Stained Glass banner image

Featured Window

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

Click any image to enlarge.




Window

Building Name: First United Methodist Church

City: Jackson

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1955

Subject/Title of Window: Life of Christ 1-3

Brief Description of Subject: The stained glass windows of Memorial Chapel in First Methodist Church portray nine events in the life of our Lord as described in the Four Gospels. Illustrated here in figures and symbols are the birth, boyhood and baptism of Jesus; scenes of his preaching teaching, and healing ministry; and Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Great Commission to the apostles. Panel #1. The Nativity-Here is the beloved scene of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Infant Savior are depicted with the beam of light radiating on them from Bethlehem. On the left is Joseph and in the background two shepherds. In the top section the Crown and the Chi-Rho (Christ) signify the birth of the King. The newborn child is bringing us peace (palm branch) and new hope (anchor). Beneath the crown are the gifts of the wise men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Panel #2. The Boy Jesus in the Temple-”I must be about my Father’s business,” were the boy’s words to his anxious parents. Here we see him with the teacher and leaders in the Temple. Notice their surprised faces at this understanding. At the top center are shown Joseph and Mary entering the temple in search of their son. The top section of this panel shows the Ark of the Covenant, symbol of the presence of God in the Temple of Jerusalem. This visible sign of God’s presence had been built by Moses and signified God’s presence among his people. Panel #3. The Baptism of Jesus-Here at the beginning of his ministry Jesus came to John the Baptist asking baptism. John the Herald had been preparing the way for Christ. During the event the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit in the form of the dove descended on Jesus, and God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,” John’s staff is surmounted with a cross. On the pennant are the words “Ecce Agnus Dei” or “Behold the Lamb of God,” John’s description of Jesus. The upper section represents the fountain of living water. (John 4:14) The water symbolized the word of God which we accept in the Sacrament of Baptism. The star is another symbol of the word of God. At the side there is the Greek initial of the work Jesus, “IHS.”

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 76"

Width: 70"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

Life of Christ 1-3
Life of Christ 1-3

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