Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.

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 Commission

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

The Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28: 18 - 20

Left Lancet - medallions, symbolic of the Apostles, who preached the Gospel to the infant church ...

1. The promised Holy Spirit, shown in the form of a dove, was sent by God to empower His disciples with many gifts, symbolized by the flames, in order to preach and teach the message of God's love. The first eleven disciples began by preaching the word in many languages. 3,000 people were baptized and added to the faith on Pentecost.

2. The rocks represent Steven, the first Christian martyr, who was stoned to death for his faith and for his preaching of the gospel. But even in death he was victorious, as Jesus received him into glory, depicted with the palm branch. He was also one of the first seven deacons of the early church.

3. The Apostle Paul shaped history of the early church like none other. In spite of much opposition, shown by the sword, he actively made disciples by establishing churches throughout the Mediterranean world within the Roman Empire. The open book, signifying the Bible, reminds us that Paul's message of salvation through Christ crucified alone, also strengthened him in his adventures and struggles.

4. The beloved disciple and eyewitness of Jesus' deeds, the Apostle John, is remembered for writing five books in the New Testament, as reflected by the scroll and pen. In his later years he was exiled to Patmos were attempts were made to kill him, symbolized by the snake and the chalice.

Central Window - The Reigning Christ

Given total authority by God, the Father, the risen and victorious, Jesus Christ, is pictured standing on the globe as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all the world. Beneath Him are His remaining eleven disciples, looking outward into their world, the potential Church. Jesus commands them to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit", symbolized by the shell and three drops of water, one for each of the Trinity. He further commands the disciples to teach the nations to obey everything He has commanded as symbolized by the Bible. God's holy word is shown as the source and resource of His teachings, for all believers to follow. We are encouraged to be solidly anchored in the cross of Jesus Christ and His word. The Greek letters, Alpha and Omega, remind us that He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, the first and the last in all authority and in our lives, for everything now and in the future.

Right Lancet - medallions, symbolic of leaders, who fought for the truth of the Gospel in the ongoing church ...

5. The Triquertra and circle symbolize that we worship one, holy, eternal, almighty God in three persons: the Father who created us, the Son, who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. When heretics challenged the basic Christian doctrines of the Trinity and divinity of Christ, threatening the 4th century church, Church Councils met in Nicea to affirm the truth of God's word, culminating with the writing of the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds.

6. The flaming heart of St. Augustine represents his zeal and love for God and the truth of His Word, while the two arrows signify his remorse for his many childhood misdeeds. During the 4th and 5th centuries, he became known for his writings, and preaching, and especially his defense of the Church and its doctrine.

7. Animals, such as the dove, remind us of St. Francis of Assisi, who in the 12th and 13th centuries lived meekly and humbly as a loving and faithful disciple of Christ, only wanting to be an instrument of peace and service to God and mankind.

8. The seal of Martin Luther, reflects the theology of the leader of the Reformation, who brought the church back to God and to the truth of God's word. Its black cross in the center of its red heart reminds us that faith in Christ crucified alone saves us; fixed within the center of its white rose to show us that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. White is the color of all angels and blessed spirits. Moreover, the rose fixed in a sky colored background denotes that such joy is only a beginning to the heavenly joy to come 1483 - 1586 AD.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 21'6"

Width: 9'6"

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

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