The creation of the St. Paul United Methodist Church stained glass windows is a story of a congregation taking on a daunting challenge and transforming it into a spiritual experience.  During the thirteen years required to complete the project, friendships grew, faith deepened and the bond between congregates and their church grew even closer as magnificent works were created to the glory of God.  To fully understand the magnitude of this accomplishment, one must first understand that the medium of stained glass is one of the most demanding forms of artistic expression.  Most of the fifty people who worked on the project had no former glass experience whatsoever - yet together, they achieved a level of craftsmanship that honors the highest level of this art.  A trusting congregation gave their support in both encouragement and dollars and were unwavering in their appreciation throughout the thirteen year labor of love.  The result goes far beyond beautiful windows of colored glass.  A new light shines into our place of worship.  It is the light of inspiration, challenge, fellowship and the love of God.  It is a light that unites us as a family and reminds us once again that all things are possible through Him.

To see a larger version of the window click on the picture next to the description.

Spiritus Gladius The Spirius Gladius window is a celebration of our namesake, St. Paul. In the upper portion of the window, Paul's symbol, a shield incorporating a sword and an open Bible with the word, Spirius Gladius, is encircled with symbols of the Trinity, Christ, the apostles and sacraments. Supporting this rose window section are three arches occupied by angels bearing a scroll with Paul's familiar and much loved verse from 1 Corinthians 13:13. Inscribed on the angels' halos are the books of the New Testament which have been attributed to St. Paul.

	The Trinity The triangle is one of the most prevalent symbols for the trinity.  All entities of the trinity are depicted in this window.  In the top panel, the father is depicted by the Greek letters Alpha and Omega.  The Holy Spirit is represented by the form of the descending dove, and the son is depicted in the bottom panel as the resurrected Christ, hence the cross with Jesus' robes draped as if left behind.
	St. James The sword and the shell is the symbol for James the Greater, brother of John.  Tradition attributes James with wide travels and therefore the scallop shell, a symbol of pilgrimage, is used in his shield.  The sword is indicative of James' martyrdom by Herod, assumed to be by beheading.  The Jerusalem Cross depicted in the top panel symbolizes missionary work and the small crosses appearing in the four quadrants of the large cross represent the gospel being spread to the four corners of the earth.  Since most of James' travels were believed to have been made over water, a boat is depicted in the bottom panel.
	The Descending Dove The descending dove is the most popular symbol for the Holy Spirit.  All four gospels describe the same event using similar words - very rare in the gospels.  The top panel depicts a cross which foreshadows the crucifixion and the bottom panel shows the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
	St. Peter The shield used for Peter shows two large keys crossed like the letter X, and an inverted Latin Cross.  According to tradition, Peter requested the he be crucified head downward because he did not think himself worthy of dying in the same manner as his Lord.  The keys are symbolic of Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16:19.  The top panel depicts the gates of heaven through which all believers will enter and the bottom panel shows the church as the foundation of Christianity.
	The Hand of God The hand of God appears several different ways in Christian symbology and is probably the most widely used symbol of God the Father.  This window shows His awesome power and majesty.  The top panel depicts God's creations; the sun, the moon and stars, and even the birds that fly in the heavens.  The bottom panel shows the parting of the Red Sea, one of God's mightiest earthly acts recorded in the Old Testament.
	St. Paul The symbol for St. Paul is the Spiritus Gladius shield, incorporating an open Bible, the Word of God, behind which can be seen a vertical, cross-hilted sword.  In Paul's letter to the Ephesians he speaks of the "sword of the Spirit."  Since prayer was such a great part of Paul's life, the praying hands were chosen for the top panel.  The flames and darts of the evil one are depicted in the bottom panel.
	Chi Rho This Christian symbol uses the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" and is an abbreviation, not a monogram.  Many examples of this symbol have been found in cemeteries and catacombs where early Christians met in secret.  The lamb in the top panel is symbolic of the lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  The banner represents Christ's triumph over death.  The harp, trumpets and songbook are symbolic of the many ways in which Christians make music before the Lord.
	St. John John the apostle's shield is the chalice and the serpent.  Early Christian mythology tells us that an attempt was made by the priest of Diana to poison John.  However, John made the sign of the cross over the chalice and the poison escaped in the form of a serpent.  The upper panel of John's window depicting the Angel of God holding a golden measuring stick was inspired by the verses preceding and following Revelation 22:8.  The bottom panel depicts the 12 gates of heaven that were revealed to John in a vision, during his exile on the Island of Patmos.
	Baptism The symbol for baptism has long been the scallop shell with three drops of water depicting the Holy Trinity.  We ask the God bless our baptism by pouring spiritual renewal from heaven.  The baptismal font is a mainstay in the Methodist church and is revealed in the lower panel.  Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ's holy church.
	Communion The symbol of the chalice with wheat has long been accepted as the symbol for The Lord's Supper.  Christ's sacrifice for our sins is depicted in the top panel as the triumphant Lamb of God.  The communion table is prepared in the bottom panel, showing the most important elements of our commitment ot God - our acceptance of Christ's sacrifice, our membership in Christ's church and the Word of God.  The Methodist Church invites all who wish to receive communion  to the Lord's table as we celebrate the sacrifice the Lamb of God.
	Marriage The symbol chosen for marriage is the cross with two rings depicting both God's blessing of marriage through the wedding band - an unending circle - and Christ's marriage to the church.  The external flame of God's love burns brightly in heaven as on earth.  The two flames depicted in the bottom panel become one as two lives unite in marriage.  The doves to either side of the flame are representative of the Holy Spirit as He blesses the union.
	Life Everlasting Christ is triumphantly depicted in this window through symbols of the crowned cross in heaven, the empty cross on earth and the symbol of the cross and cup, symbolizing Christ's humanity as revealed in the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."  Matthew 26:39  The sharpened cross represents Christ's agony in crucifixion.  Through His suffering, we are granted life everlasting.

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