Sermons from the Study of: Dr. Keith Wagner St. Paul's United Church of Christ Sidney, Ohio

“A Transparent Faith” – Rev. 21:1-14 – November 4, 2007

Today we are rededicating the stained glass windows in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Church. The seventeen windows depicting the life of Christ, have added to the beauty and splendor of our worship space since 1955. During the last year the windows were removed by the Conrad Pickel Company and restored. The same company originally created and installed the windows when the church was built. Now that all the windows have been returned our worship is greatly enhanced by their presence.

The windows, beginning with the nativity and ending with the resurrection, were created with glass from Europe. Glass was made by melting sand, potash and lime together in clay pots. The glass was colored by the addition of metallic oxides - copper for red, iron for green, cobalt for blue and so on. This is called pot-metal glass.

The designer would indicate the principal outlines of his drawing, the shape and color of the individual pieces of glass to be used, and the position of lead strips (calmes) that would eventually hold all the pieces of glass together. The panes of colored glass were cut to shape with a 'grozing iron' and laid on top of the drawing. Through the glass, details of the drawing - faces, hands, drapery etc. - could be seen and these details were traced with an iron oxide pigment on the surface of the glass.

After painting, the pieces were fired in a small furnace for sufficient time to fuse the paint to the surface of the glass, and then re-laid on the table and assembled by the glazier, using strips of lead H-shaped in section, which allowed the glass to be slotted into the grooves on each side. The lead provided a strong but flexible bond. The intersections of all the lead strips were then soldered, and an oily cement was rubbed into all the joints in order to make them watertight. The panels were then held in place in the window openings by a grid of iron bars set into the masonry.

The rich, dark red colors are very difficult to develop because of the rarity of dark red copper, thus making the windows of St. Paul’s rare and unique. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation the windows have been totally re-leaded, designed with additional structural support, cleaned and repaired. The exterior, protective glass has been replaced with a more modern glass that gives more illumination to the windows. They appear brand new.

None of the seventeen windows were changed or altered in any way. But the restoration of the windows has given them new luster. They are brighter, almost crystal like. They are stronger and the process of restoration has created a new awareness in the hearts of people in the congregation. I have sensed and observed both feelings of satisfaction and feelings of excitement.

In Revelation the apostle John described “a new heaven and new earth.” “See, I am making all things new,” he said. John was talking about the new Jerusalem or heaven. John was speaking to a discouraged church. Since they lived under a repressive, Roman regime, followers of Jesus struggled to keep the faith alive. John’s promise of newness gave them something to look forward too. His vision of a new heaven gave them hope.

Whenever we get discouraged and have feelings of hopelessness, new things stimulate us and make us excited. Moving into a new home, purchasing a new car, or buying a new suit always gives us a sense of excitement. Newness brings joy and consequently our lives have new meaning.

In John’s new city there is no temple. That’s because in the new city it is God himself who is worshipped. The new heaven that John envisioned was “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” When John talked about newness he was talking about newness of relationships. I have no doubt that our new stained glass windows will enhance our worship. They symbolize the glory of God. By having a faith that is transparent our relationship with God and others will be much closer.

Faith is about relationships. Eternal life is about relationships. While a new car or house may give us feelings of joy a new relationship can do even more. A course in marriage enrichment can renew your relationship with your partner. Reconciliation with someone you are estranged with can revitalize your life. The blessing of a new born child can completely transform a family.

When the windows were being restored at St. Paul’s I befriended the artesian, Peter. I watched him work meticulously as he removed each section of the windows and they later re-installed them. Peter is the grandson of the man who originally worked on the windows. He is also a college student. I admired his patience and especially his constant smile. He never complained or got upset when things were going wrong. He worked and labored on each window until it was perfect.

The stained glass windows do much more than just enhance the beauty of the sanctuary. They are more than just a form of sacred art. Each window vividly describes a story from the life of Jesus. Each window has a scriptural reference. For example: The Blessing of the Children Window (the 6th window on the north side) references Matthew 19:14. “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

The windows tell the gospel story and many people feel that have helped to maintain the prominence and grandeur of that story. Their stories are about the relationships Jesus established with his disciples and followers. They are a living history of the family of faith. Each of us is a living story too. What does your life say? How do others perceive you? Does your life embody the ministry of Jesus? Are you receiving strangers, visitors and guests into the family of faith like you would receive a child?

John said, “The holy city has the glory of God and radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.” Japser is a gem that is highly colorful and transparent. Light shines freely through the gem just as light shines through the colored glass in the stained glass windows. Without light the stained glass windows have no value. We can’t discern their meaning. Nor, do they give any beauty to the sanctuary. Only with light do the windows reflect the glory of God.

That is also true with our faith. God wants our lives to be transparent. In other words, the light of God needs to shine through our lives in order for others to be influenced by our faith. As Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “So if any one is in Christ, there is a new creation.”

When John reported about the new heaven he said that “the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” The sea was a means of economic and military expansion for Rome. The Romans used the Mediterranean Sea to exploit the people and nations around it. The sea was a threatening place. Unlike Paul, who used the sea to spread the gospel and build the church, the Romans used the sea for their own benefit. You could say that the sea was the internet of their day.

In the new city there is no sea. That threat is now removed. Instead there is a “river of the water of life.” When our faith is transparent, the love of God flows through us like a river. Just as there are trees along the river of life that produce fruit, God expects us to be fruitful as well.

John described a holy city that came down from heaven. The city is not a remote oasis beyond the clouds, but a city that is among us. Heaven is not a distance place but an every-day reality. It is a community where God is present. “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; and they will be his peoples and God himself will be with them.”

The newly restored stained glass windows have brought a sense of newness to our sanctuary. They are a vivid reminder of the hope and newness that Jesus gave the early church. Sometimes our lives need a little restoration too. Perhaps you are carrying guilt, harboring criticism toward others or feeling down because of some personal failure. Restoration is available to you too through the forgiveness and grace of God. As Paul said, “In Christ we are a new creation,” meaning we are forgiven and free.

What you may not know is that the glass in the windows does not deteriorate. Over the years dirt and elements in the air may collect on the windows but the glass remains in tact. A good, thorough cleaning will restore them to their original beauty. The forgiveness of God does not deteriorate either. It is always available to us. God’s love for us is never ending. Like the windows, there are times when our lives need a little cleaning as well.

We also experience the newness of God when our faith is transparent as the light of God shines through us or when we live as a community of faith with a love that flows freely. Just as John gave hope to the saints of the past, I hope that we too may we live with newfound courage, accepting God’s forgiveness and living with the assurance that God is with us. God was with the congregation in 1955 when the stained glass windows were first installed. God was with us a year ago when the congregation accepted the challenge to have the windows restored. And God will be with us in the future as we continue to live as the light of God shines through us.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio