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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 6 (gothic arched, more than 2 vertical sections)

Date of Window: 2002

Subject/Title of Window: The Great Commandment

Brief Description of Subject: Description of this three lancet window, entitled "The Great Commandment Window," from the brochure written for the installation of this window in 2002:

One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:35 - 40

Left Lancet - medallions, symbolic of God's love and covenant with the Old Testament Patriarchs ...

1. Noah, who loved and obeyed God, was saved from the devastating flood by his loving, mighty God, as shown by the ark, resting high and dry on the rocks atop Mt. Ararat. The rainbow is our reminder of God's promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood. The dove carrying an olive branch is a sign of new life after the flood.

2. When God saw that Abraham's love for Him was greater than for his son, Isaac, demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice his only son, God provided a ram to be sacrificed, depicted by the ram's head, a bundle of sticks and a knife. This event foreshadowed Jesus's death on a cross and guaranteed that Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

3. King David, a man after God's heart, offered prayers of repentance and praise to God, represented by the harp. The crown reminds us that he ruled over a great nation, but he only foreshadowed Jesus, who as his loving Savior, forgave David's sin.

4. At a time of moral and spiritual decay, God commissioned Isaiah to be His prophet and speak for Him. Isaiah felt unclean and unworthy of such a call due to his sinfulness. God sent an angel, who, using tongues, took burning coals from the altar and touched them to Isaiah's lips, thus purifying and enabling him to preach God's word. The message of God's love which was fulfilled in Jesus is represented by the scroll.

Central Window - The Nativity of Christ

The star that led the Magi to Bethlehem, brightly shines down onto a manger, where the baby Jesus lies in deep humility. Mary is wrapping the Child in swaddling bands while she and Joseph gaze in wonder. Three shepherds and three Magi worship and adore the newborn King, realizing that Jesus was born for all - near and far, simple and noble, Jews and Gentiles. Even the donkey and the lamb look on in awe. The rose of Sharon blooming at the crook of Joseph's staff assures us that this Child is the fulfillment of God's promise of the coming Messiah. He is God's sacrifice for the sins of the world. The lamp in Joseph's hand remind us that this baby is the Light of the World.

It was from the burning bush on Mt. Sinai, where God appeared to Moses and gave him the tablets of the law - the ten commandments. The first three laws on the left tablet tells us how we are to love God, while the seven laws in the right tablet tell us how we are to love others.

Right Lancet - medallions, symbolic of Jesus's love for His Father and for mankind ...

5. Jesus cared for and ministered to the multiples. The five fish and two loaves are representative of the miracles He performed through His divine power and showed that He is the Christ or Messiah, depicted by the Chi-Rho (cross).

6. Offered freely, Christ's body and blood, in, with, and under the bread (wheat) and wine (grapes) nourishes a believer's faith and assures him or her of forgiveness until we sit down at the eternal banquet feast in heaven.

7. In obedience to God's love, Jesus suffered, was crucified and died the most terrible death imaginable, on the shameful cross. The lightning bolt signifies that God's anger with our sin was satisfied. As a result of this great act of love, everyone can be set free from sin and grave through faith in Jesus.

8. Unlike the mythical phoenix, that supposedly rose up from the ashes, symbolizing a resurrection, Jesus actually did physically rise from the dead on the third day, thus giving hope and the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 21'6"

Width: 9'6"

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

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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.

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