The Worship Center Window
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."
- Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
"For with you is the fountain of life and in your light we see light."
- Psalm 36:9 (NIV)
- Yellow light of the resurrection, the bright dawn of a new day for humanity through Christ's love.
- Green folds of a scroll representing the Word of God falling from heaven and the Holy Spirit into the Bible.
- White dove, symbol of God's pure love and healing; the Holy Spirit as manifested to Noah after the Flood.
- Golden wheat shafts, used to create the bread of life and communion as the energy of God's living word gives life to us all.
- The Bible, God's revelation, source of God's spoken word, wellspring from which faith is discovered and sustained.
- Mt. Ararat, where Noah found solid ground after the Flood.
- The Cross, a symbol of Christ's sacrifice and God's grace; it leads the eye and the soul from the dark colors of earth to the bright sunlight of God's grace and love.
- Red Pentecostal tongues of fire, the logo of the United Methodist Church.
Our stained glass window invites contemplation and meditation. As you gaze on its figures and colors, you may interpret elements of the window differently from the meaning and significance described above. Be assured that these definitions are only suggestions, meant to begin with the transition from your worldly cares to the bright promise of God's love. Your interpretation is no doubt God-inspired and absolutely right for you. Praise the Lord!
Window facts:
- Our window was put in place on May 8, 2004. The installation took two men six hours of carefully walking each of the eight sections up by ladder.
- The glass was special-ordered from Germany, hand-blown to obtain optimum color quality.
- Reinforced leading holds each glass piece in place.
- Stained glass was first used as window decoration by wealthy Romans in the first century, A.D.
- Since the 10th century, pictorial stained glass has been used in cathedrals and other holy buildings to depict Bible stories using "visual words" for those unable to read, such as youth and the unschooled.
- Glass artisans use a stylus to score a line, and then break the glass along that line.
The Worship Center's stained glass window was created by Rainey DuPuis Studios, located on the West Side of Cleveland. The artists, Kate DuPuis, used the words of our church's mission statement and interpreted them into the powerful visual image you see today. The window is a gift from a family in the Mayfield congregation.