Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. John's Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Royal Oak

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1943

Subject/Title of Window: Shepherds at the Manger/Visit of the Magi/Jesus Presented at the Temple

Brief Description of Subject: This window was designed for this parish's Gothic styled Church which opened in 1926. Subsequently the congregation needed a larger church and replaced it with a modern styled church which opened in 1957, moving the stained glass to the new Church.

This is the second in a series of ten windows, consisting of three scenes each, covering the life of Christ, and were placed in chronological order in the narthex. All of the borders on the scenes feature geometrical patterns alternating with small scenes that is some cases relate to the larger scene they border.

Top Scene: Shepherds at the Manger. An angel had announced to the shepherds that the Savior had been born and they would find him in the town of David wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. The scene pictured is Luke 2:16 --- "So the shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger," NIV.

Middle Scene: The Visit of the Magi. The story is found in Matthew 2:1 - 12. Pictured is Verse 12 --- "On coming to the house, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and incense, and myrrh," NIV

Bottom Scene: Jesus Presented in the Temple. The story is found in Luke 2:21 - 39. For the Passover God demanded that henceforth all first born sons belong to God and the parents must pay a ransom of two turtle doves at the Temple 40 days after birth. After the proscribed time the Holy Family came to the Temple to pay the ransom. Waiting there was a man named Simeon who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah. Pictured is Verses 28 - 32 (NIV), which includes the "Canticle of Simeon --- "Simeon took him in his arms and praising God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.' " At their feet is a bird cage containing two turtle doves.

According to Church records, this window was given in memory of Walter J. Rhodes by his wife, Mrs. Ruth G. Rhodes and family and dedicated February 21, 1943.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 76"

Width: 16.25"

Type of Glass and Technique: Lead Came

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