THE EPIPHANY

This window depicts the manifestation of our Lord to the world. He appears to the three Magi as told in the Gospel, and He appears to all the nations of the world by the preaching of the missionaries. The Christ Child is again the central point of the window. Depicted on a large aureole, symbolizing His supernatural origin and divine power, He appears as a vision to the men who sought Him. The tri-radiant halo around His head symbolizes the Holy Trinity; Christ is the Word that has become flesh. The three kings offer their gifts to the King of kings. One king, clad in royal ermine and wearing colorful headgear, offers a vase with myrrh. A second king, having taken off his crown, is humbly kneeling down and presents the divine Child with nuggets of gold. A third king (right lancet) offers frankincense; the burning censer is standing in the lower left.

The upper sections of the window illustrate various activities of the missionaries throughout the world, and three outstanding missionaries are depicted in particular: Albert Schweitzer, David Livingstone, and Oscar Lohr. Their likenesses are portrayed with a few characteristic lines. In the upper right we see a missionary conferring the Sacrament of Baptism. With a shell, the ancient symbol of baptism, he is pouring the water of rebirth. The stylized waves of water symbolize the oceans which the missionaries have to cross to reach their mission fields. In the upper left, a missionary is depicted taking care of the sick. A third missionary is holding a book (Bible) to symbolize preaching and teaching. The various mission fields of our church are represented by a series of buildings: We see a typical Arabic structure (Iraq), a house of western style (South America), a house with a typical Japanese setting, an Indian temple, a Chinese pagoda, a church in mission style (Honduras), and an African Kraal.