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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Zion Lutheran Church

City: Ferndale

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Subject/Title of Window: Luther Seal and Symbols of Christianity

Brief Description of Subject: The window is located in the side door leading to the offices. It pictures the Luther Seal in the center, framed by symbols of Christianity.
 
The Luther Seal, also known as the Luther Rose was created in 1540 by Martin Luther and has become the logo for the Lutheran faith. The following comes from a letter by Luther that explains his design --- "There is first to be a cross, black and placed in a heart ... so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified Christ saves us ... Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that faith brings joy ... Such a rose is to be in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such a joy in the Spirit and in faith is the beginning of the future heavenly joy ... And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that in heaven such blessedness lasts forever and has no end."
 
In the frame,the symbols of Christianity starting at the top left and proceeding clockwise.
 
Rainbow: God used this as a sign of the covenant with the human race after the Great Flood --- "I have set a rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Genesis 9:13
 
Chi Rho: First two letters of the Greek word for Christ.
 
Butterfly: A symbol of Christ's resurrection. This comes from the butterfly's three stages in life --- caterpillar, chrysalis (in a cocoon), and emerging from the cocoon as a butterfly; this corresponds to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
 
Cross through a Crown: Paraphrasing James 1:12, "The crown that awaits us in heaven for the cross we bear on earth."
 
Heart with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5.
 
Scallop Shell: Symbol for Baptism as a scallop shell is a popular instrument for pouring water in the administering of the Sacrament of Baptism.
 
Cross with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega: Christ's words "I am the Alpha and the Omega." Revelation 1:8
 
Bible with Cross: The Word of God.
 
According to the Church, this window was designed by Heidi Rogers, a member of the congregation, and sent to a company for its creation into a window.

Height: 36"

Width: 23"

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