Last week we dedicated to the honor and glory of God and to the service of man our entire building and its several parts. It might seem unnecessary then that again today we should give attention to this one particular part – our Rose Window. Yet such as this may serve a useful purpose. It would seem fitting that this which is so central in our chancel – which by day or night so clearly reflects its beauty of design and richness of coloring according as light is thrown upon it – fitting that we focus our attention upon it in this worship hour. It is worthy of high thoughts as we note its beauty of design, the richness of its colorings combines with emblems that speak so clearly of the essential feature of our faith. 

The question may be asked, “Why a Rose Window?” 

The first and likely answer is – for its beauty. Roses and beauty are synonymous terms. We are coming into the rose season. Rose gardens will stand out with all their rare beauties and their rich fragrances. The rose garden in Delaware Park will have many visitors through the days ahead, visitors attracted there by the BEAUTY of the roses.

As roses have upon them the touch of the Divine Artist giving them rare and entrancing beauty, so a rose window like unto this which graces our chancel is a thing of distinct beauty. It has upon it the touch of one skilled in all the artistry who designed it and the workmen who translated his design into the completed window had the touch which has given our window the kind of beauty which brings the almost constant comment, “How beautiful, how beautiful”. 

Yes, there is beauty there and beauty is always significant in terms of the aid that it is in worship. The Psalmist must have had something of the beauty of the place of worship in mind as he wrote, “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord” or again when he wrote, “How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of Hoses. My soul longs yea faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing for joy”.

A second likely answer to the query of “why a rose window” is “for the story it tells”. Ours tells a story. There is a story in the emblems that form the petals of the rose, a story which brings to our attention the central things of our faith. 

Note first the open and extended hand. It speaks to us of God, the Father, to whom we ascribe glory and honor and power every time we use the Apostle’s Creed saying, “I believe in god the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth”. 

Next to the open hand is the open Bible – God’s own inspired word given as a lamp unto the feet and a light unto the path. It is described as being “quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword and profitable for doctrines, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in right living”. It is always open to be read and studied. New light and truth will always break forth from its pages as it is faithfully used.

Close by the open Bible is the Alpha and Omega – Greek letters standing for Christ as first and last, the beginning and the ending. In Rev. 21, in the record of the vision of John on the Isle of Patmos the Christ who has returned to glory from his work on earth says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end”. He spoke in Creation. He spoke in his birth, life, death and resurrection. He speaks now and thru the hearts of his people and He will speak.

Next, we see the emblem of the Dove with outstretched wings. This speaks of the Holy Spirit. At Jesus’ baptism it was said that the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and rested upon him. So, the Holy Spirit rests upon us and in us. He is God at work – go in the present tense making his presence felt and his power known. We trust his leadership. We seek his guidance. We are strengthened through Him to do the work that is expected of us.

Turning again to the left side and reading down, we see in symbol the first of the two sacraments practiced in the Protestant Church. It is the font, signifying Baptism. Baptism has been set vividly before us already in this hour in the children presented by their parents and by their parents dedicated unto the things of the Christian faith and life. It is an outward sign or symbol of that inward cleansing of heart and life by the Holy Spirit.

Baptism leads on to the next emblem. It becomes the stepping-stone to sharing in the service of the Cup. For the cup is the emblem of the feast of remembrance in which we shall share in our worship services next Sunday. The cup as emblem of the feast can hardly be thought of apart from the Cross. So the Cross is next in line. It reminds us that Jesus said “I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto myself”. Our hearts are stirred to say, “In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time. All the lights of sacred story gathers round his head sublime”.

The Father’s hand extended in gracious invitation as though to say, “Come unto me” – the open, living Word, the unchanging Christ, the mighty Holy Spirit, baptism, keeping the feast, glorying the Cross – with all these coming to fitting climax in the emblem of victory, that which stands for the resurrection and life eternal.

Set in the midst of all these emblems is the figure of Christ Himself. It is fitting that this should be. For He is central in our faith. Here we see Him as the Good Shepherd. It is one of the finest of the many ways in which Christ is presented to us as the object of our faith. It would be our earnest prayer that this window, beautiful in design, in coloring, in emblem and in figure should be as a magnet drawing us all closer to Him and to one another and playing a vital role like unto that of the Good Shepherd who is always bringing back His own.

Shared from: Clayton and Pamela Adams