Stained Glass Windows

ABOUT TRANSFIGURATION

Church Features and History
·	Church and Grounds
·	Clothes Horse/Bookstore/Library
·	Religious Art and Symbolism
	·	Labyrinth
	·	Triptych and Altar Art
	·	Shrines
	·	Stained Glass Windows
	·	Sculptures
	·	Processional Crosses
	·	Gospel and Vessels
	·	Needlepoint
	·	Vestments
Worship
Sacraments
Becoming a Member
Jubilee Capital Campaign
·	Campaign-Building Project
·	Campaign-New Organ
·	Campaign-Outreach Endowment

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

The Narthex Windows

Stand in the center of the labyrinth and face away from the entrance doors of the church. Here you will see the large, faceted-glass windows which frame a view of our campus. These windows were designed and executed by Anne Gomez and the Smith Stained Glass Studios of Fort Worth. The Baptism Window is on your right and the Transfiguration Window is on your left.

The Baptism Window - This window contains symbols associated with the sacrament of Holy Baptism, the sacrament by which we become members of the Body of Christ. These symbols include the dove, which represents the Holy Spirit; the scallop shell used in the administration of the sacrament; and three drops of water and three small, blue waves representing both the trinitarian formula of baptism and the outward sign of baptism. A circle is used to depict Christ and a descending radiance emanates from this circle to symbolize the Holy Spirit's effusion of the inward grace of baptism.

The Transfiguration Window - This window again uses the circle to symbolize Christ and, in so doing, reminds us of the intimate connection in scripture of Jesus' baptism and his transfiguration. The burning bush is used to represent Moses and the burning wheel to represent Elijah, both of whom were said to be seen with Jesus in the transfiguration event.

Both windows incorporate a pale tan background to coordinate with the faceted glass windows in the nave and transepts of the church. Each window also bears a small Tau Cross and Crown, the logo of Transfiguration Parish.

The Transept Windows
From the top of the altar steps, on your right and left you will see the windows at the back of the north and south transepts. The windows were designed by Integrated Arts of Dallas and were constructed in the Flos Studios in Holland. These two large transept windows are of traditional lead and stained glass.

They represent the Tree of Life (on your left - south transept) which was denied to humankind by God and the Vine of Many Branches (on your right - north transept) which is symbolic of fulfillment of the promise of everlasting life. In the Tree of Life we see only the promise of salvation through the Messiah, while the Vine of Many Branches is symbolic of God nourishing the people of God. Here salvation is a reality through Christ.

The Nave Windows
The smaller windows uniting the transepts via the nave are symbolic of events in the life of our Lord through whom we attain salvation and eternal life. These windows are also the work of the Flos Studios and are executed in large chunks of faceted glass, giving an effect not possible with the traditional leaded glass. The proper sequence for viewing these windows leads from the south transept window, down the south nave aisle, up the north nave aisle and into the north transept.

In each of the small windows there is a stream of colored glass representing humankind and a circle of white glass representing the pure and complete life of Jesus. The theme depicted in each window reaches beyond the circle and flows into the colored glass representing the power of God to reach out and touch our lives.

The first window in the south transept is the Annunciation Window. In it we see Mary represented by the dove holding the "M" (Mary) and we see Christ represented by the P/X or Chi Rho. We also see the Holy Spirit represented by the rays of light. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you."

As you move around the corner into the south nave aisle, the next window depicts the nativity with the crèche centered under the star with its rays of light reaching into the world beyond. The next window represents Jesus teaching in the temple with the authority of the Old Testament represented by the markers of the book, and the teachings of the Gospels represented by the writing quill. The next window shows the Baptism of Jesus wherein God indicates that Jesus is the chosen one. This is also the beginning of his ministry on earth and we see the foretelling of its end in the cross in the background. The following window is the first of three which depict miracles of Jesus. This window is the first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee -the changing of water into wine.

Move now to the north nave aisle. The Miracle Windows continue at the end of the aisle with the feeding of the multitudes with the one loaf of bread represented by the large wafer and the many loaves shown as the smaller wafers. We see the fish beneath the basket. The second window of the north nave wall symbolizes the healing of the sick. We see the hand of the sick reaching out to Christ as represented by the cross. The next window shows the Last Supper in terms of the cup of wine and wafer. These, of course, represent the Body and Blood of Jesus. The next window is of the crucifixion and shows the wooden cross, the crown of thorns, and the drops of blood which represent the wounds of Christ.

The last two windows are in the north transept. The first is of the resurrection. We see the crosses in the distance with the open tomb in the foreground. From the tomb rise the rays representing the risen Christ with the banner of the Alpha and Omega. It is fitting that this resurrection window is beside the Columbarium which is situated in the Meditation Garden, just outside the church wall.

The last of the small windows shows the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Church Militant as represented by the descending tongues of fire.

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