“Peace on Earth” Window
Description by Sue Obata, artist & Norbert Sattler
The location of this window invited a design that would reflect
a feeling of hope and inspiration that parishioners take with
them as they leave the sanctuary.
In the centre, are the Alpha and Omega, from Revelation 22:13
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
first and the last”.
In the left corner is a vine – referring to Jesus who
said “ I am the true vine”
On the right side are red flames that represent the Holy
Spirit. The Trinity is made complete by the light at the top
symbolizing God is echoed in the triangular shape of the window.
The four elements earth, air, fire and water are also represented:
The colour brown for the earth, white for air, the flames
for fire and the blue on the left for water.
“when we contemplate with wonder the universe in all
its grandeur and beauty, we must praise the whole Trinity”.
John Paul II, Aug. 2000
The inscription in the bottom right corner says:
“Laudato Si”
A Prayer for the Earth
Pope Francis 2015
While reflecting on the symbolism of this window, we felt
that the profound messages in Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical
– “Laudato Si”, related to all of the above
symbolism and to the idea that faith and stewardship is something
that extends beyond the doors of the church to our world and
everything in it; it is about our future – journeying
towards the light.
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The Stained Glass Windows for Holy Family Parish, Amherst
by Sattler’s Stained Glass Studio, 2015
The story behind the Holy Family Parish’s new altar window begins
with the former Saint Charles Borromeo Church. The figures in this
stained glass window were originally part of the windows from Saint
Charles. When the decision was made to close this church and build
a new one, Sattler’s Stained Glass Studio from West La Have, NS
was asked to remove the old stained glass and to develop a concept
for using them in the new Holy Family Parish. Artist, Sue Obata
presented this design that situated the saints against a celestial
background of various hues of blue and framed Jesus and Mary in
the centre with the suggestion of a “tree of life”
The challenge of integrating the Saint Charles windows into Holy
Family Parish was to honour the past, respect the present and look
to the future. We believe that the art of stained glass is the same;
contemporary design is the present and the future. The background
of the altar window and the sidelights of the nave windows gave
us an opportunity to blend the contemporary with the old and thus
harmoniously blend the past with the present. and though this progression,
symbolically represent a continuum of faith that continues into
the future.
To do this, technically requires many of the same demanding skills
as restoration. The Saint Charles figure sections were carefully
removed from the old windows and adjusted where necessary for a
new support system. Actual size layouts of the new windows were
made and the placement of the figures determined according to the
design and support system. Many sheets of blue glass were selected
to create the “shading” of the window background and mouth blown
antique glass was used for the “tree of life”. Norbert Sattler blended
the selection of glass colours through the 10 large windows . After
the all the glass was cut, Sue hand painted some details on the
“tree” area and then those pieces were kiln fired. The same was
done in the nave windows where painting was used expressively in
the contemporary sidelights which frame the original “Annunciation”
and “Jesus with Saint Margaret Mary” windows.
Biblical Story In Stained Glass Now Complete
By ROBERT HIRTLE
rhirtle@southshorenow.ca
MAHONE BAY: You might call it the missing piece of a biblical puzzle.
Last week the final stained glass window was installed at St. John's
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mahone Bay, completing a visual of
the Bible's story from its first book, Genesis, to its last, Revelation.
Rev. Stephen Kristenson, pastor at St. John's, says that for many
years the only stained glass windows in the church were located
in the sanctuary.
"Back in 1990 there was a major push to do the rest of the
stained glass windows, and the last one of that set was done in
2004," he explains.
That left only two tall windows in the end of the church nearest
the street and one over the door to the Sunday school room that
were not stained glass. A couple of years ago, a pair of benefactors
came forward to donate the necessary funds for the replacement of
one of the taller panes.
"There was interest in doing the Pentecost window so artist
Sue Obata and Sattler's Studio were engaged to do the window and
that was finished in 2011," he recalls.
"When Sue did that window, we asked her to do a proposal
for the last window. Because we begin with Creation, the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil in the garden and then we jump from
there to the birth of Jesus, then the life of Jesus, his teaching,
then his Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension, the next logical
thing was Pentecost. And then, we only had one window left so we
decided to use Revelation, the last book of the Bible going from
Genesis to Revelation."
Pastor Kristenson says the image that was chosen from that last
book is the river of life and the tree of life. "The theme
of that window from the book of Revelation is that the tree of life
that are on either side of the river of life are for the healing
of the nations," he explains. "It depicts the river of
life and the tree of life and the people from all nations gathered
around God's throne."
Funding for one of the panes of the Revelation window was provided
by a single donor while the other was paid for through smaller contributions
by approximately 30 couples or individuals who have made donations
to the stained glass window fund over many years.
 Sattler
Stained Glass Studio also produced, and last week installed, a new
stained glass window over the church's Sunday School door which
depicts Luther's Rose.
"It's the only Lutheran symbol we have in this church,"
Pastor Kristenson says. "Luther's Rose has its own definition
and that was also given by a couple that wanted to complete the
project. So all of the stained glass in the church has now been
finished."
Plans are to dedicate both new windows May 19 at the regular 11
a.m. service which is, interestingly, Pentecost Sunday. "We
hope that we can gather many of the donors of that window together
on that date as several are from away," he says. "It's
a long weekend so it's possible they might be able to travel here
for that."
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