Luther's Seal Window

Here is one of the beautiful stained-glass windows at our church. This one depicts Martin Luther's seal.........the cross within a crimson heart within a white rose (or maybe its a different flower).

This window sits way up high in the back of the church. You can't see it unless you're in the balcony or if you're looking up at it from the front part of the sanctuary, such as right after you've taken Communion.......or if you are the pastor. This window is very lovely, but hardly noticed by us churchgoers.



I really love stained glass.........the lovely colors which are evident when light is shining through. Without the light, of course, the colored glass would not be noticeable. I've read the thought before that that's how it is concerning God's love in our lives. We are like a piece of glass, but our beautiful color glows only when God's light is shining through it. And then, think about it........you are the color you are.......not much you can do about that.......you live the color that you are.

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P.S. ------- this added 4/16/08: To read Martin Luther's explanation of the design and the colors of his seal........Click Here.

Merry Easter, Etc.

Fred, Bessie, and I have been enjoying Laura’s post about her trip to Missouri and Iowa. The photos brought back such special memories for Fred and Bessie that they were prompted to re-enact one of the scenes……the blissful kiss, no less!

Later, in speechless wonder, they reverently reread “The Legend of Lovers’ Leap”, choking back tears and wincing as they recalled their own “leap” at that self-same spot near Hannibal, Missouri.

Bessie, the ever hopeful and encouraging wife, sees the possibility of superhero fame in Fred’s future:

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Here’s how our church looked at 6:10 a.m. on Easter morning. I was hurrying to a brief, last-minute choir rehearsal before the Sunrise Service began at 6:30. See the round window……that’s the Luther’s Seal window; choir sang from about 10 feet below it.

Actually, I could easily have lingered outdoors to watch the sun rise over the gravestones and fields to the east of the church.

The Sunrise Service was nice, though the church was only about half-full. That service used to draw a full crowd. Afterwards, a breakfast was served in the commons hall, a large multi-purpose room used by the church and school.

I hadn’t planned to attend the 9 a.m. service at our sister church in Readlyn; my plan had been to stay home to peel potatoes and make other preparations for Easter dinner. Somehow, I managed to change my mind, grabbing my coat and sunglasses and hopping into the pickup with Husband. About halfway to Readlyn, I realized my regular eyeglasses were still at home. Great…how stupid…..very nearsighted me would have to survive the church service with no glasses on, for the first time ever.

There had to be a message of some sort in this incident. I felt almost naked and everything was blurry; I had to hold the hymnal practically in my face to see the liturgy and hymns. The only people that were clear were the ones sitting right close around me in the pews; I couldn’t see Pastor’s face as he preached, or the face on the big wooden plaque of Jesus ascending near the ceiling above the altar area. No big deal, but I surely wished I would have stayed home and peeled potatoes.

During the sermon, I imagined God looking down on us from above, shaking his head---chuckling, even---at our self-satisfied and complacent displays of churchiness. Sorry to admit to thinking such a way on Easter, but that's what wandered into my little mind, surrounded as it was by a sea of blurriness.

Thoughts rolled on……perhaps the message of the forgotten eyeglasses is: be content with seeing clearly only that which is in close proximity in space or time---the world within my natural field of vision, or within one single day or hour. Don’t be bothered by things afar off in space or time.

After the service, as I greeted a friend on the way out of church, the words “Merry Christmas” slipped out of my mouth for some unknown reason. We both laughed and she said, “Well, why not attach 'Merry' to Easter…..it would fit!”

Eventually, we arrived back at home and I frantically got busy peeling potatoes, making dressing, warming rolls, and setting tables, before the guests arrived for the 1:00 p.m. Easter dinner. Gone are the days of taking a relaxing drive “to Grandma’s” on holidays. The Grandmas in our families are long gone. My mom doesn’t cook anymore because she’s married to a superb chef who does all their cooking. Sigh.

For Easter dinner I fixed turkey breast in the slow-cooker, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, ham, green beans, cherry-applesauce jello, homemade dinner rolls, and tapioca pudding from scratch. My step-dad brought a delicious peach-blueberry cobbler and Boston cream pies. My college daughter brought a gooey chocolate pie from Perkins. Mid-afternoon found us stuffed and groaning, with several family members asleep on the couch and in recliners…me included…I was completely exhausted.

I hope you are having a pleasant post-Easter week!

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