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Spiritual
Sight
Jan
Neal, Curator presented
June 14, 2006 |
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Journey
of Redemption
by Marjorie Blake
(Stained glass, 2006, 20' x 11')
Grace Episcopal Church - St. Francisville,
LA
Blakehappyland@aol.com
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I was inspired by the hymn, "Come ye faithful, raise
the strain", [#199 in the Episcopal Hymnbook], when
singing in the choir at my church on an Easter morning.
The hymn tells of the journey of redemption, comparing
and contrasting events in the Old and New Testament. The
hymn described the journey of the Israelites as Moses
led them out of bondage in Egypt across the Red Sea. There
the Lord parted the water for a safe passage and led them
into joy from sadness. The hymn continues and compares
this experience with one from the New Testament, the joy
of Christ's Resurrection when He came out of the prison
of death, "as a sun has risen".
For the large window of the chapel, the top of the window
portrays a dove of the Holy Spirit at Christ's baptism.
Bright red and gold bands represent the joy of the sun
and the redemption of man through baptism as a gift of
God. The water flows down from the font and becomes the
water of the Red Sea that the Lord parted for the Israelites
as they joyously crossed into the wilderness on the other
side. There are columns of colored glass portrayed between
the parted waters that represent the staffs carried by
the twelve tribes of Israel.
The symbolic water then flows into the next set of 3 windows
that portray a scene from the old testament of the same
journey of redemption. The Israelites were ready to cross
the Jordan River into the promised land of milk and honey,
and carried the Ark of the Covenant. God again parted
the waters for them to cross, and they carried the Ark
across safely to their promised land. There are symbols
of the Promised Land in the top of the windows: sheaves
of wheat and streams of milk and honey that symbolize
the abundance of lush growth in the land. Cherubim are
on top of the Ark, guarding it, and on the side of the
Ark, in a prominent place, is a Star of David, representing
the Jewish people.
The third set of windows also has a significant body of
water, the River of the Water of Life. This scene is described
in the New Testament and can be found in Revelation 22.1-6.
The journey of redemption continues as the Christian crosses
the water into the city of the New Jerusalem, our Promised
Land. Represented are symbols of an angel blowing a trumpet
to announce the coming of Christ, symbols of Christ as
the Sacrificial Lamb, with the River of the Water of Life
flowing down from His throne, "bright as crystal".
On each side of the river is the Tree of Life bearing
fruit for every month and leaves for the healing of the
nations. The Book of Life and symbols of the streets paved
in gold of the Holy City complete the scene. "There
will be no more night: they need no light of lamp or sun,
for the Lord God will be their light, and He will reign
forever and ever." Revelation 22.5.
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