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The Story in the Windows
As one enters the sanctuary, the magnificent architecture lifts the heart God ward. Our eyes are drawn to the circular window high above the pulpit. We come to worship our Triune God, symbolized by the interlocking – identical, but distinct – gold circles. Three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-equal, co-eternal. Each meaningfully represented.
The golden streams of light – the “Shekinah Glory” – suggest the Holy Spirit.
The Son is pictured as the Lamb of God – slain, raised in triumph (the white resurrection banner) and regally enthroned on a tasseled pillow (7 tassels representing the fullness of His perfections) as King of kings.
The Father with hands open in gracious invitation, for “the Father seeks those who worship in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)
The stars in the lower left speak of God’s unique attributes – those traits which can only be ascribed to our Triune God. God is Spirit INFINTE, ETERNAL, AND UNCHANGEABLE.
The visible “Star” in the drama of redemption is Jesus Christ. We come to worship through Him and His atoning sacrifice. That is why the blood-stained cross is so prominently featured in the circular window.
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The Shepherd
(The Second Windows)
 | | Facing the circular, the stained-glass windows on the left side of the Sanctuary represent themes from the Old Testament while those on the right are taken from the New Testament. The Shepherd motif threads its way prominently through the pages of both Testaments.
The “Shepherd Psalm” affirms that “the Lord is my shepherd (therefore) I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1) |
 | | The New Testament reveals that Jesus is that Shepherd for He declared, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John l0:11)
Who “came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke l9:10) The Good Shepherd “lays down His life for the sheep.”
(John 10:11, 15) |
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Old Testament
(Window Closest to the Platform)
 | | God introduced Himself personally to Moses as “Yahweh”—“I AM who I am.” (Exodus 3:l4). This is the self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal Triune Deity, who alone is God. The same intertwining rings used in the circular window to represent our Triune God are featured here.
Jeremiah the prophet revealed another name for the Lord. “He will be called “Yahweh Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6)—represented by the two tablets of the law. The only way a fallen human being can be accepted by our righteous God is by keeping the entire law perfectly. But we know that is impossible. Is there, then, any hope for us? |
 | | In Exodus we are told that the Children of Israel experienced a dramatic victory over their enemies as Moses kept his hands raised in intercession.
Thereafter God revealed another one of His names—a name which speaks of triumph and hope: “Yahweh Is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15)
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New Testament
(Window closet to the platform)
 | | At Christmas, God took flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ and “dwelt among us. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John l:14) The “Chi” (“X”) “ Rho ” (“P”) are the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ (“Christus”). He said of Himself, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13) |
 | | The New Testament introduces us to Jesus Christ who not only committed no sin (I Peter 2:22), but was without sin (I John 3:5). He is our Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) dying to pay the penalty for law-breakers, and by faith crediting His righteousness to our account. (Romans 4:5) That’s why Jesus introduced Himself as “The Way to the Father” (John 14:6) (represented by the crook) and “the resurrection and the life”, (John 11:25) (symbolized by the lily). He stated that “no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
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 | | It is in Jesus Christ, who has gone with His precious blood behind the veil in the heavenly sanctuary, that we have certain and eternal hope. The writer to the Jewish Christians puts it like this: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”
(Hebrews 6:19,20)
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New Testament
(The Third Window)
 | | Indeed God’s Presence has not left His people. The New Testament reveals that by His Spirit (pictured by the dove) Jesus dwells with (Matthew 28:20), and even within (John 14:17,23) His redeemed people: —He is present where two or three come together in His name to worship. (Matthew 18:20) |
 | | That is why Jesus Christ who called Himself “The Bread” (John 6:35) and “The Vine” (John 15:1) instituted the Lord’s Supper—that we never forget that we experience spiritual life and its fullness only as we nourish our souls by faith in Jesus Christ, the Living Bread, the fruit-producing Vine. |
 | | Indeed our Substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ. We live by trusting The Lamb of God who died in our place as our sacrifice on the cross. Jesus The God-man laid down His life, taking our sin and its penalty. His humanity is represented by the crown of thorns (speaking of His horrific suffering on our behalf). His deity is suggested by the royal diadem, for Scripture requires us to look upon Jesus “who was made a little lower than the angels, (but is) now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) |
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