

The
Creation window in the nave of Christ Church tells the story of God's creation
of the world. It also captures the essence of God's relationship with us. The
top of the central window depicts God's creating hand. Immediately below the extended
hand, we see the Hebrew letters for the first words of the Bible, "In the beginning...."
The left hand section of the Creation window shows us Adam, the first human, naming
the animals. Below this is a medallion with a spade and plant, for "The Lord God
took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it" (Genesis
2:15). We are reminded that as humans, we are to care for creation, naming and
keeping it, living in harmony. Eve converses with the snake about knowledge of
good and evil in the central panel of the Creation window. This story reminds
us of the temptations to which we are all subject, each and every day. In the
scene below, as Adam and Eve are driven from the garden, we are reminded that
there are consequences for our actions. In the right hand panel, we watch Noah
and his sons building the ark, which will save their family from certain destruction.
They are to bring aboard representatives of all of creation, again reminding us
that human destiny and the destiny of all created life are intertwined and inextricable.
In the medallion below the building of the ark, we see the dove bearing the olive
branch back to the ark that means hope in the midst of despair and destruction
(Genesis 8:11). In the medallion above Noah and the ark, we see the rainbow, "When
the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant
between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." (Genesis
9:16)

The
windows in the Chancel depict the four Gospel authors, evangelists Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John, to the right. Below them are four of the prophets whose writings
are found in the Old Testament. On the East Wall of the Chancel, we see Matthew
holding his Gospel. His symbol, the winged man, is above his head. Beneath him
is the prophet Isaiah, whose writings are seen by the Gospel writers to foretell
the life of Jesus. Next to Matthew, is Mark, whose symbol is the winged lion.
Beneath him is the prophet Daniel, in whose writings we find stories of Israel
in troubled times. On the West Wall of the Chancel, we find Luke. Above his head
is his symbol the lamb. We also find the caduceus, symbol of doctors, in this
window, as Luke is believed to have been a physician. Underneath Luke is the prophet,
Jeremiah, who longed to right wrongs in ancient Israel. Next to Luke, we see the
evangelist, John, whose symbol, the Eagle, is above his head. Beneath him is the
prophet Ezekiel. An angel blows his trumpet over the heads of each of the prophets,
echoing their call for transformation of society and lives, in order that each
might live according to God's will. The evangelists call for this same transformation,
using the story and words of Jesus in their call.

Christ
Church's beautiful Nativity window tells the Gospel story of Jesus birth. The
left window panel (lancet) shows up the announcement that Jesus is to come. The
angel Gabriel comes to Mary, Jesus' mother, and tells her who her baby will be.
The lily is a symbol of Mary, and we find the lily in several forms in this window.
The central lancet has three parts. In the medallion at the top of the window,
Micah, the prophet, foretells the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. The main
scene shows us the birth of Jesus in a humble stable. Mary and Joseph gaze at
him as he rests in his manger bed. The lower part of the central lancet shows
Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt in order to protect the baby Jesus from wicked
King Herod. The right lancet shows Jesus visiting the temple in Jerusalem at age
12. Two Jewish symbol tell us this is the temple - the Menorah, or seven branched
candlestick, and the star of David holding the scrolls of scripture. |