utheran hurch · erick “sonny” simonson “ david ” ... wendel & family donated by mr....

The Chancel Sculpture

The chancel sculpture was a major part ofthe 1999 renovation of the sanctuary.Designed by Potente & Associates ofKenosha, Wisconsin, it bears a silent witnessof the God who breaks into our world inChrist to all who worship here.

Though not exclusively, the sculpture isreminiscent of the Baptism of Jesus. What isperhaps most familiar as we look at it, is theimage of the dove, the mark of the Spirit ofGod. The sunburst represents the splendor ofthe living God breaking into our world. Theheavens have been opened and the Kingdomof God is at hand. The curved lines in thebackground make it unmistakable. God isanswering our prayers. He is coming down.He is tearing open the heavens to be anEmmanuel, a God with us.

Below the sculpture is the altar from whichthe bread and wine of Holy Communion isserved. The sculpture serves to remind thecommunity of faith, that as it gathers aroundthe table of the Lord, He continues to breakinto our world in these common, ordinaryelements to be present among His people.The dominant cross superimposed over theentire sculpture reminds us of the shape ofHis intervention.

"Have this mind among yourselves, whichis yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He wasin the form of God, did not regard equalitywith God as something to be exploited; butemptied Himself, taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness. And beingfound in human form, He humbled Himselfand became obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross. Therefore God alsohighly exalted Him and gave Him the namethat is above every name. So that at the nameof Jesus, every knee should bend, in heavenand on earth and under the earth, and everytongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:5-11

Zion’s Stained Glass Windows

When worshippers gather at Zion, they aresurrounded by an array of "silent sermons"witnessing to the faith we profess. To the rightand to the left of the altar, the sacraments ofBaptism and Holy Communion are given theirplace of honor. On the South wall of the Nave,one can witness characters of the OldTestament. On the North wall, one can tracethe story of Jesus from the Annunciation tothe Resurrection. And if you lift your eyes tothe clerestory windows above, you will identi-fy the words of the Lord's Prayer and theApostles Creed. As you leave the sanctuary,look up and you will be the recipient of theresurrected Christ's blessing.

If you walk the stairs to the choir loft, youwill find yourself face to face with a witness toour Lutheran heritage. As you move into thelounge on the Northeast corner of the educa-tional unit, you will discover a striking imageof the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Lukeand John.

The windows were installed in the 1950'swhen the sanctuary was built. Rev. WalterPedersen, pastor at the time, selected andarranged for the purchase of the windows,which were designed, manufactured, andassembled at the Conway Universal Studio ofStained Glass in Winona, Minnesota.

The artist who designed the windows,Eugene Margraff, came from Germany andworked for the Conway Studio for manyyears.

Whereas stained glass made in the UnitedStates is machine rolled, the glass in Zion'swindows is European glass coming fromeither France or Germany. It is mouth-blownglass. Small bubbles can be seen in the glass,the result of this method. The painted work, orshading, is done by using ground glass, mix-ing it with oil and fusing it onto the glass pieceat 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mr. Larry Conway of Conway Studios esti-mates that, at the time the windows wereinstalled, the cost was approximately $10 persquare foot. Today, he said, they would cost$275 per square foot. Using those figures, thetotal value of all of Zion's stained glass win-dows would be at least $150,000. Yet, how canyou put a value on the treasures of the faiththey depict. Our thanks to those who made itpossible.

ZION LUTHERANCHURCH

505 Main Avenue North

Thief River Falls, MN 56701-1996

Phone (218) 681-3296

Web Site www.ziontrf.orgPrinted in memory of Joe Armstrong

by family and friends

“Luther’sCoat ofArms”

Donated inmemory of

Erick“Sonny”

Simonson

“David”Donated by

Miss Clara Olson, Mr. & Mrs.

Orton Olson, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Olson,

Mr. & Mrs.James McCrum

“Isaiah”Donated byMr. & Mrs.

Martin C. Gulbranson& family

“Abraham”“Moses”

Donated by Mr. & Mrs.

Kenneth J. Wendel& family

“Fall of Man”Donated in honor of

Paul Quindlog

“Noah”Donated in memory of

Mrs. Paul Quindlog

“Creation of Earth”Donated in memory of

Mrs. E.O. Iverson

“Creation of Man”Donated by Inga Olson

“Matthew”“Mark”

Donated in memory ofHenry Stone,Mr. and Mrs.

Aagot Sortland

“Luke”Donated by

Harlan Elseth

“John”Donated in memory of

Leon Lendobeja

“Christ the King”Donated by

Rev. & Mrs. Walter Pedersen

The Chancel Sculpture

The chancel sculpture was a major part ofthe 1999 renovation of the sanctuary.Designed by Potente & Associates ofKenosha, Wisconsin, it bears a silent witnessof the God who breaks into our world inChrist to all who worship here.

Though not exclusively, the sculpture isreminiscent of the Baptism of Jesus. What isperhaps most familiar as we look at it, is theimage of the dove, the mark of the Spirit ofGod. The sunburst represents the splendor ofthe living God breaking into our world. Theheavens have been opened and the Kingdomof God is at hand. The curved lines in thebackground make it unmistakable. God isanswering our prayers. He is coming down.He is tearing open the heavens to be anEmmanuel, a God with us.

Below the sculpture is the altar from whichthe bread and wine of Holy Communion isserved. The sculpture serves to remind thecommunity of faith, that as it gathers aroundthe table of the Lord, He continues to breakinto our world in these common, ordinaryelements to be present among His people.The dominant cross superimposed over theentire sculpture reminds us of the shape ofHis intervention.

"Have this mind among yourselves, whichis yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He wasin the form of God, did not regard equalitywith God as something to be exploited; butemptied Himself, taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness. And beingfound in human form, He humbled Himselfand became obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross. Therefore God alsohighly exalted Him and gave Him the namethat is above every name. So that at the nameof Jesus, every knee should bend, in heavenand on earth and under the earth, and everytongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:5-11

Zion’s Stained Glass Windows

When worshippers gather at Zion, they aresurrounded by an array of "silent sermons"witnessing to the faith we profess. To the rightand to the left of the altar, the sacraments ofBaptism and Holy Communion are given theirplace of honor. On the South wall of the Nave,one can witness characters of the OldTestament. On the North wall, one can tracethe story of Jesus from the Annunciation tothe Resurrection. And if you lift your eyes tothe clerestory windows above, you will identi-fy the words of the Lord's Prayer and theApostles Creed. As you leave the sanctuary,look up and you will be the recipient of theresurrected Christ's blessing.

If you walk the stairs to the choir loft, youwill find yourself face to face with a witness toour Lutheran heritage. As you move into thelounge on the Northeast corner of the educa-tional unit, you will discover a striking imageof the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Lukeand John.

The windows were installed in the 1950'swhen the sanctuary was built. Rev. WalterPedersen, pastor at the time, selected andarranged for the purchase of the windows,which were designed, manufactured, andassembled at the Conway Universal Studio ofStained Glass in Winona, Minnesota.

The artist who designed the windows,Eugene Margraff, came from Germany andworked for the Conway Studio for manyyears.

Whereas stained glass made in the UnitedStates is machine rolled, the glass in Zion'swindows is European glass coming fromeither France or Germany. It is mouth-blownglass. Small bubbles can be seen in the glass,the result of this method. The painted work, orshading, is done by using ground glass, mix-ing it with oil and fusing it onto the glass pieceat 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mr. Larry Conway of Conway Studios esti-mates that, at the time the windows wereinstalled, the cost was approximately $10 persquare foot. Today, he said, they would cost$275 per square foot. Using those figures, thetotal value of all of Zion's stained glass win-dows would be at least $150,000. Yet, how canyou put a value on the treasures of the faiththey depict. Our thanks to those who made itpossible.

ZIONLUTHERANCHURCH

505 Main Avenue North

Thief River Falls, MN 56701-1996

Phone (218) 681-3296

Web Site www.ziontrf.orgPrinted in memory of Joe Armstrong

by family and friends

“Luther’sCoat ofArms”

Donated inmemory of

Erick“Sonny”

Simonson

“David”Donated by

Miss Clara Olson, Mr. & Mrs.

Orton Olson, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Olson,

Mr. & Mrs.James McCrum

“Isaiah”Donated byMr. & Mrs.

Martin C. Gulbranson& family

“Abraham”“Moses”


Kenneth J. Wendel& family

“Fall of Man”Donated in honor of

Paul Quindlog

“Noah”Donated in memory of

Mrs. Paul Quindlog

“Creation of Earth”Donated in memory of

Mrs. E.O. Iverson

“Creation of Man”Donated by Inga Olson

“Matthew”“Mark”

Donated in memory ofHenry Stone,Mr. and Mrs.

Aagot Sortland

“Luke”Donated by

Harlan Elseth

“John”Donated in memory of

Leon Lendobeja

“Christ the King”Donated by

Rev. & Mrs. Walter Pedersen


Durvin DavisDeihl

Donated by Mrs.

AlbertJohnson

Donated by Charles Dicken

Donated by Jim McCrum

“TheCreator”Donated inmemory of

Mrs. CarolineDicken

Donated inmemory ofG.B. Tveit

& Mr. & Mrs.Glen Arhart

Donated inmemory of

Mrs. Clara O. Arhart

& Mr. & Mrs.Glen Arhart

Donated by Mr. & Mrs.Kenneth J.

Wendel & family

Donated by Mr. & Mrs. A. Clifford

Larson


Melvin Joppru

Donated by Noran Olson

Donated by John

Jacobson

Donated inmemory of

Mrs. Carl Green

by Carl Green

“Castle Church “Luther”Wittenberg”

Donated by Elsie Bugge

Donated inmemory of Mr. & Mrs.

G.O. Vigness &

Mrs. Belle Lass by Vigness &

Daughter


SorenSorenson

“Symbols of theLord’s Supper”


Morris Odegaard & family

“Symbols ofBaptism”

Donated in memory ofMrs. T.J. Reierson

by T.J. Reierson


AlfredHammarsten

The Apostle’s Creed

The Lord’s Prayer

“Resurrection”“Crucifixion”

Donated by Henrey Stenbergs

“Agony in theGarden”

Donated in memory ofMr. & Mrs.

Albert Sjolsvardby Mr. & Mrs.

Albert Sjolsvard & Darlene

“Christ BlessingChildren”Donated by Mr. & Mrs.

Ole Offerdahl

“Sermon on theMount”


Adolph Erickson & Rose Lord

“Baptism of Christ”Donated by Mr. & Mrs.

Dayton J. Silk

“Nativity”Donated by Dr. & Mrs.

Ralph M. Helm

“Annunciation”Donated by Lloyd Lamb

utheran hurch · erick “sonny” simonson “ david ” ... wendel & family donated by mr....

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