The largest shield in the window has the letters IHC. These letters are an abbreviation of the Greek spelling of the name Jesus (IHCOYC). The crown reminds us that Christ is the one true head of the Church. The other twelve shields symbolize the entire Church body, represented by the twelve Apostles.

John 15:5 (NRSV): I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because a part for me you can do nothing.

Lanterns are only mentioned once in the Bible. These were used by Judas and the soldiers at night when they arrested Jesus, who was praying in the Garden. Therefore, lanterns have come to symbolize Christ's betrayal and arrest.

John 18:3 (NRSV): So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police for the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

The harp refers to praise and worship through sacred music. It had been said that when there is music in the Church, there is joy in heaven at the same time! The Book of Psalms concludes with a celebration of praise through a variety of musical activity.

Psalms 150 (NRSV): Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

A dove holding an olive branch refers all the way back to the days of Noah, in the time immediately following the Great Flood. It symbolizes peace, concord and healing. The dove's return was the sign to Noah that the worst was over and it was time to begin anew. For Christians, it reminds us that we too are forgiven by God and provided the opportunity to make a new beginning.

Genesis 8:10-11 (NRSV): He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided for the earth.

A single candle in the Church represents Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Many Christian altars hold two candles, one on each side. These represent the two natures of Christ, both human and divine. Jesus was human like any one of us; however we recognize that through Jesus, God was present in a unique way which never has or will be duplicated.

John 8:12 (NRSV): Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but the will have the light of life."

Like the cross and crown, the lamb also speaks of victory over death. The white banner represents the church. The staff represents the cross on which the Lamb of God died, and through which the world is saved. This very idea was anticipated in an early encounter between Jesus and John the Baptist.

John 1:29 (NRSV): The next day he [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The fact that the lamb is shown standing upright suggests that the Lamb of God has risen triumphantly over the power of death and evil.

Two Tablets

The two tablets of stone represent the Ten Commandments constituting the foundations of moral law for Jews and Christians. These commandments are listed in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. All of them are repeated in the New Testament with one notable exception, Exodus 20:8 (NRSV): Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

A ship's anchor, which takes a cross-like shape, symbolizes Jesus and his steadfast presence. The anchor is especially meaningful to people who have endured the storms of life. It was also used as a communication code between early Christians.

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NRSV): We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shine behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Another symbol of Christ's Resurrection is the Easter Lily, a perennial that blooms from a buried bulb. The Apostle Paul reminds us in his writing that when we see new life in plants and flowers, we can be reminded of new life through Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:35-38 (NRSV): But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you saw, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed it own body.

The cross together with a crown symbolizes triumph over death. Even though Jesus was crucified, death did not win in the end. Because Jesus lives, we shall live also. This was a comforting thought to the early Christians who were persecuted for their faith. John the Elder was able to comfort the Christians of Smyrna with these words: Revelations 2:10 (NRSV): Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have a affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

On the day known as the first Easter Sunday, two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, talking about he events surrounding Jesus' death and the rumors that he was alive again. One was identified as Cleopas. The other, though unnamed, could very well have been his wife. When Jesus asked to join them, they did not recognize him until they invited him into the house.

Luke 24:30-32 (NRSV): When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not out hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"

The Open Bible symbolizes the opening of the Scriptures to our understanding through the Christ event.

Luke 24:1-5 (NRSV): But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they have prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when the went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."

The empty cross points to Jesus' removal from the cross and placement in the tomb. The sunrise speaks of hope. These symbols together suggest that this was not to be the final end . A new day was coming.

John 19:38-41 (NRSV): After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial customer of the Jews.

John 19:23-24 (NRSV): When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes amongst themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots."

I.N.R.I.

I.N.R.I. is the abbreviation of the Latin words, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum. This phrase was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin on the cross.

John 19:16-19 (NRSV): Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

Pitcher and Basin

The pitcher and basin call to mind Pilate's attempt to feign innocence of Jesus' blood while caving in to pressure from the crowd to crucify him.

Matthew 27:24 (NRSV): So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took so water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

All four Gospels refer to Peter's denial of Jesus. The cock is used as a powerful symbol in this passage.

Matthew 26:33-35 (NRSV): Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows you will deny me three times." Peter said to him "even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples.

But later on, Peter did deny him, just as Jesus has foretold. The story does not end there, however. Peter was later forgiven and restored. The rooster, therefore, reminds us that there is hope for all.

These symbols represent further insult to Jesus on the part of the soldiers. The robe was intended to mock his royalty. The reed, no doubt, was intended to serve as a scepter.

Matthew 27:27-31 (NRSV): Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and out a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put in on his head. They put a read in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

This window depicts a solitary palm branch. It calls to mind Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and symbolizes victory. This day has come to be known as Palm Sunday.

John 12:12-13 (NRSV): The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed us the one who comes in the name of the Lord - the King of Israel!"

A chalice appearing together with a cross is known as the Crux Acuta, Latin for Cross of Agony. It refers to the agony that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he prayed in Matthew 26:39 (NRSV): And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass for me; yet not what I want but what you want."