Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Subject/Title of Window: Jesus Standing at Door and Knocks

Brief Description of Subject: This window, entitled "Jesus Standing at the Door and Knocks," was originally located in the Chancel of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Detroit. The Church closed in 1977 and the window was gifted to Christ Our Savior Church. In its installation in the Chancel of the new Church, it was mistakenly reversed so that one must view it in a mirror to see how it was designed.

The subject of this window is found in the Book of Revelation. This book was dictated to John of Patmos by an angel from God. It was to be sent to seven Christian communities in Asia Minor. The opening chapters identify a different problem that God sees in each of the communities and then gives them encouragement to overcome that problem. The problem at the Church in Laodicea is complacency, they have not lifted up their hearts to the Lord. "You are neither cold nor hot ... I will spit you out of my mouth ... Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him ... The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne," Revelation 3:14 - 21 (ESV).

A grape vine is growing up the side of the door --- referencing Christ's words found in John15:5 (ESV), "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." At the feet of Christ is a laurel bush --- a symbol of victory, and everlasting life. In ancient times, victors over trials were presented with a laurel crown. Laurel leaves never wilt, thus came to symbolize eternal life.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: ~14'

Width: 3'6"

Type of Glass and Technique: Enamel Paint

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