The Carol Simonson Goven stained glass panel was created by local physician Dr. Maltiera Machayya, designed with the assistance of Carol's daughter, Dr. Gigi Goven. Currently the panel hangs in the West entry window, just outside the church office.
Carol Goven was a long-time member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, from the time she and her family moved to Valley City in 1958 until her passing in 2005. She was active in Bible study, the Mary circle, and the Good Samaritan quilters.
The theme of the window is "Have Faith," based on Mark 4:36-41:
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (KJV)
In the image, we see a man (Christ) standing in the prow of a ship, his arms raised. Behind him (on the right), we see the rough storm at sea, represented by swirled blue glass and the dark, maroon clouds above. In front of him, we see the calm sky and quiet blue of the sea; the storm is over, with Jesus spreading his arms to protect us.
Dr. Goven explains, "So the message we wanted to show was to have faith throughout the storms of your life, and Jesus will be with you."
More details regarding Carol Goven's life and the development of the panel may be found in the OSLC Archives (Stained Glass folder).
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