Sermons in Stained Glass

Sermons in Stained Glass Sermons by Dr. George Wirth Presented in 1995 Updated 19 February 2013 Using as their theme the Stained Glass windows in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Dr. George Wirth, Senior Pastor, 1990-2013 Dr. J. Sprole Lyons Dr. William V. Gardner Pastor and Pastor Emeritus, 1914-1942 Pastor 1936-1952 Compiled and edited by William W. Lyons, Jr, wwlyons@gmail.com 770-805-9017

Table of Contents Introduction............................................................................... 4 ABRAHAMIC............................................................................ 5 LAW, THE PSALMS, THE PROPHETS........................................................ 9 ADVENT................................................................................ 11 CHRIST'S LIFE AND MINISTRY............................................................ 15 CHRIST'S LIFE AND MINISTRY - THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST................................. 19 CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.................................................................... 23 PASSION................................................................................ 27 CHRISTIAN MARTYRS................................................................... 31 RESURRECTION/THE ASCENSION/THE SECOND COMING................................... 35 ROSE................................................................................... 39 PENTECOST............................................................................. 43 Closing Comment......................................................................... 46 Sermons in Stained Glass Booklets.......................................................... 48 The three pastors shown on the cover all made significant contributions to our congregation and our windows. Dr. Wirth, who will soon retire as our longest serving senior Pastor, created the sermons presented in this document. Soon after arriving to serve our congregation he was responsible for rediscovering the original plan for a Rose Window, and for the installation of the window. He has mentioned the windows often in our services, most notably in this series in 1995. Dr. Gardner joined Dr. Lyons at First Presbyterian in 1936. Dr. Lyons became Pastor Emeritus, and remained to complete the installation of the windows. Working from notes prepared by Dr. Lyons at the suggestion of Mary Earnest, Dr. Gardner developed the booklet, A History and Interpretation of the Stained Glass Windows. Later Dr. Gardner renewed the interest in an East Window, and it was dedicated in our Founders Day service in January 1948. Dr. Lyons was our Pastor and then Pastor Emeritus from 1914 to 1942, at 28 years our longest serving pastor. He conceived, planned, and designed the series of ten History Windows, working closely with Tiffany and D Ascenzo. His notes became the foundation for Dr. Gardner s booklet, and our later booklets. Sermons in Stained Glass by Dr. George Wirth Page 2 of 48

History Windows Reference Chart Sermon History Windows Location Installation Installation Artist Page Date Sequence 4 Abrahamic Covenant North Side 1 12 Jan 1930 5 Tiffany 7 Law, Psalms, Prophets North Side 2 19 June 1938 7 D Ascenzo Advent North Side 3 12 July 1931 6 Tiffany 12 & 15 Jesus Ministry North Side 4 9 July 1939 8 D Ascenzo 21 Passion North Side 5 14 May 1922 4 Tiffany 26 Resurrection South Side 1 20 April 1919 1 Tiffany 28 Ascension South Side 2 27 Nov 1921 3 Tiffany 33 Pentecost South Side 3 17 Dec 1939 9 D Ascenzo 24 Martyr South Side 4 25 Feb 1940 10 D Ascenzo 18 Christian Missions South Side 5 17 April 1921 2 Tiffany 29 East Above Balcony 4 Jan 1948 11 Willett 30 Rose Above Pulpit 2 May 1992 12 Willet (son) Sermon notes by Dr. Lyons exist for the Acension, Advent, Missions and Passion windows. These have not yet been transcribed. First Presbyterian was founded in 1848 and had a succession of two sanctuaries on Marietta Street until 1915. The church then moved way out to 16 th and Peachtree where the full sanctuary was dedicated in 1919. The architect provided a plan for a number of large windows for light and ventilation. The pastor, Dr. Lyons, developed a plan and designs for installation of stained glass windows. The ten windows around the floor of the sanctuary tell the story of the bible from Abraham to the spread of Christianity by the apostles after the crucifixion and resurrection. They were installed during De. Lyons service which ended in 1942. The first six windows were executed by Tiffany and the final four by D Ascenzo. Other windows in the church are by Willett. There are a total of twenty windows in four locations. Publications about the windows, our history, and other topics are available and expected to be on line soon. Please contact us for further information. Sermons in Stained Glass by Dr. George Wirth Page 3 of 48

Introduction The History windows of First Presbyterian Church represent the history which is told in our bible beginning with the covenant bestowed upon Abraham, and all people of the earth, by God and continuing through the beginning of the expansion of the faith from Jerusalem in the east to Asia Minor, Greece, Rome and beyond as the gospel made its way into all the world. The History windows were installed between 1919 and 1940. The sanctuary also contains a window portraying the foretelling of the return of Christ to the earth, and a traditional Rose window. Descriptions of these windows are presented in our Sermons in Stained Glass - Booklet Two, History and Stained Glass Windows. They will also be available soon Pastors have presented sermons which focus on these windows on repeated occasions. Among them are Dr. Lyons who conceived these windows and based sermons on them many times, Dr. Wirth who presented the sermon series which is contained in this document in 1995, and Rev. Craig Goodrich who has frequently focused on these windows in his sermons. We have not fully surveyed the records of other pastors sermons in this regard but hope to do so some day. For the dedication of the first six History Windows, Dr. Lyons, during his service as Senior Pastor, would present a dedication sermon. Dr. Lyons also often used a window as the subject of his sermons as have subsequent ministers. Soon after the change of Dr. Lyons status to Pastor Emeritus with the arrival of Dr. Gardner as Senior Pastor in 1936, Dr. Lyons began writing the material for a Handbook on the windows, as suggested by Mary Earnest. For the dedication of the remaining four History Windows, Dr. Lyons presented the dedication and Dr. Gardner delivered a presentation on the Brief History and Interpretation of the Memorial Windows which he was preparing from Dr. Lyons notes.. There was no sermon, in keeping with the practice of the Emeritus not preaching while the Senior was present. Dr. Gardner prepared a booklet, apparently after 1940, the date of the last History Window and before 1948, the date of the East Window. This booklet used the notes by Dr. Lyons as a primary base and was the foundation for the notes concerning our windows in one of the publications for our 100 th Anniversary. We have further expanded the information from this handbook in our current Booklet Two, History and Stained Glass Windows. Records of sermons presented on the windows by subsequent ministers until Dr. Wirth have not been found. In 1995, Dr. Wirth presented this series of eleven sermons, Sermons in Stained Glass, which focus on the twelve windows in the sanctuary (ten History Windows, and the East and Rose windows). This booklet is part of a series of booklets about the history and stained glass windows of our congregation. Many of these booklets are available at no charge in our church and will soon be available from a new web site which is under construction. Contact Bill Lyons wwlyons@gmail.com Or 770-805-9017 for information. Sermons in Stained Glass by Dr. George Wirth Page 4 of 48

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT WINDOW WHEN GOD SAYS GO! Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9; 17:1-8 Text: "By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance...and he went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, which for Christians is a time of renewal and repentance that leads toward the Easter celebration of our Lord's resurrection. As we launch this sacred journey of 40 days and nights and seven Sundays, I have chosen to preach a series entitled "Sermons In Stained Glass." Each week we will focus our attention on the windows which adorn this sanctuary, seeking to let the light and love of God stream through these stained glass images to instruct our minds, strengthen our hearts and inspire our souls. At the outset, I want to thank Dr. William Pressly for his collaboration in this effort. As most of you know, he is a fount of knowledge about this church, and has conducted tours of our stained glass windows for many years. Dr. Pressly has helped me see these windows with new insight and a renewed sense of appreciation. Moreover, I am also grateful to a new friend who has recently reunited with this congregation, Mr. William Lyons, the grandson of Dr. J. Sprole Lyons who was the pastor here from 1914-1936, and who designed these windows 60 years ago [actually about 75 years]. In early February, Bill came into the church office with a large cardboard box that contained original plans for the windows, together with correspondence written in Dr. Lyons' own hand to the three studios that developed the plans and constructed the windows: Tiffany in New York, and D'Ascenzo and Willet in Philadelphia. During our sermon series, I will be sharing with you some of the information from this treasure chest of history which Bill Lyons has made available. Let this one example suffice for today, written by Dr. Lyons during the early stages of the project: "The Tiffany Studios of New York were consulted concerning our plan, and were later engaged to provide the memorial windows. Mr. Louis Tiffany was wonderfully patient and encouraging to me, and was recognized as the dean in his chosen field. He was becoming very feeble (at that time) and (during one of my visits to his studio in New York) as he sat in his invalid's chair looking at the features and details of our work, he said very clearly and definitely: 'I want to say to you, that if you carry out the set of windows as you have planned them: and if we or whatever firm may do the work upon them, will do it with the same type of skill that we have used, I am certain that there will be no other set of church windows in the world that will be superior to them!'" The generations of Christian people who have worshiped in this sacred place might readily agree with Louis Tiffany, for these windows are exquisite and overwhelming in their beauty. But the story they tell, the message which they convey through Biblical images and theological concepts - that will be the focus of our sermons during Lent. I. Sermon 1 Abrahamic Covenant Page 5 of 48

So let us begin where Dr. Lyons began, as he conceived God's great Plan of Salvation starting with the covenant made with Abraham, depicted in the north corner window of the sanctuary, given by Mr. Frank P. Phillips. Please notice that there are three panels in all of the windows, and in this first one the bottom section displays the heel of the woman upon the serpent's head. This symbol reminds us of the garden called Eden and the world that might have been except for sin, where Adam and Eve fell from grace and ever since then, the human race has been caught up in the battle between good and evil. The book of Genesis, in chapters 3-10, tells us about broken relationships and the consequences of sin which resulted in a great flood and God's attempt through Noah to begin again. And as humanity looked for hope on the horizon, Genesis 12 describes the plan of salvation depicted in the middle panel of this window: "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing...and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.'" (Genesis 12:1-3) Look closely at the window now, and see Abram kneeling as God's light shines down upon him. His wife Sarai, to the right, appears somewhat stunned but her hands are folded in faithful acceptance of the Lord's light and guidance. To the left is Abram's nephew Lot, whom as you know, was not as willing to follow the plan and got caught up in selfish desires for wealth and land which led him astray. But Abram and Sarai covenanted with God to pursue His will and His way. And the Lord led them toward the promised land, further described in Genesis 17: "When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord said to him 'I will make my covenant between me and you..you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram..you shall be called Abraham'...and Sarai, who was 90 years old, was renamed Sarah...and God said 'I will make nations of you...and kings shall come forth from you...and I will give to your descendants the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.'" Scripture tells us that Abraham and Sarah were overwhelmed by this promise, for they were old and had no children. But soon thereafter, Sarah conceived, Isaac was born and as their doubt turned to faith and despair was transformed into hope, the covenant promise began to unfold. And if you will look toward the top panel of this window, you will see God's hand pointing forward with His blessing and benediction to all people who are willing to follow Him and keep His covenant. And that is where we come into the picture now, for we are the children of this covenant, and God has called all of us to be covenant keepers. Like that first woman whose heel was upon the serpent, we still struggle with temptation and the vicegrip of sin. We need God's grace and forgiveness to restore us to a right relationship with Him and with one another. Many of us can identify with Lot who lost his way along the journey. In our loneliness and despair, we reach out for God's guiding hand which can lead us back home again. II. Sermon 1 Abrahamic Covenant Page 6 of 48

And all of us, like Abraham and Sarah, can sense the expectation of a new beginning "When God Says Go." Frederich Buechner was right when he wrote that "Faith is the direction your feet start to move when you find that you are loved." Which means, I think, that Abraham, Sarah and all those ancient travelers discovered through the old covenant what we Christians have found to be true in the New Covenant, through Jesus Christ our Lord; that we do not walk alone, because God has promised to come alongside us and He will guide us if we let Him. So as we come to this table to receive bread for the wilderness and wine for the journey, let us rejoice in God's promises to us and renew our promises to God. And as we look at and learn from the eternal truths of these windows, may we reflect the light and the love of Christ in all that we say and do throughout this sacred season. For we are children of the covenant. We are a pilgrim people, and when God says "Go," He calls all of us to follow. Are you ready, are you willing to let Him lead you? If so, then let the Lenten journey begin! In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon 1 Abrahamic Covenant Page 7 of 48

Sermon 1 Abrahamic Covenant Page 8 of 48

THE LAW, THE PSALMS, THE PROPHETS FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12; Psalm 23; Isaiah 62:10-12 The season is Lent, and our series of Sermons in Stained Glass continues to focus on the Biblical messages and theological concepts reflected in windows throughout this sanctuary. My intention, over the next seven weeks, is to explore each of these windows as we make our way toward Easter, except for the Pentecost and Rose Windows which will complete our sermon series in June. This past Wednesday, we concentrated on the covenant God made with Abraham and Sarah, depicted in the first window, which sets forth the theme for God's Plan of Salvation, moving toward the glorious consummation of Christ's second coming shown in the window above the rear balcony. This morning, we look at the second window, reflecting the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets through which God spoke in ancient times and speaks to us still today. I There are three Old Testament characters portrayed in this window who helped to lay the Foundations of Our Faith, beginning with Moses on the left, standing by the burning bush with Mt. Sinai in the background, where God gave him the Ten Commandments. The figure in the center panel is David, surrounded by sheep drinking from a stream beneath his feet. David began as a shepherd boy, and learned to play musical instruments including the harp which he holds in his arms. He composed many of the Psalms and eventually became Israel's greatest king. On the right is the Prophet Isaiah, who told the truth, even when it was unpopular with his people, and pointed the way toward the coming of Christ, which is why his face looks toward the Advent Window. So here we see Moses, representng God's laws; David, who wrote most of our Psalms; and Isaiah, the dean of the prophets - here are three great leaders in the Bible who helped to lay the Foundations of Our Faith. II. Which means, I believe, that the Old Testament Laws, Psalms and Prophesies have shaped the New Testament community we call the Church and provide us today with the guidance we need to live by faith in this modern day world. The Laws, the Ten Commandments which God gave to Moses, are not ancient rules and regulations that have gone out of date. Rather, they are essential and eternal principles that order our relationships and create a context of discipline in our lives. Now discipline, for many people, is a harsh sounding word that runs against the grain of a society that says "If it feels good, do it." But that is not how Christian people see it, and if the Quaker theologian Richard Foster is right, "Spiritual discipline is not some dull drudgery aimed at exterminating joy and freedom from life." (Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, Harper and Row, 1978) Instead, we need to learn how to celebrate the disciplines which God has given to us. Because, without discipline, there can be no real discipleship. That's what Moses discovered, and it made all the difference in his life. Do you need to find that kind of discipline in your life today? Sermon 2 - Law, Psalms, Prophets Page 9 of 48

Moreover, with David we need to seek a deeper sense of devotion to the Lord. The Psalms David wrote were not little ditties like the recent pop song "Don't Worry, Be Happy." To the contrary, David's words came from the depths of his soul. In hard times, he got down on his knees to pray, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4) In good times, he lifted up his voice in praise and adoration to say: "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) Now I don't know if you are up on the mountain top, down in the valley or somewhere in between. But I do know that God will be there to meet you, wherever you are, if you are willing to open your heart and soul to Him. The Lenten Season calls us to quiet times of prayer, scripture study and meditation. Do you need to find that kind of devotion in your life today? III. If you do, then Isaiah's prophetic words lead us in the right direction: "Go through the gates, prepare the way...behold the Lord has proclaimed, 'Your salvation comes.'" (Isaiah 62:10-11) Can you see at the top of the window the hand of God pointing toward the advent of the Messiah's arrival? We as Christians believe that He has come, that His name is Jesus and that He can show us the way to go, the truth we need to know and the kind of lives He wants us to live. This morning, He comes alongside us on the road to Jerusalem, and if you look closely at the bottom panel of the window, you will see there the pilgrims who walk with us as well. So, we are not alone. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses and sustained by the Spirit of Christ. The journey has begun, and our destination is in sight: "Christ of the upward way, my guide divine, Where You have set your feet, may I place mine: And move and march wherever You have trod, Keeping face forward up the Hill of God." In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon 2 - Law, Psalms, Prophets Page 10 of 48

THE ADVENT WINDOW ARE YOU THE ONE? Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6 I hold here in my hand three treasures which were among the papers and documents of Dr. J. Sprole Lyons, given to us by his grandson Bill just a month ago. The first is the original contract for the Advent Window, dated January 9th, 1931, which briefly describes the design and purpose of the window, state the cost of $10,000 and is signed by Emile Schuld and Charles Nussbaum of Tiffany Studios and by Dr. Lyons and Mrs. J. M. High, who gave the window. Second, I have the worship bulletin from the twelfth of July, 1931, which was the Sunday the Advent Window was unveiled by Mrs. Peteet's two children and dedicated to the glory of God. The names of staff members on the front page include Dr. Charles Sheldon, Jr., organist and choirmaster; Miss Arline Peffer, church secretary and Mrs. Herbert E. Buell, congregational visitor, together with the list of foreign and home missionaries which our church supported back then. And under the announcements, for Wednesday evening of that same week, is the dedication of Winship Chapel. Dr. Lyons' name is listed here as well, and that leads to the third treasure, which is the original manuscript, written in his own hand, of the sermon he preached when the Advent Window was dedicated. Dr. Lyons' text was taken from John 1, verses 1 and 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." I wonder if those people, back in the 1930's, had any idea how much their work and faithful witness would mean to us today? For this magnificent window, which tells the story of Jesus' birth, has inspired and ministered to generations of Christians down through the years. And every Christmas Eve, when the sanctuary lanterns are dimmed and we sing "Silent Night," as the exterior light streams through this window, we can sense the presence of Christ in a powerful way and we are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Now this window was not created to focus only on Christmas. This window was designed to reflect the light and life of Jesus Christ to people who come here throughout all the seasons of the church year, even and especially during this time of Lent. I. Last week, as we began our Lenten journey, we recognized that the overall theme of God's plan for salvation points from the Abrahamic Covenant Window and the window depicting the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets, toward this Advent Window and the coming of Christ. Please notice the recurring symbols in the bottom panel: The tablets of the Law, the harp of David and the red mantle, the Robe of the Prophets. And look now at how the pilgrims who are shown in the bottom of window number 2 have arrived in Bethlehem, guided by the star above. Can you see the three wise men to the left, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh? They represent the Gentiles whose eyes have been opened to God's revelation. To the right are Jewish shepherds, reminding us of Jesus' lineage and the promise in Galatians that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ." (Galatians 3:28) Sermon 3 - Advent Page 11 of 48

In the center panel is a worshiper, bowing in adoration while Joseph and Mary look down at the child held in His mother's arms. Look closely now at the Christ Child's face, for there is a story here which moves us from a description of the Nativity to our sermon question today about Jesus' identity. When Dr. Lyons first saw the artists' sketches of the Advent Window, he was distressed. Listen in his own words to what happened: II. "The trouble with the artists in picturing the infant Jesus was they insisted on representing Him as a little, mature old man, sitting on Mary's knee. I explained to them that the child Jesus must be a normal little babe...and told Mr. Tiffany that I would have to advise the donor of the window to cancel the contract if this could not be done. The artists renewed their efforts, but failed again. Finally, I suggested to Mr. Tiffany that he send two of his people to a New York city hospital and ask a nurse to let them see a recently born baby for a model. There was a chorus of 'Ah! That is great!' and it was done. So without further delay, they sketched a lovely and appropriate picture of the Baby Jesus." I love that story and it leads us to the heart of this sermon. Because just as Dr. Lyons and Tiffany's artists struggled to depict Jesus' face in this scene of the Nativity, so have we for nearly 2000 years sought to embrace and understand the meaning of Jesus' identity. When that little child grew up to become a man, He began His ministry announcing that "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand." As He went about doing good, healing people who were sick and suffering, preaching the gospel and teaching about the Father in Heaven, word spread like a forest fire that He was the Messiah. At the outset, Jesus was careful about public announcements, and told His disciples not to proclaim His name until He was ready to make Himself known. But, John the Baptist had to know the truth about Jesus. He was in prison, put there by the religious authorities, and sensing that his own life would soon end, John sent messengers to Jesus bearing the question: "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another"? On the surface of things, it seems strange that John would ask such a question. We think of him as a great man of faith - John the Baptist, who preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and announced the coming of the Kingdom. John, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and heard a voice from heaven say "This is My Son in whom I am well pleased." If ever a man should have known who Jesus was, if ever a man could have been close to Christ, if ever a man would have had reason to believe and to hold fast to the faith, such a man was John. So on the surface, it seems strange that he would question Jesus' identity. But below the surface, deeper down where John lived and where all of us live today, there was and still is a struggle between believing something with our minds and accepting it in our hearts. And that struggle is won or lost when we come up against problems that seem to have no solutions, against difficult decisions that cannot be easily resolved, against threatening events that unleash our fears, against hard questions that appear to have no answers. Sermon 3 - Advent Page 12 of 48

Yes, John was a man of courage and faith, but he was not immune to discouragement and doubt. And neither are we. Everyone in this room has passed through the dark night of the soul or walked into that valley of the shadow we call death. We cannot avoid the pain of loneliness, the fear of failure,the betrayal of broken relationships, the invasion of illness or the loss of loved ones. And when that happens, we want to know, we have to know that there is something, Someone, who can help us hold fast and go on instead of giving up. We want to know, we have to know that there is light shining in the darkness, that there is healing for the pain, that there is love when we feel lonely, comfort when we have been broken and hope to help us pick up the pieces and start all over again. So together with John, we ask the question on this second Sunday in Lent: "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And the answer that comes back from Jesus, recorded in the 11th chapter of Matthew, is this: III. "Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them"...(matthew 11:4-6) In other words, "I am the One you have been waiting for, and there is no need to look for another." Now how much do you think that answer meant to John? And what does Jesus' answer mean to you? It could mean, if you are willing to let His words come through your mind and sink deep down into your heart, that Jesus has come to help you find the peace of mind and power you are looking for. And what He asks of us is that we trust our lives to His keeping, that we turn over to Him our worries and our fears, our frustrations and our failures, our pain and our problems, our suffering and our grief, standing firm on the belief that He was and is God's Son, the Savior who has come to live among us. "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Albert Schweitzer answered that question for himself when he wrote "He comes to us as one unknown, as of old by the lakeside He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word 'Follow Me,' and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill in our time. He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His friendship. And as an ineffable mystery, they shall know in their own experience who He is." Do you know who He is? Have you committed your life to Him? Do you need to reaffirm that commitment today? Jesus Christ is waiting for your answer. What will you say? In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon 3 - Advent Page 13 of 48

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CHRIST'S LIFE AND MINISTRY I AM AMONG YOU AS ONE WHO SERVES Scripture: Luke 22:24-27; John 13:1-16; Philippians 2:1-11 During the next three Sundays, as we continue this series of sermons in stained glass, our focus will be on two windows - Christ's Life and Ministry along the north wall of the sanctuary and Christian Missions along the south wall. All of these windows were originally designed by Dr. J. Sprole Lyons not only to provide inspiration through their brilliant colors and beautiful images, but also to teach us about God's plan of salvation. So we have an opportunity this morning to learn more than we've known before concerning Jesus' ministry on earth, depicted in this magnificent window given by Earnest and Emily Woodruff and developed by the D'Ascenzo Studios of Philadelphia. Listen to the following description, written first by Dr. Lyons and then expanded for the booklet produced in 1948 when our church celebrated its 100th anniversary: "In this window we have pictured one of the epochal periods of our Savior's life - His brief ministry of some three years. In ignorance, sin and bodily weakness came men, women and children. Unto them He went teaching, forgiving and healing. The scene in this window is in lovely Galilee where so much of Jesus' life was spent. In all the panels one sees portrayed the varied recipients of His compassion. The young and the old, the strong and the infirm, those who loved Him and those who hated Him - every class and condition - we see in this window. A majority of the figures are in an attitude of praise. But in the upper left panel, a small group of His enemies are already conniving for His death. Above their heads may be seen two flashes of lightning, suggesting the storm of violence that will soon break in Jerusalem against Him. The upper symbol reveals the shepherd's crook, reminding us that He came to seek and to save the lost. The lower symbol reflects the open door, taken from the text in John 10:9 - "I am the door. By Me, if anyone enters in, they shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." (A Century of Christian Life and Service, 1948, page 19) Now there are two dimensions of this window which I would like to lift up and look at with you today, and the first is this: IN HIS HUMANITY, JESUS CALLS ALL OF US TO BE AND BECOME A CARING COMMUNITY The word incarnate literally means "To be made flesh" and that is what God did in and through the incarnation of His Son Jesus, "The word made flesh who came to dwell among us." (John 1:14) As a human being, Jesus showed us what being human is all about. I. He experienced joy and sorrow, friendship and betrayal, peace and strife, hope and grief, and during His time on earth, He staked His life on the belief that the Father in heaven was with Him. And the way that He lived, the way that He loved has set the standard for the way He wants it to be in the caring community called the Church. This window depicts Jesus surrounded by all kinds of people - young and old, Sermon 4 - Christ s Life and Ministry Page 15 of 48

sick and healthy, rich and poor - and everyone of them was welcomed into His presence through the open door of love. I think Jesus would have liked the sign on the front lawn of a church up in New Jersey that says: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT EVERYBODY Would you say that is true of our church today? One woman thought so. Her name was Mary, and on the Tuesday evening when she met with the Session to join this congregation her adddress was listed as "16th and Peachtree Streets, Atlanta, Georgia." You see, Mary lived in our third floor shelter and after many months of sharing meals with us, worshipping with us, getting to know us and letting us get to know her, she decided that she wanted to belong with us to this church. And the night Mary joined there was great rejoicing, for she had found a home. Mary died about a year ago, but as I look up at this window, I can still see her face and I believe by the grace of God that she will always belong to this caring community. Look around you now and see the faces of people sitting next to you in these pews. Some are members, others are visitors, there are those you know and many more you don't know, but of this we can be certain: Everyone here has a name and wants to be known and loved and welcomed in this place. I wonder what would happen, if at the end of this worship service when we are encouraged to greet one another by name in the name of Jesus, I wonder what would happen if we all did that today? The door might open to a new friendship, or to the mending of a broken relationship or to the opportunity to go into Winship Chapel to pray with someone who is hurting right now and needs the healing power of the Holy Spirit. It happened to Mary and it can happen for you if you want it to. Because in His humanity, Jesus calls all of us to be and become a caring community, right here and right now at the corner of 16th and Peachtree. Consider a second dimension which this window portrays: IN HIS HUMILITY, JESUS CALLS ALL OF US TO SERVE OTHERS IN MINISTRY II. I'm told that one of the sons of the couple who gave this window, Robert Woodruff, who was a member of this church and a leader in this city. I'm told that he had a sign on his desk at the Coca Cola Company which said "It is amazing what a man can do if he doesn't care who gets all the credit." That is a good motto to live by. But as we read the 22nd chapter of Luke, it would appear that Jesus' first disciples, as they say in Washington, D.C. these days, "Just didn't get it" when it came to living their lives in humility. Luke reports that "A dispute arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest." We can almost overhear the argument: Peter said "I am the one who's closest to Him. He's given me the keys to the kingdom." (Matthew 16:19) His brother Andrew shot back "But I'm the one who introduced you to Him." (John 1:41) Nathaniel spoke up, saying "Well I'm the one who first recognized Him as the Son of God." (John 1:49) Matthew retorted "Hey, I'm the one who left all my money on the table to follow Him." (Matthew 9:9) Thomas frowned and replied "I don't know why, but I'm the only one who ever questions Him." (John 20:25) And Judas had the last word, saying "I'm the one He trusts most of all." As the dispute escalated, Jesus waited for the right moment, and then said "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority are called benefactors. But not so with you: Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves...for I am among you as one who serves." (Luke 22:24-27) Sermon 4 - Christ s Life and Ministry Page 16 of 48

And to show them what He meant and how it could be done, Jesus, sitting with His disciples at the Last Supper in the Upper Room, Jesus took a towel and a wash basin, got down on His knees and washed His disciples' feet. When He was through, He said "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly I say to you - a servant is not greater than the master." (John 13:12-16) Now, I take that to mean that in God's kingdom, there is no pecking order, with the strongest at the top and the weakest at the bottom. In God's kingdom, there is no spiritual ladder to climb wherein those who know the Bible best and those who pray the most get ahead and those who don't fall behind. Instead, what Jesus had in mind and would say to us today is that anyone who wants to follow Him must be willing to serve and not worry about who gets all the credit. "I am among you as one who serves" He said, and in humility, He is calling all of us to serve others in this ministry. Five years ago as we began our joint ministry here, I read to you something from Erma Bombeck that had a profound impact on me. It is entitled "So Long, Volunteers," and on this Sunday when we celebrate our first annual Volunteer Fair, it is appropriate to read the Bombeck piece again. Listen: "I had a dream the other night that every volunteer in this land had set sail for another country. I stood smiling on the pier, shouting 'Good-by, phone committees. Good-by, diseaseof-the-month. No more getting out the vote. No more playground duty, bake sales and threehour meetings.' As the boat got smaller, I reflected: 'Serves them right, that bunch of yes people. All they had to do was to put their tongues firmly against the roofs of their mouths and make an 'O' sound - no. It would certainly have spared them a lot of grief. O well, who needs them?' The hospital was quiet as I passed it. The reception desk was vacant. Rooms were devoid of books, flowers and voices. The children's wing held no clowns, no laughter. The home for the aged was like a tomb. The blind listened for a voice that never came. The infirm were imprisoned in wheelchairs that never moved. Food grew cold on trays that would never reach the hungry. The social agencies had closed their doors--unable to implement their programs of scouting, recreation, drug control; unable to help the retarded, crippled, lonely and abandoned. Health agencies had signs in their windows: 'Cures for cancer, birth defects, multiple sclerosis, heart diseases, etc., have been cancelled because of lack of interest.' The schools were strangely quiet, with no field trips and no volunteer classroom aides. Symphony Hall and the museums that had been built and stocked by volunteers were dark and would remain that way. The flowers on church altars withered and died. Children in day nurseries lifted their arms, but there was no one to hold them in love. Alcoholics cried out in despair, but no one answered. The poor had no recourse for health care or legal aid. I fought in my sleep to regain a glimpse of the ship of volunteers just one more time. It was to be my last glimpse of a decent civilization." Sermon 4 - Christ s Life and Ministry Page 17 of 48

Erma Bombeck was right, and if anybody here thinks that somebody else is more qualified or better suited or has the time you don't have to get involved, then listen to this last story about four people in a church named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. My friends: There is work to be done in the kingdom of God, and if you and I don't do it, then who else will? You John, you Barbara, you Harry, you Margaret, and you Lisa and you Robert: You, all of you members - you are the ministers of this church. And in humility Jesus calls all of us today to serve others in ministry. What better place than here, what better time than now, to answer, "Here am I, Lord, send me"! (Isaiah 6:8) In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon 4 - Christ s Life and Ministry Page 18 of 48

CHRIST'S LIFE AND MINISTRY - THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN! Scripture: Luke 8:42-48; John 5:1-9 Last Sunday, we looked at the window depicting Christ's life and ministry, and talked together about how Jesus has called all of us to minister to one another. Today, we focus on a second dimension of this magnificent window, The Miracles of Christ. As we begin I want to read one more paragraph from the original description written by Dr. J. Sprole Lyons, which was later included in our centennial booklet back in 1948: "Jesus ever spoke as one having authority: And because of His miracles, many believed on Him. He talked of God, His love, His power, our sin, and His plan for the individual and for the world. Physical suffering was always of deep concern to him, and Jesus healed many of their diseases." (From A Century of Christian Life and Service, 1948) Now, my guess is that most of us think about Jesus' miracles that way, as "supernatural acts" of God that cannot be fully explained by logic, reason or scientific definitions. And where I'm going with this sermon today is to make the affirmation that "Miracles Still Happen!" But before we move in that direction, let me tell you where I'm coming from. Walt Whitman once wrote "As for me, I know of nothing else in this world but miracles," meaning, I think, that he saw all around him the wonderful surprises of life and nature - the rising of the sun, the flowers in springtime, the ocean tides and the blanket of stars in the evening sky. To Walt Whitman, these were all miracles, created by God, mysterious and marvelous to behold! I agree with Whitman's broad definition, and I would also add that the birth of a baby - the gift of life - and the amazing complexity of the human body, mind and soul are miracles made in similar fashion to God's vast panorama of creation. And if that is true, then God, who brought the universe, including you and me, into being, has the power to operate within the framework of nature, and to intervene in our lives in whatever ways God chooses. So I would submit that there are at least two categories of miracles: those which are "natural" according to Walt Whitman's description, and those we might call "supernatural" which go beyond all of our definitions. It is this second category to which we turn our attention today as we explore the healing miracles of Jesus. Look at the window now and see the woman dressed in red kneeling at Jesus' feet. She is holding the hem of His robe in her hands, and in the eighth chapter of the gospel of Luke, we discover who she was: "As Jesus went through Galilee, the people pressed all around him. And a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His garment: and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said 'Who was it that touched Me?'" I. II. Sermon 5 - Christ s Life and Ministry, The Miracles Page 19 of 48

It is interesting to note that both Matthew and Mark tell this same story in their gospel accounts, and Mark reports that this woman had "Suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all her money and was no better but rather grew worse." (Mark 5:26) William Barclay, the Bible commentator, suggests that Luke, who was a doctor, did not include that detail in his gospel because he didn't like the jibe against the medical profession! (The Daily Study Bible, "The Gospel of Luke," William Barclay, page 113) Be that as it may, this woman who was slowly hemorrhaging to death reached out to Jesus by faith, hoping that He would heal her. And the Bible says that "Immediately, her flow of blood stopped." "Who touched me?" asked Jesus, "For I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when the woman came forward, fell to her knees and told Him what she had done and why, Jesus looked at her with compassion in His eyes and said "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Now I cannot explain how that miracle happened, but I do believe that by faith, that woman was able to reach out and touch the healing power of God. "Who touched me?" asked Jesus, and that question has profound implications for all of us today. I have heard doctors and nurses say that when a baby is born, it is absolutely essential for that child to feel the touch of human hands, to be embraced by open arms, to sense the warmth of a loving heart. And so it is throughout all the seasons of our lives. There is a sign on the front door of a church pre-school up in Philadelphia which says: "HUMAN BEINGS HERE: HANDLE WITH CARE" The children there need teachers who will hold their hands, wipe tears from their eyes and help them feel safe and secure in the world. And as that happens, if we listen carefully, we can hear Jesus say "Let the children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of God." We adults need that same kind of care. A married couple who were having a hard time at home went to see a pastoral counselor. After a few minutes of hearing the husband complain about all the things his wife was doing wrong, the counselor got up, put his arms around that woman and gave her a big hug. The wife, who was surprised, began to smile and the counselor said "I think that's what she needs." The husband replied "OK pastor, I'll bring her in on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Now, what that husband needs to know, and what all of us, married or single, need to remember, is that grown up people, just like children, want to be handled with care. And as we reach out to embrace our spouses, relatives, friends and fellow church members, if we listen carefully, we can hear Jesus say "Love one another as I have loved you." That is equally true for people who are sick and suffering and for those who feel left out or cast aside by our society. A British journalist went to Calcutta to interview Mother Teresa who lives and works among the poor in that city. One morning, the journalist watched as that tiny Albanian nun held in her arms an old man who was dying from leprosy. The reporter said "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars." Mother Teresa looked up and answered "Neither would I." And if that journalist had listened carefully, he might have heard Jesus whisper "Inasmuch as you have done this unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me." Sermon 5 - Christ s Life and Ministry, The Miracles Page 20 of 48

Next Sunday evening at 6:00, we will hold a healing service in Winship Chapel. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come, but we have extended a special invitation to those who are HIV positive or have AIDS, and to family members and friends of women and men who have been hit hard by this devastating disease. During that healing service, we will call people forward for the laying on of hands and for prayer. And if you decide to come join us there, then listen carefully as the words of Jesus fill that room: "Who touched me? For I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when we are willing to reach out and touch one another in His name, when we open our arms and our hearts to embrace people who are young and old, rich and poor, sick and suffering, lost and lonely, those whom we love and those whom we find it difficult to love - when we reach out to touch them and to be touched by them in Christ's name, then the healing power of His Holy Spirit can and will be released. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked that woman in Galilee, "For I perceive that power has gone forth from me." Christian friends: I believe that healing power is available to us, and that miracles still happen through the holy and human touch of the Lord Jesus Christ. III. And if you or someone you know needs that power today, then look again at that window and see the figure in the middle panel on the other side of Jesus. He is holding a crutch in his hand, and to me, He looks a lot like the man we read about in the fifth chapter of John, a man who had been sick for a long, long time. Day after day he waited by the Bethzatha Pool in Jerusalem, hoping that someone could help him down into the healing waters. One day, when Jesus saw him there, he asked that man the question "Do you want to be healed"? The sick man answered "I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred, and while I am going, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk," and John reports that the man was healed, got up and went his way rejoicing. How did that miracle happen? God only knows! But somehow, some way, when that sick man put his trust in the Lord, something happened and his health was restored. It says in scripture: "With God, all things are possible." (Matthew 19:16) The woman with the flow of blood believed that, and she was healed by Jesus' touch. The lame man believed it too, and he was healed when he put his trust in the Lord. Do you believe that? Do you believe that "With God, all things are possible"? If you do, or if you want to, then these words of hope are meant for you: If your heart has been broken, it can be healed. If you are paralyzed by fear, it can be faced and overcome. If you're caught in the vice-grip of guilt, you can be forgiven. If you are chained to some form of addiction, you can be set free. And if you are struggling with sickness or pain, then pray that God will heal you and help you embrace life again. For some of us, as God's healing power works together with the miracle of modern medicine, those prayers will be answered here on earth. For others, we may have to wait until heaven, believing that "Earth has no sorrows which heaven cannot heal." (Thomas Moore) But right here and right now, all of us can know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that when we reach out and touch and put our trust in the Lord, Miracles Still Happen. Because God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think possible. Sermon 5 - Christ s Life and Ministry, The Miracles Page 21 of 48