NARRATIVE AND DEPICTION OF THE WINDOW
Since the consecration of the Church in 1964, there have been many requests from members, as well as visitors, to have a depiction of the Chancel Window known as “The Risen Christ Window."
The theme and various symbols cannot be attributed to any one person. The artist has interpreted and expressed the theme and symbols in brilliant and resplendent colors. The triumphant Christ is portrayed both in His suffering and His ultimate glory through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Window was the gift of Dr. and Mrs. E. M. Ellsworth as a Memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Elisha B. Ellsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Ellsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah M. Ellsworth and Mrs. Emma Ellsworth Stroh, all of whom played an active part in the early life of this Church.
This narrative was composed in November, 1974 by Carlton J. Chapin and Norman F. Becker in collaboration with the Reverend Guy A. Leinthall, the Reverend Arthur B. Mayo, the Reverend Norman W. Clemens, PhD., Eugene R. Baut and Ralph W. Newing.
The Window was designed by John F. Love, M.G.S., and executed by The Baut Studios, Inc., Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. Its dimensions are 15 feet in width and 28 feet in height.
THE RISEN CHRIST
Christ Pleads
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. "
These words express the universal plea of the Christian movement.
THE DEPICTION
Psalm 68:4
“Sing unto God, sing praises to His name: extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His name JAH, and rejoice before Him.'
Yahweh
As you view the window from the apex downward, you will first observe a light yellow and orange-colored area in which appear Hebrew characters, transliterated YHWH, representing Yahweh, the ancient Hebrew word in the Old Testament commonly but erroneously transliterated Jehovah and later God. The King James Version of the Bible usually translates YHWH as "Lord."
PSALM 118-16
The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
The Hand
The Hand is symbolic of The Hand of “God the Father The Almighty, Maker of heaven and Earth" and represents His omnipotence and creative powers. In the window it depicts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, from God the Father, to Christ the Son.
The Paraclete
Below The Hand is the Holy Spirit, or Paraclete, resembling a dove. In Christianity it is considered as comforter, intercessor, pleader, or advocate, and is symbolic of peace.
The Christus
The Christ is superimposed upon a Cross of gold. He is risen! He is triumphant! His Head is encompassed with a halo and three red prongs. These prongs are one of many symbols of religious art which show that God is in Three Persons.
Together the halo and prongs portray Christ's saintliness and divinity. You will observe smaller red prongs are also a part of the Paraclete or Holy Spirit.
The Trinity
Thus the Hand, the Paraclete and the Christ complete Thus the Hand, the Paraclete and the Christ complete the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Alpha and Omega
Above the outstretched arms of appeal are the Greek letters, Alpha and Omega, slightly different in design, which are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Biblical interpretation of Alpha and Omega is to indicate the "first and last" or the beginning and ending."
John, the Disciple, while a prisoner on the Island of Patmos, wrote the Book of Revelations revealing Jesus Christ as Lord, triumphant over evil. This book has been a source of comfort and inspiration to Christians of every generation.
John quotes Christ on four occasions when He said:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending."
"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
"It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."
Chi Rho
Below the outstretched right arm is XP or “Chi Rho." This is among the most ancient of the monograms of our Lord. It is the abbreviation of the word “Christ." This name of our Saviour in ancient Greek uncials was spelled XPICTOC. It was abbreviated to XP and called Chi Rho from the names of the Greek letters “X" AND “P."
The Chalice
Below the outstretched left arm is the Chalice, the Cup of Gethsemane, the Cup of His suffering. It is also the Cup of salvation to all who partake of it through His sacred plea of: "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but Thine, be done.” Again He took the cup saying:
"This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
And
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
The Stars
You will observe eight stars, each different in shape and size. Throughout the background they portray the multitudinous stars which bespeak of the heavenly bodies and of our lofty desire to be united with our Creator.
The Ascension
Above the words “Come" and “Me" and at the peak of the window and the base of the Cross, you will observe certain gray-white formations; they represent clouds. Now you will observe that upon which the Christ is standing. It, too, is a Ascension cloud upon which He ascended into Heaven. It is written:
“He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. "
Artistic Creation
You will observe the lighter shades of glass on either side of the central panel which form a pattern of subdued individual crosses from the bottom to the upper part of the window. It is interesting to note there are no two pieces of glass the same size or shape. Artistically, this was intentional on the part of the designer. One consultant has suggested that as this multiform creates a blend of beauty and harmony, so should we, though different, as His followers endeavor to work in harmony in His service, or as St. Paul said:
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
The Aureole
And finally Christ and His Cross are encompassed by an aureole. It is the sinuous lines of red and gold on both sides of the Cross from opposite The Hand down to and around the crossbar, then continuing along the sides of His body and ending between "Come" and "Me."
Religiously and artistically, Christ is portrayed surrounded by an aureole only after His resurrection, thus denoting the proof of His Divinity.
Prophesy Fulfilled
The suffering of Christ upon the Cross and His triumphant resurrection fulfill the prophesy of the height, the breadth, and the depth of the love of God for mankind.
One Solitary Life
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE."
~Anonymous
ALL HAIL
All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall.
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.