The Beauty of Our Art

I was appointed to a new church August 1, 2014.  A congregation that had suffered through a long history of decline, sordid affairs from decades ago, and an arson fire that destroyed the original building on Christmas Day 2014 awaited me upon my arrival.  Although the original building was destroyed, the education wing received only smoke and water damage.  Within three months, the education wing had been cleaned up, and the congregation began worshiping in its fellowship hall.  Long a witness to the downtown area, and with an existing structure, the congregation made the decision to rebuild in the same place.  Ground was broken May 12, 2014, less than three months before my arrival.

As we have planned for this space, knowing that we are rebuilding a sanctuary (and a congregation), we wanted to show our commitment to the community we serve, so we have utilized local companies whenever possible.  Our contractor is from town; electrical technicians come from town; many of our other vendors (including the pipe organ company) are within a two hour radius.  Even our stained glass artisan is from Robinson.

Yesterday was a beautiful day for the church.  Our stained glass artisan brought in a crew and installed the first set of windows - the Good Shepherd window.  The main windows in the new sanctuary are recreations of the original windows.  Our artisan worked for several hours on the installation, all the while saying that she did not want to look at the windows until they were done.  Mid-afternoon brought the completion of the installation, but she stayed on the scaffolding to clean and do touch-up work.

When she finally stepped away, she took a few steps back, came and gave me a hug, and asked me what I thought.  I, of course, thought that it was beautiful; vibrant colors, with the glass telling the gospel story - what stained glass is supposed to do.  I said that I hoped we could find a way for her to place her signature on one of the windows, as a testament to her work and witness.  She said no - that the windows were the congregation's, and not hers.  I pushed back, saying that it was a both/and; they are the congregations, but they are also her work.  I explained that it's the same way I feel about preaching as art:  it's my artistic expression, but once spoken, it also belongs to the congregation that hears the word.

As we were having this conversation, some of the construction crew, who are working diligently on staining trim and molding, as well as its installation, came and stood, and we looked together at the first set of windows, trimmed in beautiful stained red oak.  And we stood, without saying anything, as we experienced something of a holy moment.  For these artisans, and all who will offer art for the sake of Jesus and the gospel in the coming weeks, months, years, decades, and centuries, will have made an impact far beyond themselves.  It is the beauty of our art, because we offer it of ourselves for Christ to be glorified.  And along the way, in the time that is coming, generations will experience the Word in artistic expression, and will come to believe through faith.  How powerful is the beauty of our art!