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WELCOME. TO THE WORLD OF. SYMBOLISM. THE SYMBOLS SPEAK. How symbols display our basic doctrines and teachings. THE WEST WINDOW “Christian Fundamentals”. In 1966, in the. W E S T. w i n d o w s,.
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WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SYMBOLISM
THE SYMBOLS SPEAK How symbols display our basic doctrines and teachings THE WEST WINDOW “Christian Fundamentals”
In 1966, in the W E S T w i n d o w s, stained glass, replacing the plain glass, was installed with the . . .
W E S T . . . 12 symbols already embedded in them
CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS The West Window
The West WindowCHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS 12 symbols
1THE WORD OF GODThe Gospel • Latin cross • Most common form of Christian cross • Symbolizes the Gospel part of God’s Word • As a personal symbol, it shows one as being of the Christian faith
2THE WORD OF GODThe Law • Two tablets of stone representing the two tables of the Law • Table 1 = Love God • Table 2 = Love your neighbor • Exodus 20
3THE WORD OF GODThe Bible • Oil lamp • The Bible, the Holy Scriptures • Represents Psalm 119.105: “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
4THE WORD OF GODThe Lord’s Prayer • Open Bible with a sprig of wheat and a communion wafer • Word “PETITIONS” (requests) underneath • Looking at our daily bread as the Bread of Life--Jesus • Matthew 6.9-13
5 TRINITARIAN GODHEADThe Trinity • Triangle & trefoil (interlocking circles) • God is “triune”--3 in 1 • Artist’s abstract way of showing complexity of equality, unity, and eternity all in one figure • On front of altar also
6 TRINITARIAN GODHEAD The Father • Upright hand • Sign of blessing with 3-rayed nimbus sur-rounding it showing divinity • About 100 references to God’s hand appear in the Old Testament
7TRINITARIAN GODHEADThe Son • Chi rho--the 1st two Greek letters of Christ • Stands for Jesus Christ, the Son of God • One of earliest symbols to be used in the Christian church
8TRINITARIAN GODHEADThe Holy Spirit • Dove with 3 rays coming off the beak and the nimbus circling the head • The 3 rays indicate the Trinity and the nimbus shows it is part of the Godhead • The Spirit was seen as a dove at Jesus’ Baptism
Right sectionSACRAMENTS & RITES All sacraments are rites Not all rites are sacraments
9SACRAMENTS & RITESHoly Baptism • Shell with 3 drops of water showing that Baptism is done in the name of the Triune God (Mt 28) • A sacrament
10SACRAMENTS & RITESConfirmation • Dove with nimbus and 7 rays radiating outward • Seven rays indicate the 7 gifts of the Spirit referred to in the confirmation ceremony • A rite
11SACRAMENTS & RITESMarriage • Complex symbol:cross--Savior’s blessingcandles--light of Christ in the new home entwined circles--unity water--living water of Christ in marriage • A rite
12SACRAMENTS & RITESHoly Communion • Grapes and wheat are the most familiar symbol for the Lord’s Supper • Wheat = bread/body • Grapes = wine/blood • Mt 26.26-28, Mk 14.22-24, Lk 22.19-20, 1 Cor 11.23-25 • A sacrament
End of this section Any questions, contact us at office@stcr.org