The Chancel Window

As we enter the sanctuary, facing the east, we are greeted by the magnificent Chancel Window. This was the first stained glass window to be dedicated at Southminster on Nov. 24, 1945. The entire project was completed 18 years later, all under the supervision and watchful eye of Dr. John Calvin Reid. The window was constructed and installed by The D’Ascenzo Studios of Philadelphia and it contains 5490 separate pieces of glass. This week we will study the three central medallions.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You that You desire to spend time with me, and You have even called me Your friend. Your Word says if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me—and I want to be near to You. Help me to see clearly when I can set aside time to spend with You, and help me never to compromise that time. Amen.

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The Magnetic Christ (week 1)

The central medallion is the theme of the window: The Magnetic Christ based on John 12:32: If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me. Christ’s royal robe symbolizes His triumph over sin and death. His right hand is raised in a gesture of benediction. In His left hand he holds a globe on which is an upraised cross, symbolizing His power to draw the world to Himself through His sacrifice. The rainbow visible in the lower part of the medallion is a symbol of diving promise and faithfulness.

Jesus and the Little Children (Mark 10: 13-16)

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. We see Jesus again in a red robe. Red is a warm active color symbolic of divine love; of passionate devotion; of self-sacrifice; of heroism and valor; and of all the virtues associated with the impulses of a loving heart. Keeping the Magnetic Christ theme, this window symbolizes Christ’s power to draw the little children unto Him in Fellowship.

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The Last Supper (Luke 22: 14-22)

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”

The Dove above the head of Christ is a symbol of the Holy

Spirit. Judas is represented here with his face turned away, he

is holding a money bag, and (as we noted earlier in the series)

his shoes are not matched.

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The Chancel Window (week 2)

The three medallions on the left side of the window portray three types of men who felt and responded whole-heartedly to the magnetism of Christ’s personality; the three on the right symbolize three corresponding women who so responded. All the medallions in this window represent The Magnetic Christ. This week we will look at those who are drawn to Christ in Service

PRAYER: We thank You for Your beloved Son Jesus, who came into this world as a living sacrifice. In all His time on earth, He laid His life upon Your will, and loved and served the world.

We pray that we become great examples of our Lord Jesus. May we love and serve those around us who need our services and offerings of love. Amen.

Men and Women drawn to Christ in Service

Upper Left Medallion: The Call of Peter and Andrew

Mark 1: 16-18

16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and

his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were

fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you

out to fish for people." 18At once they left their nets and

followed him.

Upper Right Medallion: The Home of Mary and Martha

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Luke 10: 38-42

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village

where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She

had a sister called Mary, who sat at the LORD's feet listening to

what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations

that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "LORD, don't you

care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her

to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the LORD answered, "you are

worried and upset about many things, 42but few things are needed-

or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not

be taken away from her."

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The Chancel Window (week 3)

The three medallions on the left side of the window portray three types of men who felt and responded whole-heartedly to the magnetism of Christ’s personality; the three on the right symbolize three corresponding women who so responded. All the medallions in this window represent The Magnetic Christ. This week we will look at those who are drawn to Christ in Need.

PRAYER: As you have promised us in Philippians: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” You know our needs better than we know our own needs. We ask for your answer, in your timing, to be given for every need that weighs our hearts down. Forgive us for doubting you, for worrying, and for trying so hard to work everything out on our own. Help us to trust you more, help us in our unbelief. Thank you for the abundance of blessing and goodness you have already stored up. We trust in you this day, and every day. Amen.

Men and Women drawn to Christ in Need

Center Left Medallion: The Roman Centurion

Matthew 8: 5-13

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"LORD," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." 7Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?" 8The centurion replied, "LORD, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment.

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Center Right Medallion: The Syro-Phoenician Woman

Mark 7: 24-30

24Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." 28"LORD," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." 30She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

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The Chancel Window (week 4)

The three medallions on the left side of the window portray three types of men who felt and responded whole-heartedly to the magnetism of Christ’s personality; the three on the right symbolize three corresponding women who so responded. All the medallions in this window represent The Magnetic Christ. This week we will look at those who are drawn to Christ in Inquiry or Perplexity.

PRAYER: Father, you spoke the world into existence, forgive our doubts. You speak new life into your children to give us the light of the knowledge. Give us the grace to receive your Word and rejoice in it. Forgive us our sins, strengthen the weak, and strengthen us to do your will. Amen.

Men and Women drawn to Christ in Inquiry or Perplexity

Bottom Left Medallion: Jesus and Nicodemus

John 3: 1-21

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.a” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritb gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”d 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except

the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.e 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,f 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”g 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

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Bottom Right Medallion: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

John 4: 1-16

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John(A)— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea(B) and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria.(C) 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.(D) 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”(E) 8 (His disciples had gone into the town(F) to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan(G) woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”(H) 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well(I) and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will

never thirst.(J) Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water(K) welling up to eternal life.”(L) 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty(M) and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

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The Chancel Window (week 5)

In addition to all of the medallions depicting The Magnetic Christ, the window is full of smaller symbols spread throughout the entire window. You may enjoy searching for these when you have time to sit and stare at it for a while.

PRAYER: Psalm 46: 10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” Lord, we are here in your presence. Help us to quiet our minds and focus on You. As we look at these windows made by human hands, we seek to know and love You more deeply. Help us to know Your will and lead us in Your paths. Amen.

More symbols in the windows

At the very top is The Cross within the Crown. This symbolizes victory through suffering, or the triumphant redemptive work of our Savior Christ.

The Greek letters Alpha & Omega are symbols of Christ as ”The Beginning and the End” (Rev. 1:8).

We see the vine throughout the window and it represents our spiritual life and Christian faithfulness. The Stars are symbols of hope.

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These are the Cherubs of thanksgiving and praise.

Also to be found (after searching diligently) will be the Dove – a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a Lamp representing Christ as the Light of the World.

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The Great Commission Window

Opposite the Chancel Window, facing the west, is the Great Commission Window, the window that

looks down on us each week as we go back out to meet the tasks and duties that await us.

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At the top of the window is the ascending Christ, pictured in white, saying to His disciples: Go, make

disciples of all nations, and lo I am with you always. (Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts 1: 6-11)

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In the center are the eleven disciples who first heard those challenging words and who gave to them

such courageous obedience! The eleven disciples can be identified by the shield each holds in his hand:

Bartholomew – flaying knife and book James the less - club

Thomas - carpenter’s square Matthew - red purse

Jude - ship James the greater - escallop shell

Philip - cross and money bags Simon-Peter - key

Andrew (kneeling) - a cross Simon, the Zealot - book and fish

John (kneeling) - serpent and chalice

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Peter: at Christ’s right hand. The apostle to the Jews. In his right hand he holds “the

keys”. Above Peter is the pelican feeding her young with her own blood – a symbol of

the atonement. Under the feet of Peter is a font, a symbol of the Sacrament of

Baptism.

Paul: at Christ’s left hand. The apostle to the Gentiles. Holds the ”shield of faith” in his

right hand and the ”sword of the spirit” in his left. Above Paul is the peacock, a symbol

of eternal life. Under the feet of Paul is a chalice, a symbol of the Sacrament of the

Lord’s Supper,.

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Eight medallions surrounding the eleven apostles portray eight stages in the history of the church:

The Birth of the Church / Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-4)

(Tongues of flame)

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The First Printing of the Bible

Gutenberg Press – 1453

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The Beginning of the Reformation

Martin Luther – 1521

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Continuation of the Reformation in Scotland and Switzerland

John Knox and John Calvin – 1536

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The Covenanters

Signing the National Covenant against Episcopacy in Edinburgh – 1638

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First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church

In Philadelphia – 1789

(Constitutional Convention in the background)

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The Witness of the Presbyterian Church

Through National Missions, Foreign Missions and Christian Education

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The Marriage of Christ and His Church

Revelation 19 and 21

The four Gospel writers each have their own place in the window:

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Eight symbols remind us of the responsibility of the church to witness in and minister to all areas of

society:

Preaching, Medicine, Education and Agriculture

Art, Music, Science and Industry

We should never forget how the two main windows complement each other. Dramatically symbolic is

their location, as well as their message:

In the Chancel Window, the Savior calls us to come to Him for forgiveness, cleansing, for renewal, for

fellowship, for strength, for inspiration – to have our every longing satisfied, our every need fulfilled.

In the Great Commission Window, He sends us out to preach, to witness, to teach, to make Him known

that others will become His disciples also.

One Window says, Come! The other, Go!

A Sonnet on Stained Glass

How rich thy colors are; in every hue

I see a lovely thought. The crimson red,

A symbol of the love of Christ, Who bled

For man; the glorious, vibrant shades of blue

Expressing loyalty, mature and true;

The green of immortality – those dead

Now deathless – and the life on earth once led

Not ended, but pursued in heav’n anew.

But just as thou must be endued with light

For all Thy glowing splendor to be seen,

As thy dark panes require external rays

To make their meaning clear, so man’s delight

Becomes uplifting only when the sheen

Of God’s down-shining grace illumes his days.

By Linda Greer – of our congregation