Godhead Window
(Altar Window)

Artist: Keith Malmquist
Maker: Pat Spicer
Honors: Ted & Teckla Fenske

The large round stained glass window high above the altar and cross in the sanctuary was designed to be both decorative and symbolic. Its bold, clean, contemporary form was purposely chosen to coincide with those same characteristics found in the architectural style of the newly constructed church.

The symbolism, however, is as ancient as the Christian Church itself.

Conceptually, the window presents a visual statement representing our belief in the Holy Trinity.

The circular form, with no beginning or ending, denotes eternity and completeness. The equilateral triangle, woven in and out of the surrounding images in the middle of the composition, speaks of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as equal yet one. The all-seeing eye of God is the focal point of everything else that accompanies it. God's hands appear in the very bottom rectangle, upholding and pointing for us the way.

At the top center, the dove – representing the Holy Spirit – descends into our presence to guide and inspire us. Dancing, flamelike shapes on left and right below, are also symbolic of the Holy Spirit burning brightly in our lives.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, offered as the sacrificial Lamb to redeem us, is symbolized by two pairs of extreme contrast – the crown of thorns (right side of center section) and the crown of glory (left side of center section). A similar contrasting pair of symbols is the tree of death, standing barren and dead in the upper left section; while the tree of life abounds in all its glory in the upper right section.

The lower left and right sections present the building beams of Christ's church on earth, standing firm in their many varieties. Prominent in the lower section is representation of sacraments which nurture the church: the chalice and wafer of communion, and the flowing living water of baptism.