Witness Windows – St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

There’s a choral song entitled, “In the Breaking of the Bread” and it’s a reminder that God chose to reveal Himself to the Emmaus disciples through an act of incarnation.  Of course the bread was a perfect way to turn the disciples’ eyes to Jesus, the truly incarnate One.  The design of the windows is a witness to this wonderful story of incarnation.

First the colors are concentric, moving from the center out, from light to dark, to remind us that our hearts are burning here in this place, to share the joyous news of the Risen Christ.  This large spiraling image is based on the Gospel’s reference to light.  “YOU are the light of the world,” and Jesus encourages us to shine the light for others who are in the darkness.  The second image represents the universe and the presence of the Father with Christ in the creation.  Science has helped us to see the works of God, both macroscopic and microscopic, in such amazing sights as stars, nebulae and all the works of His hands.  Near the bottom of the design are several iridescent blue and green shapes which represent microscopic yeast cells.  These cells, which are used to make bead, are among the few which have regenerative power.  Did Jesus know how fast his Word would spread when he broke bread with those two weary disciples?  Another shape in the windows is also found in the Processional cross design.  Triangles in the corners of the window remind us of the shape of this 8-sided worship space.  8 is the number for regeneration.

Finally, a word about the four symbols at the top of the window set.  From left to right they represent the four elements, i.e., water, fire, air and earth.  These are the incarnation of God, the Creator, who left us traces of God in the fabric of creation and in the fabric or our worship.  Water is our baptism sign.  Fire is our Pentecost sign and a reference to the Spirit who burns in our hearts.  Obviously, air is what we breathe, but it is not unlike the powerful breath of God, breathed into Adam and everything created at the very beginning.  Finally, earth is the stuff of which we are made and to which we shall go when God calls us home.  God is calling us home each time we come to worship together, and we can be sure we will be sent out again and again, to be light in the world.

Larry Gross