Twelve Biblical Scenes of Peace
The twelve stained glass windows which grace the Sanctuary were commissioned from Charles Z. Lawrence of Philadelphia, PA.
In the Beginning
Genesis 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
An Abstract composition alluding to the vortex of light, swirling from the darkness.
The Angel’s Song
Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Angels in the starry heaven over an abstract landscape.
The Seventh Day
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
An abstract crown over a landscape of mountains, trees and calm waters.
The Rainbow
Genesis 9:817
And God spoke unto Noah, and his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you…I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for token of a covenant between me and the earth…And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; A rainbow over a body of water, or flood.
The Peaceable Kingdom
Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;…and a little child shall lead them…They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
The lion and the lamb together in peace.
Leading the Blind
Isaiah 42:14-16
…And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
A woman helping a blind man.
Swords Into Plowshares
Micah 4:1-15
…And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn way any more…and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
A man at an anvil pounding a sword-like shape.
The Ship of the Church
An abstract composition incorporating the swirl shape used in window #1 into a shape that closes the swirl and creates the shape of a ship.
The ship of the church on its way in the world…the final act of creation.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Stilling the Storm
Mark 4:35-41
…And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full…And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Christ in a calming gesture above a water-like abstraction.
Healing the Woman
Mark 5:25-34
…For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole…And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace…
Christ comforting or healing a female figure.
The Forgiving Father
Luke 15:11-32
…And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;…For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found…
A father and his weeping, prodigal son, reconciling.
A New Heaven and Earth
Revelation 21:1-4
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:…And I John saw the holy city…coming down from God out of heaven…And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
A star-like shape, in a shinning city, representing heaven.