The Narthex Windows
As you enter through our doors, you enter into the Narthex. It is the main entrance where our fellowship, welcoming, and greetings to one another takes place. If you were to face the doors you came through you will find four windows, two on each side. These windows represent the four Evangelical Gospels.
The
first stained glass window to your left is of ST. MATTHEW THE
EVANGELIST. Saint Matthew is the Evangelist who points to Jesus as a True Man,
therefore he is shown as a man. Saint Matthew's day is September 21.
The second stained glass window is of ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST. Saint Mark symbolizes the power and the miracles of the Savior. The lion, as king of the beasts, is usually the symbol of strength. Saint Mark's day is April 25.
The third stained glass window is of ST. LUKE THE
EVANGELIST. The symbol of Saint Luke is the winged ox. Saint Luke emphasizes the
sacrifice and the atonement of the Savior. The biggest sacrifice was the ox. He is given
wings to show that this was a heavenly sacrifice. Saint Luke's day is October 18. 
The fourth stained glass window is of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST. Saint John has the eagle for his symbol. He reaches greater heights of revelation than any other Evangelist. Saint John's day is December 27.
If you look to both ends of the Narthex., you will see a
symbol that identifies who we are denominationally. It is Martin Luther's Coat of
Arms. While a professor at Wittenberg, 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. Here Spengler, town clerk at Nuremberg.
"The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the heart, to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saved us. 'For in the heart man believeth unto righteousness.'" Now, although the cross is black, mortified, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the color 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 Savior. But this heart 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 color of all angels and blessed spirits. This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky - colored ground, to denote that such joy of faith in the Spirit is but an earnest and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and help by hope, though not yet revealed. And yet the ground base is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures, since gold, is the best and most precious metal. Christ, our dear Lord, He will give grace unto eternal life. Amen. Martin Luther"
To the west in front of the elevator is a window that
has an Anchor in it. It is a symbol that stands
for HOPE. Our in
it. It is a symbol that stands for HOPE. Our HOPE is in Jesus Christ the anchor of our
life.
As you leave the Narthex, you enter the Nave, which is the chief or main body of a church, It extends from the entrance to the chancel. It comes from the Latin word for "ship", referring to the ark of salvation, hence the body of the church building where the faithful are during the public liturgy. Pews are here for the worshipers. The rowers of the benches in an ancient ship may be compared to people sitting in church pews, with Christ as captain, the ministers as officers, and the other workers constituting the crews.
We invite you to continue the tour inside the Nave.
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