Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Southern Heights Christian Reformed Church

Studio Name: Vanderburgh Art Studio

City: Kalamazoo

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Subject/Title of Window: Prayer

Brief Description of Subject: From a booklet, "Southern Heights Christian Reformed Church," July 1981.

Stained glass windows are not meant as decoration; they are designed to present a message and thus enhance our worship experience.

For all the main floor windows, five panes in height, there is a common and uniform pattern. Each window is a mirror of its neighbor (except for the specific symbol) with the size, shape, color, and tone of the pieces of stained glass making up the windows. A curve extends through each window in the middle pane to the pane below it. The distinct impression is given of the curve continuing from window to window. Thus, although each window is different in its symbol, there is a commonality, unifromity, and consistency from one to the other. This informs us that although there are different aspects of the message of Christianity, it all weaves together in one unified whole -- God's covenant of grace with mankind, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The sixteen stained glass windows in the sanctuary proper, starting in the southeasterly corner at the rear, going forward to the pulpit area, then from front to rear on the northerly wall, summarize the message of the Bible, following the theme of Creation-Fall-Redemption. As we look at these designs, we marvel at God's great plan of history. The two windows in the balcony remind us of the mission challenge of the church. As we leave, let us dedicate ourselves to becoming God's witnesses. The four corner windows outside the sanctuary represent four different songs of the church. Singing has always been an important part of Christian worship, for songs not only enable us to praise our God, but also point us to Jesus, both to what he has done and what he has in store for us.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Ephesians 6:18a

Prayer is the vital link in maintaining continual contact with Christ and the Holy Spirit. We cannot live the Christian life in our own power; prayer is the avenue of acknowledging our dependence upon him and the road to receive strength from him.

Height: 67.5"

Width: 36"

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came

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