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St. John's Church
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"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8
This is a photo album and explanation of the meaning of the Symbols in the Design of the Stained Glass Windows at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Avenue (at Monroe Street/ Hwy. 4) , La Porte, Indiana. The window project occurred under the Rev. Manfred E. Reinke's term as Pastor of St. John's in 1953-54. The windows were designed by Dr. A. R. Kretzmann, and placed in the building design under the direction of architect Mr. Lester Trier. Dedication week speakers included Dr. A. Heugeli, at that time, from River Forest, and Dr. O. Hoffman, at that time, of New York.
This
explanation is taken from the program booklet titled:
"Dedication Service of the St. John's Ev.
Lutheran Church - Sunday, May 2, 1954 - Kingsbury Avenue and
Monroe Street, La Porte, Indiana", and was written by Dr. A.
R. Kretzmann.
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Explanation of the Symbols on St. John's Church Windows
As you enter the church, subjects in the side windows are place clockwise, beginning at the rear of the church on the left hand side. This side is called the PRAEPARATIO EVANGELICA (the Preparation for the Gospel). In the clerestory windows will be found the symbols of the "Twelve Tribes of Israel" leading up to "Christ, the promised Messiah", portrayed in the Chancel window.
Beginning at the top left we have the symbols:
"Water" representing "Reuben" & a "Sword" for "Simeon"
a "Censer" for "Levi" & "Lion's Whelp" for "Juda"
"Ship in Harbor" for "Zebulon" & "Beast of Burden" for "Issacher"
"Adder" for "Dan" & "Implements of War" for "Gad"
"Horn of Plenty" for "Asher" & "Running Hind" for "Naphtali"
"Fruitful Bough by Well" for "Joseph" & "Wolf" for "Benjamin"
Lower windows from left to right:
"All-Seeing Eye" [of God] & "Ten Commandments"
"Abraham" & "Isaac"
"David" & "Solomon"
"Elijah" & "Daniel"
On the right
side of the church, as you enter, we begin at the Chancel in the
DEMOSTRATIO EVANGELICA with the symbols of the twelve apostles (Matthais
in place of Judas [the betrayer]), set in the clerestory windows.
These are the men who established the church according to the
Savior's command:
"Inverted cross and the crossed keys" for "St. Peter" & "Three escalloped shells" for "St. James the Greater"
"Chalice and serpent" for "St. John" & "Two fishes crossed" for "St. Andrew"
"Basket and a TAU cross" for "St. Phillip" & "An open Bible and a flaying knife" for "St. Bartholonew"
"Shield, carpenter's square, and vertical spear" for "St. Thomas" & "Windmill" for "St. James the Less"
"Three purses" for "St. Matthew" & "Sailboat" for "St. Jude"
"Saw, oar, and battle-axe" for "St. Simon" & "Sword" for "St. Matthias"
In the Chapel we see, reading from left to right:
"the
Evangelists St. Matthew, St. Mark,
St. Luke, and St. John"
"the
two great preachers, St. Peter and St. Paul".
In the windows along the aisle, from left to right:
"The
Martyrs - Stephen and Polycarp"
"The Confessors - Athanasius and Augustine"
"The
Reformers - John Huss and Martin Luther".
Both ends of the church are as usual, dedicated to "Jesus Christ, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega", as He Himself expressed it (Revelation 1:8).
Over the altar the window shows Him as "Savior and Lord of the Church" in the various aspects of His life and work.
In the top at the center of the Chancel window is the symbol of the "Holy Blessed Trinity" (the triangle interlaced with three circles). "Seven bright lights," symbolize the "seven-fold gifts of the Spirit," which are the life and the glory of the church. The "Messianic Rose" is shown on the left and the "Lily" on the right, as emblems of the "prophecies of the Messiah" and the "Annunciation of His coming".
The center portion of the great window is dedicated to "Christ, the Lamb of God Which taketh away the sins of the world" (St. John 1:29). At the top is the "Triumphant Lamb of Revelation" on the book with the seven seals (Rev. 5:1). Below that is the "Glory of the Lamb" in the "Ascension," the "Sacrifice of the Lamb" in the "Crucifixion" (showing John and Mary), and the "Proclamation of the Lamb" by "St. John the Baptist" (St. John 1:29). It will be noted that these are all portions of the Gospel and the Revelation of St. John. Around the outside, as incidentals, are found the symbols of the "suffering Lamb".
The left side panel of the window contains the "Hand" as a "Symbol of the Father"; the figure of "Isaiah, the Prophet", who spoke of the "Suffering Lamb" (Isaiah 53-7); and beneath that the medallion showing the "Sacrifice of Isaac" as a type where "God provided the substitute for Abraham's son" (Genesis 22:13).
The right panel completes the symbols of the "Holy Blessed Three" with the "Dove of the Holy Spirit"; beneath that the figure of "St. John" (name saint of the church) with "the eagle"; and beneath that the "Triumph of the Lamb in the Resurrection" (St. John 20) which is the climax of all Christian preaching.
The corresponding window over the entrance to the church contains a large figure of "Our Lord in Glory", returning to take His people home to heaven.
He is completely surrounded by an aura, or vesica (Rev. 11:15). At the top of the window there is a "very powerful eagle" as the "symbol of St. John" (Revelation 4:7 and Ezekiel 10:14). Beneath that symbol is a recall of the Chancel Window in the "seven candlesticks" as St. John saw then in Revelation (Revelation 1:13 and 20) and the "Messianic Rose" and the "Lily" as "signs of the Prophecy and Fulfillment". Surrounding the figure of the "Glorified Christ", in the side panels, are the figure of the "four Evangelists", who brought the Gospel to all mankind. Beneath the feet of the Savior is the "great tree of the church", grown strong strong since the days of the Great Command to go and evangelize the whole world.
In the left panel, at the center, is the "symbol of the Son of Man", and, in the right panel, the "symbol of the Son of God". Incidentals on the life and suffering of our Lord and symbols of the great leaders of the church surround the figure of our Lord.
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