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Window
Building Name: First United Methodist ChurchStudio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
City: Birmingham
Date of Window: 1958
Subject/Title of Window: The Ten Commandments
Brief Description of Subject: The following description from the book, "The Windows and Symbols of First Methodist Church Birmingham, Mich. edited by Dr. Arnold F. Runkel and privately published by the Church for its members in 1966.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The central theme of the left lancet is the story of Moses, one of the most important figures in the Bible. He is portrayed here as he appeared when, in the midst of thunder and lightning, he received the tablets of stone on which were engraved the Ten Commandments.
The predella shows Hannah bringing her small son, Samuel, to Eli, the High Priest. On the altar is the seven-branch Jewish candlestick which traditionally symbolizes a Covenant --- an oath or promise which is especially binding. We are reminded of the incident in the Bible when, one night, after Eli had retired to bed, Samuel heard a voice calling him. He ran to Eli, thinking that the High Priest had called him, but was told, 'It is the voice of God that speaks to your soul.' (1Samuel 1 and 1Samuel 3)
In the lancet on the right, David, the shepherd boy, is pictured playing his harp; a lamb lies at his feet. David, who as a youth slew Goliath, became --- even after grievous sin in later life --- 'a man after God's own heart.' He learned that 'a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise,' and could at last proclaim, 'The Lord is my Shepherd.'
The lower predella shows Ruth, the Moabite, with Naomi on the journey back to Jerusalem, the latter's homeland. Naomi has entreated Ruth to return to her people. But recognizing the ties between herself and her godly mother-in-law, Ruth pleads, 'Entreat me not to leave thee ... thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.'
The symbols in the traceries at the top of this window signify four more of the tribes of Israel: a kneeling camel, symbolic of a camp, represents the tribe of Gad; an angel holding a shield bearing a ship, the symbol of Zebulun; another bears the serpent of Dan; and the wolf at the far right signifies the tribe of Benjamin.
The Window of the Law (The Ten Commandments) was presented by the Robert G. Surridge family in memory of their parents and their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. O. Zehring and Mr. and Mrs. George N. Surridge.
The central theme of the left lancet is the story of Moses, one of the most important figures in the Bible. He is portrayed here as he appeared when, in the midst of thunder and lightning, he received the tablets of stone on which were engraved the Ten Commandments.
The predella shows Hannah bringing her small son, Samuel, to Eli, the High Priest. On the altar is the seven-branch Jewish candlestick which traditionally symbolizes a Covenant --- an oath or promise which is especially binding. We are reminded of the incident in the Bible when, one night, after Eli had retired to bed, Samuel heard a voice calling him. He ran to Eli, thinking that the High Priest had called him, but was told, 'It is the voice of God that speaks to your soul.' (1Samuel 1 and 1Samuel 3)
In the lancet on the right, David, the shepherd boy, is pictured playing his harp; a lamb lies at his feet. David, who as a youth slew Goliath, became --- even after grievous sin in later life --- 'a man after God's own heart.' He learned that 'a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise,' and could at last proclaim, 'The Lord is my Shepherd.'
The lower predella shows Ruth, the Moabite, with Naomi on the journey back to Jerusalem, the latter's homeland. Naomi has entreated Ruth to return to her people. But recognizing the ties between herself and her godly mother-in-law, Ruth pleads, 'Entreat me not to leave thee ... thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.'
The symbols in the traceries at the top of this window signify four more of the tribes of Israel: a kneeling camel, symbolic of a camp, represents the tribe of Gad; an angel holding a shield bearing a ship, the symbol of Zebulun; another bears the serpent of Dan; and the wolf at the far right signifies the tribe of Benjamin.
The Window of the Law (The Ten Commandments) was presented by the Robert G. Surridge family in memory of their parents and their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. O. Zehring and Mr. and Mrs. George N. Surridge.
Height: ~124"
Width: 57"
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments canopy
Moses, left; David, right
Hannah, Samuel and Eli left; Ruth with Naomi, right
The Ten Commandments signature
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