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

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Window

Building Name: First United Methodist Church

City: Alpena

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1975

Subject/Title of Window: Blessed are they That Mourn

Brief Description of Subject: Blessed Are They That Mourn for They Shall be Comforted
There are several levels of mourning:
  1. From bereavement- the loss of a loved one.
  2. From an awareness and a concern for one’s own sin. The beginning of the fullness of ones Christian life is dissatisfaction with one’s sins and a desire to change. Then the sinner finds comfort in the receiving of Christ’s pardon for his sins.
  3. From an acute concern for the needs of others with a heart full of sympathy for one’s fellow beings. Since to sorrow means to love, mourning is indeed by another and deeper side of loving.
 
God made us to find joy in being like Him- in righteousness, gentleness and compassion. Sin robs us of that likeness and thus robs us of that joy.

There is a cleansing purging purifying emptying that frequently may come from mourning as many will testify who have come through painful experiences.

Then there are others whose strength is drawn only from themselves. They are like isolated pools with limited reserves; before long they dry up leaving only a hard chemical residue.

The people who express sorrow are those that mourn: they are more like rivers- they do not produce or contain power- rather it flower through them. The more they give, the more they are able to draw in. The strength is not their own; it is given to them and their path is always clean and fresh.

How is my God- given strength and power being used? Am I like a pool or a river?
 
The Butterfly signifies Eternal Life
As the butterfly is freed from the caterpillar stage into its second, beautiful form. So does God free us t death from our earthly body into our second heavenly form.

The Hourglass symbolizes the time and the particles of living which each of us is given at birth. The bottom half of the glass reminds us that each person must in fact come to the time when his life on earth ends.

Lighted candles portray the warmth and comfort given to the bereaved after the dark of grief through acts of Love, Caring, and Sharing by those that mourn.  Christ is the light. He can renew hope for a life filled with warm peace.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 105"

Width: 24"

Type of Glass and Technique: Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

Blessed are they That Mourn
Blessed are they That Mourn

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