The Windows of Church of the Apostles UCC
God’s Mighty Acts
Creation
The ancient symbol of God’s all-seeing eye – a triangle with the eye at its center – at the top of the window proclaims the omniscience and wisdom of God. The triangle represents the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Below the eye is a pair of hands representing God’s fashioning of Creation. The Hebrew word translated “formed” in the second account of Creation (Genesis 2:7-8) is the same Hebrew word used for a potter at the wheel. So God, with his hands, forms Creation out of the dust of the Earth moistened with water. Below the hands is a large menorah, the seven branched candlestick or lampstand. In the Tabernacle built by Moses stood a candlestick made of pure gold. In this window the menorah represents the first seven days of Creation.
The Law
Stone tablets with the Ten Commandments God gave Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17) dominate this window. There are two tablets. One represents the commandments which define the human relationship to God, the second those which regulate humane interpersonal relationships. Jesus Christ summarized the entire Torah (Law of God) when a scribe asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” He answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31). Jesus here quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18. Below the tablets of the Law is depicted the burning bush at which Moses experienced God’s presence and God’s call to lead Israel out of Egypt to the promised land. Tradition places the site where the Fifth Century Monastery of Saint Catherine now stands at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Prophecy
The theme of this window is the important prophet Isaiah. At the top us a pair of tongs holding a burning coal, referring to God’s response to Isaiah’s confession, “I am a man of unclean lips,” at his call (Isaiah 6:5). A seraphim touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar and said, “this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away, and your sin is forgiven” (Isaiah 6:7). Below the tongs are Isaiah’s words which help interpret the coming of Christ, “the people that walked darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). The lamp below these words symbolizes that holy light. It also reminds us of the Word of God, as the psalm writer expressed it: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Radiating from the top of the burning coal is a cross which points prophetically to Jesus’ death.
The Birth
The window of the birth of Jesus has at its top small stars against deep blue for that “silent night, holy night.” The six-pointed star is the star of David, since Jesus was of David’s household and lineage. This star (two equilateral triangles superimposed) is also known as the Creator’s star. To Christians it may suggest the Holy Trinity. The words “Peace on Earth” are from the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:15). Below these words is the manger with child. The white cloth folded over the crib portrays the swaddling cloths. The face of the child (without features, identified with no people) is surrounded by an orb (halo). Rising out of the halo is a cross foretelling the manner of his death. Below the manger is the traditional white rose, which withstands the ravages of winter and blooms at Christmas. The flower symbolizes the truth that, despite the ravages of catastrophe and war which shake the earth, there exists a Mighty Power which can shape a rose, lead shepherds to a king, and fulfill creation’s destiny.
Light of the World
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. This window’s theme is previously announced in the Prophecy (Isaiah) window. Here a large candle represents light. The reference is to John 8:12, the words of Jesus, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” On either side of the candle are the Alpha and Omega, first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, affirming that Jesus frames all of life. Revelation 1:8 states, “I am Alpha and Omega…who is and who was and who it to come, the Almighty.” Christ’s light is not ephemeral; it does not quickly shed its light only to fall to the earth a cinder. This light is from everlasting to everlasting. In the lowest section of the window is the Chi Rho, two Greek letters superimposed. Chi looks like the Roman letter X, pronounced CH. The Rho looks like the letter P, Greek for R. Hence the letters CHR, the first in the name Christ.
The Agony
At the top of this window is a crown of thorns for the one pressed on the head of Jesus by Roman soldiers who mocked him as a king. Below are nails representing the nails driven into the hands and feet of Jesus to hold him on the cross. The nails are tipped in red-blood. The lantern in the lowest section of the window represents the arrest of Jesus at the night in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Crucifixion
The upper section of the window shows Calvary (Golgotha, which means the place of the skull) where Jesus was crucified. The large cross represents the cross on which Jesus died. Attached to the head of the cross is the sign with the letters INRI. These are the first letters for the Latin words, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews, the title Pilate fixed to the cross (John 19:19). The smaller crosses to the left and right are those on which the two thieves died (Luke 23:39). The crosses are set in rock, while green grass is growing from the cracks in the rock as a sign of hope. Rising to the center of the rock are spears representing the role the Roman soldiers played in the crucifixion. At the bottom, at the end of the spears, is a red cloth for the garment worn by Jesus. To the left of the garment are two small white squares, dice thrown by the soldiers for its possession (John 19:24).
The Resurrection
The last window on the west side represents the climax of the mighty acts of God; the resurrection of Jesus Christ. White Easter lilies dominate the window with the word Alleluia, which means “Praise the Lord.” The butterfly is a symbol of the resurrection. As the butterfly emerges beautifully from the cocoon, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the assurance of a more glorious life after death. “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in Glory” (1 Corinthians 15:42). An Easter lily appears below, again proclaiming the resurrection.
The Human Response
The Apostles
The Church of the Apostles is itself a response to God’s mighty acts. The congregation was founded May 18, 1975 when St. Paul’s congregation (founded in 1850) and St. John’s congregation (founded in 1870) united. In this window are the symbols of the apostles St. Paul and St. John. At the top of the window is the symbol of St. Paul, an open Bible with a sword behind it. The Bible bears the Latin inscription Spiritus Gladius, Sword of the Spirit, from St. Paul in Ephesians 6:17, “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Below is the symbol for St. John the Evangelist, the eagle. It is said that the eagle can look directly into the sun without harming its eyes. St. John’s Gospel penetrates the depth of the Gospel; it is like an eagle soaring to the throne of grace. In the door is the unusual symbol of a cup out of which issues a serpent. Its source is the tradition of an attempt to poison John, which God foiled as the poison vanished in the form of a serpent. Another basis for the cup is Jesus’ statement that James and John were to drink of his cup (Mark 10:39).
The Catholic (Universal) Church
At the top of this window is the Triquetra, a design consisting of three equally shaped leaves, a symbol for the Holy Trinity. There is a legend that St. Patrick was asked to explain the Trinity. Seeing a shamrock with its three leaves he plucked it and said, “God is like the shamrock. The plant has three petals and the petals form the shamrock. So God consists of three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet is one God.” The ship at the center of the window represents the church universal. Its sail bears a cross. While the waters in the window (aqua glass) are calm, storms can soon make them tempestuous and could drive the ship aground on the rocky shoreline. Through the ages the church rides the seas of persecution, conflicts, and division, yet remains faithful to its captain, Jesus Christ. This truth is symbolized by the ship. In the lower part of the window is a presentation of the crown of Church of the Apostles. When artist Leanis Linauts first saw the church he said, “the tower is a magnificent crown.” The 24 windows (red in blue) at the base of the crown, at the roof line, represent the jewels of the crown. A cross surmounts the crown. While the cross reminds us of Christ’s death, the fact that it is empty proclaims the resurrection. There are more than four hundred styles of the cross, this one being the familiar Latin cross.
Sacrament of Baptism
The top of this window portrays the scene in the gospels of the Lord’s baptism with “the Spirit of God descending like a dove” upon Jesus (Matthew 3:16b). Below the dove is a sea shell, an ancient symbol for baptism. This symbol was used in pagan religion to stand for fertility and deification. Hence, it was used in tomb art to speak of immortality. Christians used it for baptism for this reason and because of the obvious water association. Coming from the shell are droplets of water, the outward manifestation of baptism, symbolizing cleansing from sin. The ridges of the scallop shell also suggest rays of divine love. Below the water droplets are triangular pieces of aqua-colored glass, which represent the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. The reed rising from the bottom of the window shows the banks of the river.
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Wine and bread are the outward elements of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The elements are represented by clusters of grapes at the top of the window and stalks of wheat with ripened kernels rising from the window’s lower section. Between the grapes and what is a chalice, the most important symbol for Holy Communion, reminiscent of the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Though for hygienic reasons communion trays and individual cups are often used today, the chalice speaks of the cup blessed by our Lord. At the bottom of the window is a curious configuration of white glass. When questioned as to its meaning the artist said, “it represents the bag and the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed Jesus.” But why place this symbol in the Communion window? It was just before the Last Supper that Judas agreed to betray Jesus and received the silver. Judas had the silver with him at the Supper, from which he arose, went out and betrayed Jesus.
Christian Service
Christians respond to God’s mighty acts with service to their fellow human beings. This window is a pictorial representation of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), told in answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” At the top of the window are the letters IHC. Five interpretations are given to this symbol and its variant, IHS: The Latin, Jesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus, Son of Man); the German, Jesus, Heiland Seligmacher (Jesus, Lord, Savior); the English, I (Christ) have suffered; the Latin, In Hoc Signo Vinces (In this sign I conquer). The preferred interpretation is from the Greek for Jesus, IHCOYC. The first three letters IHC are a monogram for Jesus. As knowledge of Greek became rare, C changed to S and IHS has perhaps become more familiar. In the window the Greek form IHC is retained, reminding us that our service is in the name of Jesus. In the center of the window is the portrayal of the Good Samaritan parable. The Samaritan (dressed humbly in brown) is kneeling over the beaten man. Note the left hand and foot of the wounded man lying on the road. In the bend of the Samaritan’s knee in the rear and to the left is the head of a donkey. Above the Samaritan to the left and rear is the inn surrounded by green trees. Below the scene are the concluding words of Jesus to this parable, “Go and do likewise,” and the figure of a flaming heart.
The Triumph of the Gospel
This is the only window in which brilliant rays of light do not erupt from the top of the windows. Here the light breaks forth from a circle at the center of the window. One image dominates the window, a semi-abstract form of the symbol of the United Church of Christ. This consists of a cross on an orb, surmounted by a crown and a smaller cross. The circle represents the earth. The cross standing on the orb symbolizes the triumph of the Gospel over all the Earth. The crown and cross at the top of the cross proclaims Jesus sovereign over all. The rays of light emanating from the orb flowing down to the flowers portray the triumph and kingship of Jesus not only in the heavens but reaching into every valley and field where people pursue daily life and work.
Song of Praise
In response to God’s mighty acts Christians worship and sing God’s praise. This window was presented by the Senior Choir of Church of the Apostles. At the top of the window is a harp. It represents the harp of David and stands for joyful worship. The words “Praise the Lord for the Lord is good” are from Psalm 135:3. A trumpet stands at the center of the window. Many musical instruments were used in worship in Bible times, among them the lyre, pipe, flute, tambourine, bell, shofar, horn, harp, psaltery, cymbal and trumpet. The Psalmist wrote, “Praise Him with trumpet sound” (Psalm 150:3), and that instrument calls people to worship. Psalm 135:2, appearing in the lower section of the window, is an exhortation that all who stand in the house of the Lord shall praise the Lord.
God’s Rule and Protection
The scales symbolize God’s final judgement. Judgement will not be by Law only but by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. This is the significance of the monogram IHS in brilliant green between the balances. Here IHS is used, rather than the IHC in the Service window, though still symbolizing the name Jesus. The ascending doves and four-pointed stars, or crosses, show humanity’s aspirations for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose in creation.
The Crown
In addition to the sixteen windows in the sanctuary there are 24 windows (three in each section) in the tower of the church. The windows are all the same design. They are decorative and have no specific symbolic meaning; as a whole the 24 windows represent a jeweled crown. At the top of each window there are connecting arches, while in the center is a flower. In the lower portion of the windows are connecting scallops. The arches and scallops create the effect of a crown. Of these windows Mr Linauts said, “In the top of the whole building is a style-type which in the bottom parts holds stained glass windows. Twenty-four of these are created in the form of a crown.”