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Featured Window

Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: St. James Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Lamb (J. and R.) Co.

City: Birmingham

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Subject/Title of Window: Duties of an Acolyte

Brief Description of Subject: This window is located in the sacristy of the Children's Chapel. All windows in the Chapel were designed to relate to children and provide a learning experience for them.
 
This window pictures some of the duties of an acolyte.
 
The inscription is Hannah's promise to God. She was without a child and she prayed, if God granted her a child, "As long as he liveth, he shall be lent unto the Lord," (1Samuel 1:28). God did answer her prayers, granting her a child she named Samuel. Hannah fulfilled her promise, giving Samuel to be raised by a priest named Eli. Samuel is considered the first acolyte.
 
Acolytes have many duties, not only as an altar server, but as torch bearers, lighters of candles, crucifers, thurifers, and banner bearers.
 
The main picture features an acolyte in the role of crucifer. He is costumed in a cotta over a red cassock holding a processional cross.
 
The small pictures at the corners show an altar server holding a Gospel Book, a towel used in the cleansing of the celebrant's hands at the Offertory of the Eucharist, praying at the altar, and what appears to be interacting with children.

Inscriptions: As Long As He Liveth He Shall Be Lent Unto God


Condition of Window: Excellent

Height: 5'

Width: 39"

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass

Duties of an Acolyte
Duties of an Acolyte

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu