Given in thanks to God for 50 years of blessings on our congregation.

Dedicated on April 25, 2004, on the occasion of COR’s 50th Anniversary.

Luther’s Rose

This window reflects our Reformation heritage as Lutherans. Martin Luther’s coat of arms with its symbolic meaning and then the Latin script of slogans from the Reformation era: Solus Christus (Christ Alone – is the author & finisher of our salvation); Sola Gratia and Sola Fide (that we are saved by God’s Grace Alone, through Faith in Christ Alone); and finally Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone is the source of all we believe, teach, and confess). Many thanks to all members of Reformation, who contributed funds for the window; it is a wonderful testimony to our heritage and a guide as we reach out to those around us with the Gospel of Christ in the present and future.

To Lazarus Spengler Coburg,

July 8, 1530

Grace and peace in Christ!

Honorable, kind, dear Sir and Friend! Since you ask whether my seal has come out correctly, I shall answer most amiably and tell you of those thoughts which [now] come to my mind about my seal as a symbol of my theology.

There is first to be a cross, black [and placed] in a heart, which should be of its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. For if one believes from the heart he will be justified. Even though it is a black cross, [which] mortifies and [which] also should hurt us, yet it leaves the heart in its [natural] color [and] does not ruin nature; that is, [the cross] does not kill but keeps [man] alive. For the just man lives by faith, but by faith in the Crucified One. Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace; in a word it places the believer into a white joyful rose; for [this faith] does not give peace and joy as the world gives and, therefore the rose is to be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and of all the angels. Such a rose is to be in a sky-blue field, [symbolizing] that such joy in the Spirit and in faith is a beginning of the future heavenly joy; it is already a part [of faith], and is grasped through hope, even though not yet manifest. And around this field is a golden ring, [symbolizing] that in heaven such blessedness lasts forever and has no end, and in addition is precious beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal.

May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your spirit until the life to come. Amen.

From the wilderness Grubok, July 8 1530

—Luther’s Works. Letters II / edited and translated by Gottfried G. Krodel. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1972. p. 358-359.

Given to the Glory of God

by the Reformation Bell Choir,

supported by the Congregation with matching funds from Thrivent.

Dedicated on March 16, 2008.

The Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments depicted as Roman numerals on two stone tablets. They are divided as Jesus summarized them in Matthew 22:35-40:

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (ESV)

The light of God’s revelation beams down on and through the stone tablets from above where the Holy Trinity is symbolized by a triangle, superimposed with a trefoil and triquetra. In the background is Mount Sinai, where God gave the commandments to Moses to give to the people.

And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
—Exodus 31:18 (ESV)

In the foreground is the burning bush where God first called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 3:1-6; Acts 7:30ff).

Exodus 20:   And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

“You shall not murder.

“You shall not commit adultery.

“You shall not steal.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Given to the Glory of God

and in memory of Marion Lewis’ parents, Homer & Hilda (Larry) Reindley,

and her husband, Robert Lewis.

Dedicated on October 26, 2008.

The Apostles’ Creed

This window depicts the second of the six chief parts in Luther’s Small Catechism, namely the Apostles’ Creed.

In the center is the Holy Scriptures from which the Creed is drawn as a summary of the Christian faith.

The Creed is denoted as a leaf of green, on which is written the Latin word (from which we get the word creed) “CREDO,” which means “I believe.”

Above is a trefoil symbol of the Holy Trinity (the outline of the Creed).

Superimposed over the trefoil are three circles in which we see symbols of the Godhead:

a hand emanating from a sky of blue, representing the creative and blessing hand of God the Father;

a lamb holding a flag of victory on a field of royal purple, symbolizing our victorious and reigning Savior, the Son of God; and

a descending Dove on a Pentecost red backdrop, reminding all of Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Given to the Glory of God

and in memory of Fred & Harriet C. Backhaus.

Dedicated on January 4, 2009.

The Lord’s Prayer

This is the prayer our Lord taught his disciples. It is recorded in Luke 11 and Matthew 6.

Near the bottom, the introductory words, “Our Father, who art in heaven,” encircle the arc of the globe which is resting on Baptismal waters and crowned with praying hands. This is to depict the Church at prayer.

“Lord, teach us to pray,” printed on the right side, is the request which prompted the Lord to give us this prayer.

Above, parting the clouds, is the Holy Trinity depicted by an interlaced triquetra inside a silver circle of beveled glass. Light streams down to show that God hears and answers our prayers for the sake of Christ.

Given to the Glory of God

in memory of Charter Member Benjamin C. Downs.

April 22, 2007

Baptism

The two crosses near the top of the window remind us of the baptismal liturgy: “Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified” (LSB, p. 268).

The descending dove with the nimbus is the oldest symbol for the Holy Spirit. The nimbus is called a tri-radiant patee. Notice that the rays of light shine down from the Holy Spirit, reminding us that God’s gift of grace comes from Him to us.

The escallop shell is a traditional symbol for baptism. The three drops of water coming off the shell remind us that we are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19; LSB, p. 270)

Water flows generously from the shell, to drown the old Adam. The red streaks in the water remind us of the blood of Christ Jesus, shed for us to wash us clean and bring us newness of life.

The ark, in the lower left corner, is a symbol of the Christian Church. When God sent the flood, eight believers were saved by means of the ark. Peter makes the connection of the ark and baptism in his first letter.

Acts 2:38-39:  Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children.

Romans 6:3,5:  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?... For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.

Titus 3:5-7:  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 3:20-21:  ...when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons were brought safely through the water. And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you....

Scriptures from NASB.

Given by the Reformation Women’s Guild

and dedicated to the Lord for His many blessings, past and present.

April 5, 2009

Confession and the Office of the Keys

In the center of the window is the cross of Christ on which our Savior suffered and died to purchase our forgiveness and salvation.

The keys overlay the cross to show this special authority which Christ has given His Church on earth to forgive the sins of the repentant and withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant.

The stole and staff symbolize the pastoral office of those called to act “in the stead and by the command of Christ” in the application of this authority.

The hands below symbolize our confessing to God that we are sinful and unclean.

The hand from above depicts absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself with the authority of Christ who is the Alpha and Omega.

The open scriptures reflect the references of Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22-23, which are the basis of these teachings.

Given to the glory of God

in memory of LaVern DeBlaze’s father, George Lorenz,

and her husband, Marvin Vahle.

Dedicated on November 4, 2007 (All Saints’ Day celebrated).

The Lord’s Supper

Two intersecting circles reflect the Sacrament of the Altar.

In the bottom circle wheat and grapes are the source of the unleavened bread and the wine depicted above with the chalice and the host.

The middle field is the white linen of the altar.

The blood red cross on the host and the rays of God’s glory are to draw us to Christ’s words that say, “this is my body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. . . This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”

So as Luther explains this sacrament, “It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.”

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper: Matt. 26:26-29,

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” and he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Paul addressed the Lord’s Supper: I Corinthians 11:23-32,

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.