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Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1965

Subject/Title of Window: Birth of Jesus and Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

Brief Description of Subject: Each of the four east (geographical) nave windows are made up of two panels featuring scenes taken from the life of Christ. They are roughly in chronological order starting with the one nearest the Chancel.

This window's scenes are from Jesus' early life and start of his ministry. Designed by Erica Sundean, the maker's signature appears at the bottom of the right panel.

Left Panel:
Upper Scene: Magi Journey to Bethlehem is found in Matthew 2:1 - 9. After Jesus' birth, Magi from the east see a sign in the sky that the King of the Jews has been born, and travel to the place of his birth to worship him.

Middle Scene: The Birth of Jesus is found in Luke 2:1 - 9. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem for a census decreed by Caesar Augustus. The picture is based on Verses 6 - 7 --- "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn" (NIV). The lamb pictured most likely alludes to Jesus as the "Lamb of God." The Star of Bethlehem is seen in the night sky.

Lower Scene: The Boy Jesus at the Temple is found in Luke 2:41 - 51. Jesus had gone missing and his parents began searching for him. The picture is based on Verses 46 - 47 --- "After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers" (NIV). The scroll seen here represents the Old Testament.

Right Panel:
Upper Scene: The Temptation of Jesus as told in Matthew 4:1 -11. After fasting for 40 days in the desert, the devil three times tried tempting Jesus --- first by offering him food, then taking him to the holy city and telling him to jump off the highest point and land unharmed, and lastly offering him the kingship of the entire world. Each time Jesus refused, finally saying "Away from me Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." (Verses 9 -11 NIV). The picture shows Jesus rejecting the devil's temptations and being attended by an angel. Bread, a holy city, and a crown represent the three temptations offered by Satan.

Middle Scene: This "Baptism of Jesus" scene is based on Mark 1:9 - 10 --- "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove" (NIV). From Mark 1:6, John wears clothes made out of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist.

Lower Scene: This "Calling of the First Apostles" scene is based on Matthew 4:18 - 19 --- "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" (NIV)

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 88"

Width: 24"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

Birth of Jesus and Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
Birth of Jesus and Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
Magi Journey to Bethlehem
Magi Journey to Bethlehem
Birth of Jesus
Birth of Jesus
Boy Jesus at the Temple
Boy Jesus at the Temple
Temptation of Jesus
Temptation of Jesus
Baptism of Jesus
Baptism of Jesus
Calling of the First Apostles
Calling of the First Apostles
Willet studio signature
Willet studio signature
Birth of Jesus and Beginning of Jesus' Ministry Willet studio sketch
Birth of Jesus and Beginning of Jesus' Ministry Willet studio sketch

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