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  <HEAD><TITLE>Hope Lutheran Church - Stained Glass Windows</TITLE></HEAD>
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    <H1>Stained Glass Windows</H1><BR><BR>
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          Martin Luther's Seal - Luther Rose<BR><BR>
          The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the heart, to put me in mind
          that faith in Christ crucified saves us. 'For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.'<BR><BR>
          Now, although the cross is black, mortified, ans intended to cause pain, yet it does not change
          the colour of the heart, does not destroy nature-i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive. 'For the 
          just shall live by faith,'-by faith in the Saviour.<BR><BR>
          But this hear is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and 
          peace.  The rose is white, not red, because white is  the ideal colour of the angels and blessed spirits.<BR><BR>
          This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored groud, to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but
          an earnest and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed.<BR><BR>
          And around this groundbase is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and 
          more precious thatn all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most precious metal.  Christ, 
          our dear Lord, He will give grace unto eternal life.<BR><BR><BR>
          While a professor at Wittenburg, Luther devised this seal which he declared was meant to be "expressive 
          of his theology."  This explanation is the gist of a letter written to his friend, Herr Sppengler, town
          clerk of Nuremberg.
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          <img src="images/Luther Rose Large.gif" width="350" height="350">
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          <!--<img src="images/Luther Rose Large.gif" width="350" height="350">-->
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          Baptism - A shell with three drops of water representing the Holy Trinity<BR><BR>
          One of two sacraments of the Lutheran Church.  In Baptism God frely offers his grace and 
          lovingly establishes a new community.  It is in Baptism that people become members of 
          Christ's Body on earth, the church..  Baptism is ooften represented by a shell with three 
          drops of water, one for each aspect of the trinity.<BR>
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          <img src="images/Window 1 - Baptism.jpg" width="345" height="344">
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          Communion - Grapes and wheat representing the wine and bread<BR><BR>
          The other sacrament of the Lutheran Church.  In Holy Communion (or the Eucharist) those who come to
          the table receive in bread and wine the body and blood of their Lord.  This gift is itself the real
          presence of God's forgiveness and mercy, nourishing believers in union with their Lord and with each
          other.  Grapes and wheat represent the bread and wine.<BR>
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          <img src="images/Window 4 - Communion.jpg" width="315" height="312">
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          <img src="images/Window 2 - Chi Rho.jpg" width="334" height="336">
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          Chi Rho - A Monogram of Christ comprised of the first two letters (X and P) in Greek<BR><BR>
          In Greek, the word "Christ" is written CRISTOS.  The letters CHI (X) and RHO (P) were combined 
          into one of the earliest known Christian symbols.  It has been found inscribed on the walls of 
          Roman catacombs dating back to the 2nd century.*<BR>
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          <img src="images/Window 5 - Iota Eta Sigma.jpg" width="327" height="317">
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          Iota Eta Sigma - A monogram of Jesus composed of the first three letters (IHS) in Greek<BR><BR>
          Found in many early Christian manuscripts and on many early Christian monuments, this monogram 
          consists of the three Greek characters whist are the first three in the name "Jesus" (IHΣOYΣ).
          (S in an alternate form of Σ)<BR>
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          Pentecost - A descending dove, representing the Holy Spirit, with seven rays of light representing
          its gifts at Pentecost<BR><BR>
          Lutherans believe that they ae a part of a community if faith that begins with the gift of the 
          Holy Spirit, God's presence with his people, on the day of Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit is represented
          as a descending dove, its gifts emanating as rays of light.<BR>
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          <img src="images/Window 3 - Pentecost.jpg" width="339" height="338">
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          Triquetra - Symbol of the Holy Trinity composed of three equal arcs in continuous form, entertwined
          with a circle representing eterity<BR><BR>
          The Triquetra is an early symbol of the Trinity...Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Identical in nature,
          each arc expresses the equality of the Trinity.  The unbroken circle symbolizes unity, while the
          continuous form and the interweaving expresses the indivisibility of the Trinity.<BR>
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          <img src="images/Window 6 - Triquetra.jpg" width="338" height="336">
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