Wyoming Breezes

St. Andrew's Chapel Lutheran Student Center near the University of Wyoming campus Laramie, WY circa 1973 I have wonderful memories of worshiping in Saint Andrew's Chapel while I was attending the University of Wyoming. The Lutheran Student Center was a home away from home and provided spiritual and physical needs for many students. The Gamma Delta group hosted Bible studies, retreats, activities, and meals. I was also active in a group that sang contemporary, Christian music and folk songs at Sunday services: three members played six-string and twelve-string guitars and approximately eight additional members sang. In the mid-60s, my sister and brother-in-law lived in the old Student Center and managed it while Paul was attending the university. They planned activities and prepared meals for the students. Photos of the old center can be seen here . I remember visiting my sister at the old center during a trip to the State Basketball Championships. Saint Andrew's...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Lily and Butterfly In Christian art, the lily signifies purity, innocence, heavenly bliss. The Madonna Lily is the one most commonly employed in presenting this symbol, especially in connection with the Annunciation. Perhaps, the most common understanding of the lily as a Christian symbol is its use as a symbol of Easter. The bulb decaying in the soil produces a new bulb, stem, leaves, and flowers, all rising in glory above the dark soil in which the process of death and the release of new life are inseparable; thus, signifying the attainment of immortal life through the body perish. The rainbow also has a deep meaning. After the flood, the Lord God made a Covenant, an agree...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Crown and Palm Crown of Thorns windows "Hosana; Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." (John 12: 12-13) These were the words that were shouted by the multitudes as Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The symbol of this is the palm leaves and the crown. It depicts the victorious Christ as King of Israel. Not only does this window remind us of Christ's victorious entry into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, but we are also reminded of the victory which is ours through our Victorious Christ during that Passion Week when "He gave His life a ransom for all" and when "He was raised again for our justification...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Dove and Tablets of Stone windows The most used and most authentic symbol of the Holy Spirit is the descending dove. It is based on the account of the baptism of our Lord. The dove is one of the earliest forms used to represent the Holy Spirit. This window includes seven flames which refer to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as taken from Revelation 5:12 - power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. When man fell into sin, the knowledge that he had of God's will, written in his heart, was sadly blurred, yet not entirely effaced, a remnant remained. The natural knowledge of the Law is true, as far as it goes, but it is not perfect. In order that we migh...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. The Lamp and The Holy Blessed Trinity windows In the Book of Psalms states, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." One of the most popular symbols for the Word of God is the Lamp. The significance of the lamp as a symbol of God's Holy Word is that the Bible is not some dark difficult book which ordinary people should not read, but it is a "light unto our path," clear enough for us to understand, pointing and showing the way to "salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." In the Holy Scriptures, God has revealed Himself as the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three distinct Persons in one divine Being. Thi...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Chalice and Wafer Chi Rho and Alpha and Omega windows One of the best loved symbols is that of the Chalice and Wafer which symbolizes the institution of the Lord's Supper. These objects are used in Christian art as an aid to worship, reminding us of the night in which Jesus was betrayed as well the institution of the Lord's Supper for the forgiveness of our sins and for the strengthening of our Christian faith. The Chi Rho monogram is the oldest used with reference to Christ and is sometimes called a "Christogram." The Christogram on this window also includes the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - Alpha and Omega. This usage is based on Revelati...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Bible and Torch and Baptismal Shell windows The Bible in this window symbolizes the Word of God; the burning torch, the witnessing of the children of God. The torch is also a symbol of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh. The circle has neither a beginning or end the eternal existence of God and His eternal Word. The shell is often used as a symbol of Holy Baptism, and the three drops of water indicate baptism, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. IHS and Pomegranate windows The use of monograms to represent Jesus Christ our Lord is of very early origin. The monogram IHS stands for for the name Jesus: they are the first three letters of the word Jesus written in Greek capitals. The monogram IHS should remind each of us of Jesus, and when we are reminded of the name Jesus, we are also reminded of the reason He came to be born of a virgin. The angel said it to Joseph when told to call His name Jesus - "for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) The pomegranate is a popular symbol of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and also of the resurrection of His faithful followers. It, theref...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Cross in Eternity  and Fish The symbol of the cross and circle, also known as the Cross in Eternity, depicts the suffering and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. The circle symbolizes eternity since its circumference is an endless line. The cross in eternity gives the concept of the completeness and the everlasting nature of Christ's work and Kingdom. The cross is always a reminder of our Lord's saving work of redeeming mankind through His sacrifice for our sins, thereby bringing forgiveness and salvation. The fish is one of the earliest and most complex symbols employed by Christians to represent the Savior. Reading the initial of the Gr...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Cross and Interlocking Rings and  Crown, Palms, and Stars windows The symbol for Holy Matrimony is the cross with the two interlocking rings. The cross, which is a symbol of the Savior, signifies God's blessing on the couple and the promise of His everlasting presence through Jesus Christ, His Son. The interlocking rings tell of man and woman made one in Him, a union living under the promise and the power of Almighty God. Blessed indeed is the Christian husband and wife whose marriage is centered in Jesus Christ as depicted by the symbol for Holy Matrimony. The heavenly Zion, the final abode of the Redeemed in heaven promised to all of God's children through faith ...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Star of Creation and Thistle windows The six-pointed star, often called the Creator's Star, depicts the creation of the heaven and the earth. The name, Star of Creation, has reference to the last sentence of Genesis 1:31 - "And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." It should remind us of our Creator and is sometimes employed as an emblem of God the Father, the six points referring to his attributes: power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy, and justice. The thistle is often used to symbolize the Fall of Man and the consequent entry of sin into the world. When God cursed Adam for having harkened unto the voice of Eve, He said, "Cursed is the ground f...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Messianic Rose and All-Seeing Eye windows "God will have all men to be saved. . ." When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God in His grace and mercy gave mankind a promise of a Savior, a Redeemer. This promise of a Savior was like a fragrant rose in a dessert of thistles. The rose is a symbol of that Messianic promise. Each time we see it, we should think of God's great love in that He promised to send the world a Savior. The prophet Isaiah foretells this when he said, "The dessert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose." (Isaiah 35:1) In the Book of Proverbs we are told, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." ...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. The Ship and Anchor windows The main body of the church building, lying between the entrance and church is called the nave, the part we sit in. This is a very interesting term derived from the Latin word "navis," meaning ship. In the early days, the Church, symbolically speaking, was the ark or ship of the Lord, the ship in which Christians sailed the sea of life. So the ship has long served as a symbol of the Church. By the grace of God, members of the Holy Christian Church, are passengers, who should not fear the storms and waves which from time to time rock the ship. With Christ as our Head, our Captain, we can say with Paul - "If God be for us, who can be...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. So beginning today and for the next twelve Sundays I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Manger and Epiphany Star windows The Manger is symbolic of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This popular and well-known symbol reminds us of the first coming of the Lord Jesus as the Prince of Peace, born as a baby and laid in the manger at Bethlehem. So when we see this symbol, we look forward to Christmas the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ.  The five-pointed star with rays emanating from it is known as "the Star of Epiphany," meaning "manifestation or showing" - the showing or manifestation of the Child Jesus to the Gentiles, represented by the "wise men from the East," who sought the royal infant of David's line because they had observed the star but did not know the exact ...