Explanation of the Stained Glass (in the Sanctuary)
The windows in the Chancel area of the church and the six windows in the nave of the Church were designed by Professor Richard Caemmerer, artist at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. The windows were fabricated under the direction of Professor Caemmerer by the Conway Universal Studios of Glass of Winona, Minnesota. The artist' Own description of the windows follows:
"In designing and fabricating these windows, I thought of the people at worship and a motif appropriate to the design of the building. What I have done is simply an illustration of the doxology in our Lutheran Hymnal, - "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow: Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." This is one of the six great hymns of the church.
We have across the top the symbol of the Trinity. The circle of the Father, then the flame here, and there is a dove shape representing the Holy Spirit. The major dominant theme of the whole top part - not just the circle but the cross is the symbol of the Son which are drops of blood coming from the cross. On the left side as you face the chancel, the blood refers ultimately to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. There is a chalice, a host, the grape and wheat. ON the right side is the fire which ultimately refers to the water and the shell of baptism. So we have describes for us the major sacrifice. Beneath these we have another reference to a third sacramental from the Lutheran Liturgy and that is the "Word." It is not a Sacrament but it is a sacramental element.
On the right side we have a book with open pages and on the left side we have a scroll from the Old Testament. Beneath that on both sides we have "all creatures here below." On the left side we have the sun and the rain, growing trees, houses, in fact, even factories with smoke coming out - obviously very, very abstract. On the right side we have the crescent moon and the stars. So you have night and day, sunshine and rain - the whole world in a geodesic glow. Beneath it, representative of all people on earth, are the colors of men - black, red, yellow, white, and brown. In fact, there is a little pagoda shape on the right side and beneath that a family, people, father, mother, son and daughter.
In other words, the window is the faith life of the Christian Church on earth and one over-arching act of praise. I feel it is a happy, joyful, celebrated kind of thing.
The windows in the nave are to carry out further this theme of "Praise God" but this time it is nature and life itself which praises God. Here on the left side of the nave, facing the chancel, the first windows from the rear of the nave is Morning with the sun rising in all its color. The second window with its green and yellows, Nature Growing, represents the springtime of the year. The third window with the sun at its highest point, and its rich colors gives us the season of Summer.
Then, following the windows on the right side to the rear of the nave, the first window shows us the season of Fall, with the sun a little bit lower in the skies and there are the colors of that season. The next window with the sun still lower brings us the season of Winter. This is shown in the grays and blues. The final window brings us to Evening with the setting sun - a bit of color here and there.
But these windows are also life itself! From the last window we turn once more to the chancel area and its windows bringing us the message of salvation in Christ."
Richard Caemmerer
"In designing and fabricating these windows, I thought of the people at worship and a motif appropriate to the design of the building. What I have done is simply an illustration of the doxology in our Lutheran Hymnal, - "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow: Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." This is one of the six great hymns of the church.
We have across the top the symbol of the Trinity. The circle of the Father, then the flame here, and there is a dove shape representing the Holy Spirit. The major dominant theme of the whole top part - not just the circle but the cross is the symbol of the Son which are drops of blood coming from the cross. On the left side as you face the chancel, the blood refers ultimately to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. There is a chalice, a host, the grape and wheat. ON the right side is the fire which ultimately refers to the water and the shell of baptism. So we have describes for us the major sacrifice. Beneath these we have another reference to a third sacramental from the Lutheran Liturgy and that is the "Word." It is not a Sacrament but it is a sacramental element.
On the right side we have a book with open pages and on the left side we have a scroll from the Old Testament. Beneath that on both sides we have "all creatures here below." On the left side we have the sun and the rain, growing trees, houses, in fact, even factories with smoke coming out - obviously very, very abstract. On the right side we have the crescent moon and the stars. So you have night and day, sunshine and rain - the whole world in a geodesic glow. Beneath it, representative of all people on earth, are the colors of men - black, red, yellow, white, and brown. In fact, there is a little pagoda shape on the right side and beneath that a family, people, father, mother, son and daughter.
In other words, the window is the faith life of the Christian Church on earth and one over-arching act of praise. I feel it is a happy, joyful, celebrated kind of thing.
The windows in the nave are to carry out further this theme of "Praise God" but this time it is nature and life itself which praises God. Here on the left side of the nave, facing the chancel, the first windows from the rear of the nave is Morning with the sun rising in all its color. The second window with its green and yellows, Nature Growing, represents the springtime of the year. The third window with the sun at its highest point, and its rich colors gives us the season of Summer.
Then, following the windows on the right side to the rear of the nave, the first window shows us the season of Fall, with the sun a little bit lower in the skies and there are the colors of that season. The next window with the sun still lower brings us the season of Winter. This is shown in the grays and blues. The final window brings us to Evening with the setting sun - a bit of color here and there.
But these windows are also life itself! From the last window we turn once more to the chancel area and its windows bringing us the message of salvation in Christ."
Richard Caemmerer
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