OUR WONDERFUL FACETED (NOT STAINED) GLASS WINDOWS

OUR WONDERFUL FACETED (NOT STAINED) GLASS WINDOWS One of the most striking features of our church is the faceted glass windows depicting Biblical them...
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OUR WONDERFUL FACETED (NOT STAINED) GLASS WINDOWS One of the most striking features of our church is the faceted glass windows depicting Biblical themes. The windows are constructed of 1” thick glass slabs embedded in epoxy resin, rather than stained glass windows which are made of mouth blown antique glass secured by lead. Faceted glass lends itself to an abstract or a simple symbolic motif. Its rich colors are accentuated by the black line design. It was a fairly new technique in 1969 when the church was built. Mr. Anthony Moroder of Milwaukee was selected as the art consultant to coordinate all the liturgical appointments in the church. He developed the theme of each of the windows and the designs were executed by the Conrad Pickel Studios of New Berlin. As an aside, notice how the light fixtures in church repeat the faceted glass design, giving continuity to the total color scheme. Each of the windows describes a moment when God stepped into time and said, “I love you. You are special to me.” God’s love story continues in each of us. The windows are not only breathtaking in their beauty but should inspire us to continue to build God’s Kingdom. THE CREATION WINDOW As you enter Sacred Heart Church, the very first window on the far right is the Creation window. In this window the creation story as found in Genesis 1 is illustrated. As you face the window, notice God’s hand in the upper right hand corner giving us the wonders of this universe: sun, moon, planets, stars in various shapes and colors. Vegetation is suggested by two branches in the lower half of the window with birds and fish representing the animal kingdom. Now look closely to the right and slightly above the tail of the fish. Do you see two silhouettes of humans, Adam and Eve? Adam’s name comes from the Hebrew, ‘ādām,’ meaning “man” and ‘dāmāh,’ meaning clay or dust from the ground. Adam was formed by God from the dust of the ground. Eve’s name is from the Hebrew meaning “the living one,” because she is the mother of all living.

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NOAH’S ARK This window introduces us to the Covenant theme. The Covenant is that special relationship between God and God’s people. The rainbow is the sign of the Covenant between God and us. Ancient peoples believed the rainbow was God’s bow. Lightning was caused by the arrow being shot from the bow. “I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a covenant between me and the earth…and I will remember my covenant with you and with every living soul.” Gen. 9:13-15 The Church is often depicted in art as a ship with the ship’s mast symbolizing the Cross. The dove plays a role in the story of Noah, but it also symbolizes the Spirit guiding the Church. MOSES AND THE COVENANT WITH ISRAEL The third window depicts the central event in Hebrew Scripture: the Covenant between God and the Jewish People. The two clay tablets upon which are carved the Ten Commandments were given to Moses atop Mt. Sinai: “If you follow my commandments I will be your God and you will be my people.” In ancient times, covenants were solemn rituals between two parties, generally between the conqueror and the one conquered, designating the obligations of each participant. An animal would be halved and the two parties involved would walk between the halved animal, mutually acknowledging the covenant and the consequences of breaking the covenant.

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Notice on the first tablet, there are three commandments given concerning their/our relationship to God. The remaining commandments on the second tablet concern our relationship with each other. God truly wants us to be happy, and we can be happy only when we follow these commandments. In Exodus 19, the Lord says: “Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” THE ARK OF THE COVENANT The Ark of the Covenant was that small box or chest in which the two clay tablets of the Ten Commandments was kept. It was the visible sign of God’s presence to the Jewish people. Also in the Ark there was a container of manna and Aaron’s (Moses’ brother) rod. Do you see the loops atop the Ark? Poles were drawn through these loops so the Ark could be carried in front of the people during the years of wandering in the desert. Some biblical scholars also suggest that the Ark led processions on special feast days. Notice the golden angel wings on either side of the Ark. When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies. It was thought that God was enthroned upon the cherubim in the Holy of Holies. It was such an awesome sanctuary that only the high priest could enter this area; and then only once a year after the smoke of incense shrouded the Ark. It was thought that one would die if one saw the face of God. (the first two letters of Notice the Chi Rho symbol Christ in the Greek alphabet) on the Ark. The Ark is the prototype of the tabernacle in our churches and a symbol of Jesus’ Presence in His Church. The design in the upper half of the window represents the Messianic prophecy that from the family tree of Jesse (Jesse was King David’s father) would come the Messiah. “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit

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of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:1-3 A crown with the Chi Rho symbol

– Jesus – rises from the family tree of Jesse.

THE NATIVITY Once again God steps into time to say, “I love you.” This window depicts what the Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us about the birth of Christ. Notice the Chi Rho symbol in the manger of hay in the lower half of the window. Now follow the rays of light upward to the crown and star which recalls the Magi’s journey from the East to Bethlehem to find Jesus. The ancients believed that oftentimes a star would appear in the heavens announcing an important birth. It was said that such a star announced the birth of Moses. A shepherd’s crook wedged between the star and crown reminds us of the shepherds who were watching their flocks when an angel announced Jesus’ birth to them. Shepherds were considered untouchables to the Jewish hierarchy; and yet, they too, along with the kings, were invited to witness God’s Son. The rays of light, crown, and shepherd’s crook remind us that Jesus brought light into our world and is our Good Shepherd and King.

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THE BIBLE This window depicts God’s Word, both literally, the Scripture Book, and figuratively, Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.” John 1:14 Again, in John’s Gospel Jesus cries out in the temple area: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me; let him drink who believes in me. Scripture has it: ‘From within him rivers of living water shall flow.’” John 7:37-38 We are the pair of birds who thirst for God’s Word and eagerly lap the Good News of Jesus. Notice the orb surmounted by a cross, indicating royal authority, God’s Kingdom on earth. THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD The focal point of this window is the Cross of Jesus planted on the Hill of Golgotha. The shafts of light radiating from the cross tell us of the grace that is ours through Jesus and His sacrifice. The two smaller crosses are those belonging to the thieves who were crucified with Jesus. Do you know which Gospel gives us the story of the Good Thief? Luke Do you know the name tradition gives to the Good Thief? Dismas Gestas was the name given to the other thief. The Crown of Thorns stands for all the events in the Passion of Our Lord preceding the Crucifixion.

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THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM This window is taken from the prophetic symbolism found in the Book of Revelation. Revelation was written during a time of great persecution for the followers of Jesus and its beautiful imagery was meant to give strength and hope to those being oppressed. The focal point is the Lamb of God from which emanates bright light—the City has no need for sun or moon for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp was the Lamb. Rev. 21:23. Notice the throne of colorful halos representing the Community of Saints surrounding the Lamb. Also notice the city walls that surround heavenly Jerusalem. “During the day its gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there.” Rev. 21:25 “The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there, and his servants shall serve him faithfully. They shall see him face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light and they shall reign forever.” Rev. 22:3-5

The remaining two windows are on either side of the sanctuary. On the choir side is the Feast of Pentecost window. On the Tabernacle side, we find the Risen Christ.

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PENTECOST Pentecost to the Jewish people was one of the three feasts that Jewish men were required by law to celebrate in Jerusalem. Families from all over the diaspora would flock into Jerusalem for this feast which accounts for the numbers of people who were baptized that day. “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” Acts 2:1-4 Notice the descending dove, symbol of the Spirit, who is surrounded by tongues of flame. The seven tongues of flame represent the seven gifts of the Spirit. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. THE RISEN CHRIST How fitting that the Risen Christ is found centered directly in back of our Tabernacle as the Resurrection is the centerpiece of our faith. Without the Resurrection, there is no Christianity. Jesus is the beginning and end of our journey of salvation and the Resurrection is the fulfillment of our faith. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.’ And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.” Luke 24:2-9

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