Stained Glass Windows Tour: Sacraments Windows
[renders left, blurbs right] Clerestory windows (upper level): The Sacraments We have not yet received donations for any of these clerestory windows. To learn more about how to donate to support the building and installation of these windows, click here. The Clerestory windows in the upper level depict the traditional seven sacraments, and an additional window representing prayer and praise. Left side, back to front: 16. Holy Baptism On the left stands a Baptismal font. ON the left is the cross of Christ and the descending dove (a symbol of the Holy Spirit), shining three rays of light on the waters of baptism (the three rays of light symbolizing the Holy Trinity). The waters of Baptism pour from a shell, a symbol of Baptism and sometimes used to pour water on the candidate in the sacrament. Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). 17. Holy Eucharist This double lancet window will depict the familiar symbols of the Holy Eucharist: wheat and a loaf of bread on the left; grapes and a chalice of wine on the right. “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” ” (Matthew 26:26-28) 18. Reconciliation On the left are keys of silver and gold, and a rope that is being untied, signs of the church’s commission to proclaim reconciliation to penitent sinners and open for them the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). On the right are the hands of a priest blessing the penitent sinner and pronouncing God’s forgiveness. [I wish this could have been the father embracing the prodigal son… more accurate to our theology vis-à-vis the old Catholic view of this rite.] 19. Confirmation OK, I don’t get this one at all… the Holy Spirit descends… what’s the orb for? What’s the shield with the “P,” which is not a Chi-Rho, because there is no Chi… Help me out here… Right side, front to back: 20. Matrimony I’m not sure I get this window. Three candles on the left, three wreaths of smoke, a bow tying together two??lillies? is that a lilly on the bottom of the candle?? The candle with two rings on the right, I can make something of… If this is about the “unity candle,” we don’t really do that in the Episcopal Church. I can kind of get there (two shall become one flesh), but the iconography doesn’t match out practice. And I can’t get a coherent thread from the stuff on the left. 21. Holy Orders This window symbolizes the conferring of Holy Orders of bishop, priest and deacon. These are orders of word (signified by the open Bible) and sacrament (signified by the chalice). Tying the two together is the stole worn by ordained clergy, and the shepherd’s staff, a sign of the bishop’s authority. Deacons have a role in the proclamation of the Gospel to the world (Acts 6), priests in presiding at the celebration of the Eucharist (Luke 22:19), and bishops in overseeing the church (Titus 1:7-9). 22. Anointing the Sick On the left is wine (???why??? what’s that got to do with unction?? If it is communion, where’s the bread??) and the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer (what’s the connection? We pray that all the time….). On the right, a branch of olives, and two jars of oil (why two and why two different colors??). In the anointing of the sick, the priest puts holy oil on the head of the sick and prays for God’s healing. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15). 23. Praise & Prayer With eight clerestory windows and seven traditional sacraments, the eighth window depicts symbols of prayer and praise. On the left is the thurible, in which incense is burned. Incense is an ancient symbol of prayer and praise to God. “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2). On the right, hands are folded in prayer before a book of prayers and hymns. |