Sanctuary Windows

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The 1905 windows are art glass picture windows.

Not all of them remained in the Sanctuary after the remodeling. One is in the Fireside Room, one is in the parsonage entrance, others were purchased by church members. Those remaining were releaded and refurbished in 1971.

 

 Balcony: The Bible, open and available to all, is given for our use and study.

 

 9 Panel Window: a sheaf of wheat (Communion symbol, and Jesus the Bread of Life); Jesus prays in Gethsemane; two tablets with the Ten Commandment

 

 North Narthex: Christ knocking on the door of our hearts and our lives. Christ ascending to heaven, leaving his earthly body but promising the gift of the Spirit.

 In the Tower:  The Heritage Millenial window reigns with its sheath of grain symbolizing our church's farm family heritage.  The sheath's wrapper, labeled 1880, recognizes the year our church was established.  The window was designed by Art Glass Limited and dedicated January 2, 2000.  The window is a symbol of God's love as it has been demonstrated to us by our ancestors since 1880.

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The 1971 windows are blown glass, crafted by Emil Frei Studios.

 

 CREATION Window (South side ) creation unfolds from left to right. The flow of life produces fish and streams and soaring birds, with a sweep that suggests creation is still going on. Adam and Eve are set down as caretakers of this beautiful world.  

 

CHRIST Window (North) the life of Christ is depicted from left to right. Symbols are the Bethlehem skyline and baptismal shell, the table of the Last Supper, the rugged cross, the hill of Calvary, the full tomb and then the resurrection sunburst.  Each symbol is a station of memory. Note also the Chi and Rho (X and P) forming the first three letters of “Christ.” The Chi Rho appears on the lower right within the body of a fish, a symbol for Christ in the tomb.

Chancel Appointments

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Baptismal Font: made of marble, given by the Sunday School children in 1930. The chip in its base is from a long-ago attempt to move it. The cover bears a lamb, symbolic of Christ: Good Shepherd, Lamb of God.

Pulpit:  The large raised podium intended for preaching the Word of God.  Its elevation intended not for visibility alone, but for emphasizing the importance of preaching.

 Lectern: The smaller stand from which the Scripture readings are presented.

 

 Altar:  The center of worship.  It is made of marble, and is free standing as the focus point of the congregation.  The Altar becomes a Communion Table when the Sacrament is included in worship.

 

Large Hanging Cross: this bronze and aluminum cross was made by Architectural Bronze Studio. The four tips of the cross bear symbols of the four Gospel writers, each crafted of molten glass  poured within silver threads (cloisonne). The eagle at the top is for John; the winged man on the right arm is Matthew; the winged lion on the left is Mark; the winged ox at the bottom is Luke. The trefoil on each arm symbolizes the Trinity, and the circle speaks of both unity and eternity. The metal pieces on the circle also suggest the crown of thorns. The Floor Candelabra were made at the same time and of the same materials.

Paraments: the term used here for the hangings on the pulpit, lectern and Communion table. Another term is antependia (something that hangs in front). By whatever name, they display the colors of each season in the church (liturgical) year, and bear symbols reminding us of sacred themes. 

The Tapestries

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Made for St. Lucas by Robert Harmon Studios.

They are woven of colorfast acrylic yarn, and were designed

to reflect our history and theology.

 

 BAPTISM: (North Sanctuary Wall) The shell, symbol of baptism, pours out spiritual blessing through the life of the Church. Three structures represent St. Lucas' history. The Chi Rho stands for Jesus Christ. The four Evangelists are portrayed by the same symbols used on the chancel cross: Matthew (winged man), Mark (winged lion), John (winged eagle), Luke (winged ox).

 

 COMMUNION: (South Sanctuary Wall) The Chi Rho is repeated; like the cross it symbolizes Christ. The wafer and chalice motif represents the Communion elements. Loaves and fishes speak of the feeding stories, and suggest that feeding of the multitudes continues to this day.

 

 TAPESTRY OF LIFE: (left Chancel) The hands of God are stretched out at the bottom, supporting all life. The seed in the earth shows new growth springing up, becoming the burning bush in which God was revealed to Moses. The flames also symbolize the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit. At the ends of the branches are the six days of creation.

 TAPESTRY OF CHRISTIAN VOCATION: Christian living is rooted in Christ, each vocation (calling) supported by the witness of belief. The six branches represent work in sciences, crafts, arts, social sciences, the Christian home and the church.  The bursting bud is symbolic of our maturing life in Christ. The hands of God are stretched downward, bestowing the grace of daily bread. 

 

The Tower Bells

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Of the five bells in its history, St. Lucas now owns three, and uses two.

The ropes that ring the bells are visible from the South Narthex.

The first bell is still in use today. It was cast locally and was purchased for $11.35. Donors names are on the inscription. They were leaders of the church and members of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Society.

 A second bell was a part of the church that became the (since-replaced) sexton’s home. It was cast in 1887, and never actually belonged to St. Lucas Church.

 The 1910 bell was purchased to add a bell to the church built in 1905. The inscription reads “Glory to God in the Highest.” This bell has a tolling hammer, which was used during the Lord’s Prayer (tolled three times) at funerals and to announce a death. The bell tolled the age of the deceased, and the listening countryside generally knew for whom the bell tolled. The custom, without accounting for ages (!), continues at St. Lucas funerals.

 A fourth bell from Park Hill Cemetery, used to toll at funerals, was sold after World War II and before we acquired the cemetery. The fifth bell, from the former St. Lucas schoolhouse, is now in our church vault.

The emblem of the United Church of Christ.  It is based on the ancient Christian symbol known as the Cross of Victory, or the Cross Triumphant.  Traditionally, this symbol—the cross surmounted by the crown and all of it atop the orb— signifies the sovereignty of the Risen Christ over all the world.  The orb, representing the world, is divided into three parts to signify Jesus’ command to his disciples:  “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

 

For the United Church of Christ, this emblem, rich in the traditions of  the past and alive with hope for the future, is particularly appropriate.  For this reason there appears on the perimeter of the emblem the name of the church and the text:  “That they may all be one.”