Sermon Title: "Masterpieces and Masterworks for the Master"
Date: April 10, 2011
Minister:  The Rev. Charles Ensley

Lesson:  John 11:1-6, 17-27

[What follows is not a sermon, but the narrations I wrote to accompany our Chancel's Choir's Lenten Cantata, based on the symbols found in eleven of our sanctuary's stained glass windows.  The theme was suggested by our Director of Music, Julie Ramsey, who also selected the music appropriate to each window, and conducted the choir. --CEE]

The stained glass windows of Bay Shore Church were installed in 1950 when the sanctuary was completed.  Today, the inspiration for this year’s Lenten cantata comes from The Life of Jesus windows, found on the worshipper’s right/west side of the sanctuary, and depicting the major episodes in his life.  I am indebted to the late Dorothy Soper Gabrielson, wife of Bay Shore’s minister at the time of their installation, for her original booklet on the meaning of the windows.  I will be using some of her information in these narrations.

The Annunciation and Birth Windows

The Annunciation window is at the far back side, usually seen best by those who sit in the balcony.  The symbol in the middle is the lily, which signifies purity and is the symbol of the Annunciation, the announcement to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38) that this young girl was to conceive in her womb a son by the power of the Holy Spirit, “and you will name him Jesus … the Son of the Most High.”

Long before the lily became the symbol for Easter, medieval painters were using it as a symbol for Mary as the pure mother of Jesus.

The second balcony window is the Birth window.  It contains the Christmas star, which is always five-pointed and shines over the little town of Bethlehem.  A scene dear to every Christian is this reminder of “the night of the dear Savior’s birth.”  The glorious message of the angels sung to the shepherds is found in the inscription:  “On earth peace, goodwill among men.” (Luke 2:14)

Gloria, from the 12th Mass—Mozart

The Baptism and Temptation Windows

The third window, just this side of the balcony, contains a white dove, representing the Holy Spirit, descending upon Jesus at his baptism.  The letters XP are the Chi Rho, Greek letters for the ancient monogram for Jesus.  The wavy lines on the field of red signify the water of baptism in the River Jordan.  The verse quoted is the voice from heaven that came at Jesus’ baptism declaring:  “Thou art my Beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

The fourth window depicts the traditional gospel lesson for the beginning of Lent:  Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness and his temptation by the devil.  The high mountain with a city beneath it reminds us of when Jesus was taken to a high mountain top by the devil, who offered him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worshipping the devil.  Jesus reminded him, “Thou shalt not make trial [or tempt] the Lord thy God.”

Jesus was as pure and faithful at the beginning of his ministry as he was at its end.

Jesu, Priceless Treasure—Bach

The Calling of the Twelve & Sermon on the Mount Windows

The Calling of the Twelve window contains a twelve-pointed star, which may be used to represent either the twelve tribes of Israel or the twelve disciples.  Almost indiscernible in the middle of the star is the symbol of a fish.  Early in his ministry, Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee calling out to simple fishermen, “Follow me, and I shall make you fishers of men.”

In the sixth window, we again encounter the Chi Rho, or Christogram, which also appears among the symbols on our sanctuary’s Chrismon tree in December.  Situated atop a mountain, heavenly golden rays surrounding it; beneath it sits a wave-covered blue lake.  We can almost see in our mind’s eye Jesus delivering his Sermon on the Mount, with the inscription beneath matching the one on the wall of Gabrielson Chapel next door:  “Blessed are the pure in heart; they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Remembering that Jesus still calls people to follow him, at this time we will receive our offering so that others may continue to hear the words of Jesus from this place and believe and follow.

He Watching Over Israel—Mendelssohn

The Light of the World and Gethsemane Windows

The seventh window is one I should have pointed out in my sermon last Sunday.  In heart-touching simplicity, a single candle sends its rays straight into our hearts.  So many of the beautiful teachings of the Bible have to do with light.  “I am the Light of the World,” said Jesus. (John 8:12)  But in the same breath he also says, “You are the light of the world,” just as Paul reminded the Ephesians:  “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.  Live as children of light…” (5:8)  We are led by this light in paths of service for the Master.

The inscription on the eighth window reads:  “Not my will but Thine be done.”  This is the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he died.  When a wafer stands over the chalice, it is a reminder of the Lord’s supper, or the Last Supper which Jesus had just shared with his disciples.  But when the cross of suffering is present, as in this window, it is a reminder of how Jesus was betrayed and captured prior to the agony and suffering of crucifixion.  Around the chalice are olive branches standing for peace, healing and victory.  The background color is the red of sacrifice of him “who truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mortals.”

Ave Verum—Mozart

The Calvary & Eternal Sun (Son) of Righteousness Windows

In the Calvary window, we have the three crosses on Golgotha.  In front is the veil of the Temple, which was torn apart at the death of Christ.  On the largest, middle cross is the sign which Pilate ordered to be written and posted over Jesus’ head on the cross.  The letters, I.N.R.I, are the first letters of the words “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Latin.  The inscription expresses Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness from the cross:  “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24)

This is not the only cross in our windows.  While it is very subtle, have you ever noticed that above each symbol, some of the amber glass pieces are darker, forming a cross on each and every window.

The final symbol in the tenth Life of Jesus window has a rich and varied meaning.  The flaming sun is a Messianic symbol of Christ.  The monogram in the center, IHC, represents the first three letters of the word “Jesus” in Greek.  The dark circle around the monogram represents eternity, and the rays around the sun represent glory.  As the Risen Christ ascends into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, now, more than ever, he declares, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)

How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place—Brahms

The Good Shepherd Window

High above our altar sits our oldest stained glass window.  The Good Shepherd window used to be located next door in Gabrielson Chapel, where the congregation worshipped from 1936 until 1950, when this sanctuary was completed.  In that sense, it has watched over this congregation as it has worshipped for some 75 years.

On the walls of the catacombs of Rome—the underground passages where the early Christians went to escape the Roman soldiers—images of the shepherd were discovered over 150 times.  These pictures reminded the faithful scattered sheep of their Good Shepherd whose care was unfailing at all times.  In the earliest examples, the shepherd is shown as a young man carrying a sheep over his shoulder, as was customary in Palestine.  In Luke 15, Jesus tells of the shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep in the wilderness while going to look for the one who is lost.  “When he has found it, he lays is on his shoulders and rejoices.” (15:5)

The window is based on John 10:11, where Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  Thus, it is appropriate that this Lenten cantata concludes by reminding us, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

Worthy Is the Lamb—Handel