The theme of the window found over the altar is Christ’s Great Commission - “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19 (KJV) This window, made by the George Payne Studios of Patterson, New Jersey, was presented to the church in 1957 by the Woman’s Society of Christian Service (now the United Methodist Women). It is appropriate that the theme of this window is missions, since missions have always been the main focus of the work of the women’s organization of the United Methodist Church.*

The window is divided into three vertical parts which represent the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are several triangles in the window which also represent the Holy Trinity. In the center a circle surrounds the central figure of the resurrected Christ, and above his head is a descending dove, the most significant symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the story of Jesus’ baptism, we read that the Holy Spirit descended “like a dove.” Mark 1:10 (NRSV)

On the left side of Jesus is a group of figures which represent Peter, Mary, John, and the disciples. On the other side is Paul with a group of peo- ple who represent “all nations” to whom he was called to carry the message. Behind them is the emblem of the United Nations. It is significant that the glass for the window came from all parts of the world.

In the lower part of the window we see Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, as they stand in the waters of the River Jordan. This blue motif of the river is used in most of the side windows as well - sometimes as sky rather than water - symbolically uniting all the windows in a central theme of Christ’s divinity and humanity.

In the upper right-hand portion of the window is a symbol for God the Father, the all-seeing eye. Also in the same section is the lamp. To the ancients, the lamp was not merely a light for darkness, but also a symbol for intelligence and learning. We sometimes associate the familiar quotation from the Psalms with this type of lamp. “thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

Several of the symbols in this window have been worked into the needlepoint kneelers and cushions in the sanctuary. On the Pentecost Kneeler is found the descending dove as its main design. The lamp will be seen on the Pulpit cushion, the star on the Epiphany Kneeler, and the shell on the Baptism Kneeler.

*Explanatory diagram is found on page 40