Our Sanctuary | Stained Glass

The stained glass installation was designed by Richard Caemmerer a Professor of Art at Valparaiso University who was president of Christian Art Associates, Vice-President of the National institute for Contemporary Ecclesiastical Art, and Chair of the Fine Arts Commission of the Lutheran Society for Worship, Music and Art. The windows are both Dalle de Verre and Sheet glass produced by the Blenko Glass Company established 1921 in West Virginia.

As noted in the artwork presentation above, the inspiration of the design was taken from the hymn Te Deum Laudamus attributed to St. Ambrose and St. Augustine which offers praise to the Trinity. Looking first at the left side sheet glass panels, God’s message first comes to us in the waters of Baptism depicted in the east window near the font, entitled ‘The Water’. The flowing, moving power of the Holy Spirit becomes operative through the drops of water placed on our heads at our own baptism. Moving right to the five vertical Dalle de Verre panels, we see Our Redeemer Lutheran Church depicted. The Church does not only meet in this Sanctuary, but it is sent to go in to all of the world. As such, it will be a flame lighting and warming all men who believe. As a city on a hill cannot be hid, so the Church has the mandate to let its light shine before all men. Again to the right, the real presence of Jesus Christ is shown in these scenes of the Altar. Christ is there in wine, and wafer, in the blood-stained Greek Cross, and in the Christ Monogram IHS, Latin for Jesus the Savior of man. And to the right of these panels, the sheet glass window near the pulpit is entitled ‘The Word’ and it depicts both an Old Testament scroll and a New Testament open Bible. God’s people in the past and in the present hear God’s Word and are blessed by hearkening to its’ message. Note that both east and west windows incorporate three crosses in their frames. Lastly, the high point of these windows is found in the faceted glass arch. Here the Church is gathered about the throne of judgment, where angels are around the Christ ‘who dwells in a light in which no man can approach’. This is the Church triumphant in which the service of the prophets and God’s people of every age including our children is regarded. In the words of the Te Deum, ‘the Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee to be the Lord’. The artist’s hope is that the worshiper is comforted by his ultimate destiny depicted herein.

 Our Narthex | Apostle’s Creed Panels

These three panels represent the Apostle’s Creed in text and icons using the Sanctuary’s outdoor Sgraffitto design motif. The artwork is produced with Dye Sublimation printing on aluminum panels for permanence and color fast properties.

The Apostle’s Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 Our Narthex | Six Chief Parts of the Catechism Panels

These large canvas prints represent the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine as presented in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. These Six Chief Parts serve as a teaching tool and reminder of the key components of our doctrine and theology.