The Rose Window (Tree of Life)
It is located on the east wall of the worship space in the chancel wall. The Olive Tree is shown in full bloom, a gnarled old tree that is showing new shoots among the old branches and trunk. It is a hardy tree that requires little care and bears fruit almost yearly for hundreds of years. It is a symbol of Life and Wisdom from ancient days. Noah received an olive branch from the dove he had sent out to announce that life was returning to the land after the flood (Genesis 8:1).
The Advent Window
The first panel to the right of the chancel on the south wall shows us David as a young shepherd boy watching over his flock. David was a lover of music, played the lyre that is over his shoulder, and puts to music prayerful thoughts. The Psalms are his treasure to us. He became the King of the people of God and a Father of the nation Israel. The six-pointed star is the Star of David, a symbol for the nation of Israel, God’s people. It is from his family that Jesus comes (Mark 1:1).
The right panel shows us what is shared in Luke 2:46-55. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, visits Elizabeth. The heavenly messengers of God have told them they will bear sons who will greatly affect the future in service to God.
The Christmas Window
It is in the middle of the south wall, a central celebration of the church. The drama of Christmas is in two parts. The left panel begins in the fields with the shepherds. Luke 2:8-15 tells of this moment when they hear heavenly voices announce the birth of Jesus, “Gloria in Excelsis.” And they are told to go and see the babe in Bethlehem by following the star.
The right panel is taken from Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-7, as we gather at the manger in a cave outside Bethlehem because there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph that night. It is here that the shepherds come to worship the Christ child. Here is the means by which God enters the world to save it and gives us a way to enter his kingdom.
The Epiphany Window
Epiphany is observed on January 6th, after the 12 days of Christmas season. We hear from Matthew 2:1-12 that wise men, the magi came from the east, following a star, to visit the child and bring him gifts. The star gave them light, and we are reminded that Christ is the light that enters the world (John 1), and we are to give witness to His Light.
The right panel shows John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. One is finishing his work, and the other beginning his. Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:9-11), as the witnesses stand by across on the bank. The symbol of the dove is the Holy Spirit. We receive the Spirit in our Baptism, as one of the ways we hear Jesus’ instructions to be about his work (Matthew 28) to bring all people to him.
The Lent Window
At the left rear of the sanctuary on the north wall, we continue this teaching of Jesus for us. He tells us to share in a meal he also shared with his disciples. Maundy Thursday (or service/instruction Thursday) gives the traditional Passover meal a new meaning, as he breaks bread and says “This is my body” and takes wine and says “This is my blood.” These earthly elements become his own body broken, and blood given and shed “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 14:22). We see the cup, the wheat and grapes, and the bread or host at the top of the panel.
The drama of Lent comes to a final pause with Jesus on the Cross. The day turns to night, and Mary the Mother of Jesus and his faithful disciple John are at his feet. John 19:25-27 shares this moment with us. In Jesus’ death is the salvation of the whole world. His death means that we will have life.
The Easter Window
In the middle of the north wall, another central celebration of the church, we are together on Sunday, early before dawn. Three women gather with spices, linens, and courage to go to the tomb where Jesus was hastily buried three days earlier. Mark 16:1-4 shares this feeling of anticipation, a final act of love, mixed with sadness that all has happened so quickly. They walk through the garden toward the tomb, wondering how they will get into the tomb.
Mark 16:5-8 says there was a young man waiting at the tomb for the women that morning. As they sought Jesus, he would announce to them that he was not there. The stone would be away from the entrance, and the soldiers who had guarded it gone. The tomb was empty; Jesus had risen from death. Lift your voices and sing “Halleluiah, Halleluiah!
The Pentecost Window
The last window on the north wall, nearest the chancel wall, is described in Acts 2:1-12. They were gathered together that first Pentecost A.D. to witness the coming of the Spirit and the birth of the church. Pentecost is fifty days after Easter and ten days following Jesus’ ascension, a day of beginnings. They are all filled with the Holy Spirit and power.
The right panel suggests this season of Pentecost is a season of growth. It mirrors the first panel across from the south wall in the Advent window. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as David was also a leader of his flock. John 10:1-6 describes Jesus as the Good Shepherd who takes care of his sheep; they know his voice and follow him. As too in Mark 10:13-16, Jesus gathers us to himself, much as children flock to him here in this window. He asks that we have faith like that of a child. The lessons we share during the season of Pentecost on Sundays are the stories that Jesus shares in parables, in stories of the Kingdom, and of how he gathers many around him to heal them of their blindness and other illnesses that only faith can heal. Jesus seeks us out, as in Matthew 18:10-14, where he is willing to leave the 99 behind to find the one who is lost. We find our way in Him. He will use the Church to care for his sheep. We are his body and are to be witnesses to his love.
Thanks to Gene Pine for researching the Window Story at Mount Olive.