The Sacristy Windows

The two windows in the Sacristy are "hidden gems," generally visible only to those who serve on the altar committee and the pastors.  They were ordered separately from the Nave aisle windows, and appear to have been installed in February 1949.  No dedication information is available [but I'm still looking].

The two sacristy windows:  Samuel at his dedication;

David ("Sweet Singer of Israel")

They follow the same color scheme and background decoration of vine and grapes found in the Nave windows; they differ from the windows in the Nave in several ways:

• They depict Old Testament children
• They are set separately (apart from each other by a good 8 inches)
• They have only the image medallion (no symbol medallion)
• The signature is in the "wrong" place, located on the LEFT window, right corner, instead of the RIGHT window, right corner

Sacristy Window A: "I will sing praises
unto the Lord" (Psalm 27:6b)

In the right Sacristy window, we see the boy David, playing his harp.  He wears a red mantle over a white gown; he is surrounded by white branches and leaves, suggesting that he is outdoors, perhaps in a meadow watching his sheep.

His halo is a little different from the other ones we have seen, as it is red with white triangles/spikes.  This type of halo is used for Old Testament saints depicted in the OSLC windows -- see "A Few Notes about Halos" for more details.

The text used to interpret this image comes from Psalm 27, which begins,

The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (v. 1) ..... therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. (v. 6)

With David, we can celebrate the continued presence of the Lord in our lives, leaving fear behind as we look to Him for salvation.

Right Sacristy Window:  "Speak
for thy Servant Heareth" (I Samuel 3:10)

The left Sacristy window illustrates the young Samuel at the time of his dedication to God.  Like David, he wears a red mantle and the white and red halo; in his hands he holds the incense censer, a visual reminder of how Samuel "ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod" (I Samuel 2:18).

As discussed in the description of the "Angel of Prayer" lancet window (see Chancel Windows), the censer was used to spread the scent and smoke of incense, so that prayers would rise up to God.

Like the censer in the image medallion, the ephod mentioned above is a reminder of Samuel's priestly functions, as the ephod was an apron-like garment worn by a Hebrew priest.

The text used to interpret this image comes from the night when Samuel is called by God, and Samuel responds, "Speak, for thy servant heareth" (I Samuel 3:10).  After this late night meeting with the Lord, the account states that

 "Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.  And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord" (I Samuel 3:19-21).

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the examples of praise and prayer that we see in the lives of young David and Samuel, as well as in the lives of many others described in the Bible or impacting our lives today.  Help us to similarly be a good example to others, helping others find the joy and peace found only in you.  Amen.