the end of history, the whole creation will sing God's praises.

At the time of the vernal equinox, the beginning of spring, the rays of the morning sun shine directly from the east, illuminating this window to its most intense brilliance, especially meaningful during the Easter season.

The Chancel Window was a gift of Dr. & Mrs. Charles Cory & Family.

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THE SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW
+ + + THE GREAT COMMISSION + + +

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but same doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
(Matthew 28:16-20)

The central tableau'depicts JESUS giving final instructions and his blessing to the eleven DISCIPLES (Peter, Andrew, James the EIder, John, Philip, Matthew, James the Lesser, Jude, Thomas, Bartholomew, and Simon (Judas had committed suicide after his betrayal of Jesus). As is customary in traditional renderings of this scene, PETER is shown kneeling at the feet of Jesus, calling to mind the disciples' earlier commission, recorded in Matthew 16:16-19. The blazing SUN over these figures refers to Christ as the "rising sun" from heaven.

For you who revere my name, the sun of righteonsness will rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2)

The importance of the inspired Word of God in the mission of building the church is displayed in the symbols of the four evangelist: (proclaimers of the Gospel) at the top of the window. These symbols for the Gospel writers have existed ever since the early days of the church. The artists were influenced by the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, who saw four creatures supporting the throne of God.

Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. (Ezekiel 1:10)
John saw a similar vision of four creatures resembling a man, a lion an ox, and an eagle (Revelation 4:7).
The symbol of St. Matthew is a WINGED MAN. His gospel emphasize the manhood or humanity of Christ; it begins by listing the human ancestors of Jesus.
The WINGED LION represents St. Mark--his gospel stresses the power and miracles of Christ.
St. Luke is symbolized by a WINGED OX, since his gospel makes many references to the sacrificial death of Christ (oxen was often used as sacrificial animals).
The WINGED EAGLE is used as a symbol for St. John, because his gospel emphasizes the deity of Christ. St. John rises high in his revelation of Christ's life and purpose for mankind.

Traditionally these four symbols also represent major events in the life of Christ: the winged man, his incarnation; the winged ox, his death; the winged lion, his resurrection; and the winged eagle, his ascension.

The OPEN BIBLE WITH STREAMS OF WATER shows God's grace through Jesus, as revealed in the Scriptures, giving eternal life to all who believe.

Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

The bottom of the window depicts various aspects of our mission as we are sent in Jesus' name to seek and to save the lost. In healing, teaching, preaching, and baptizing, we carry on the disciples' task of bringing the Gospel to all nations. The PALM TREE, POINTS OF TME COMPASS, PYRAMID, and various STRUCTURES indicate world-wide evangelism activities. The SHIP denotes the church carrying the faithful safely across the stormy seas of life. The CROSS ON TME MAST symbolize the message of Jesus Christ, which empowers and guides the church. The CROSS AND ORB represent the mission of the church to proclaim the Goepel throughout the world.

The central lower panel portrays the beginnings of mission work in central Michigan. In 1845 PASTOR AUGUST CRAEMER led a small group of German colonists from the Province of Franken in the Kingdom of Bavaria to settle in Michigan and to establish a base for mission work among the Indians in this area. They called their settlement Frankemuth ("courage of the Franks"). Other German Lutherans immigrated and stared several more settlements here. This section of the window shows Pastor Craemer preaching to the Indians of the Cass River Valley.

The Great Commission Window was a gift of Dr. & Mrs. Harry Matthews.

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THE NORTH TRANSEPT WINDOW
+ + + CHRISTIAN EDUCATION' + + +

Peace Lutheran Church has been committed to Christian education since its inception; the first building on this site was a school, dedicated in September 1941. Following Jesus' example and command, this church guides and nurtures the children who are in its spiritual care, helping them to grow into mature and fruitful members of Christ's body, the Church. This window features a scene of THE LITTLE CHILDREN AND JESUS, as related in the Gospels.

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdam of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

The Word of God is depicted at the top of the window. The tablets of the TEN COMMANDMENTS symbolize the Law of God. They are shown in two sections--the first three commandments concerning our relationship with God, and the rest, our relationship with others. The LIGHTNING BOLT reminds us of the dramatic setting of Moses' encounter with God when he received this covenant on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). Two monograms for Jesus symbolize the Gospel. The CHI RHO consists of the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. Bracketing the Chi Rho are the ALPHA AND OMEGA, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13)

Children are led to Jesus by the teaching of the Word of God (BURNING LAMP), and, remaining steadfast in their faith, they receive the CROWN OF ETERNAL LIFE.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.
(Proverbs 6:23)
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

The VINE AND BRANCHES in the background denote the fruitfulness of the true believer, derived only from his life in Christ.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing .... This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5, 8)

The bottom sections of the window depict three key elements of Christian education. At the left, parents bring their child for BAPTISM. Three DROPS OF WATER falling from the SHELL held by the pastor remind us of the water poured on the child three times, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, when he is received into the Lord's family through baptism.

The center scene of RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION shows the importance of our Lutheran school in bringing young people up in the true knowledge and worship of God. The Holy Spirit (FLAME) works through the teaching of the Word (OPEN BIBLE). Two LIGHTED CANDLES symbolize the two natures of Christ--divine and human--as revealed in the Scriptures.

Each new member of the church is instructed in the Christian faith (BIBLE AND CABLE) before admission to the Lord's Supper (CHALICE AND HOST). The rite of CONFIRMATION provides an opportunity for the individual Christian, by the power of the Holy Spirit (DOVE) to make a personal public confession of faith and a pledge of lifelong faithfulness to Christ. To the SPONSORS in the background, who, at the young person's baptism, had promised to keep him in their prayers and oversee his Christian education, this is an occasion of deep spiritual significance.