The History of Stained Glass Windows
Last week we began our stewardship journey by reflecting on the gift of time. Today we turn to the gift of talent—our abilities, skills, and passions that God entrusts to us for the good of the body of Christ.
To set the stage, let’s go back in history for a moment. Stained glass has been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians and Romans knew how to infuse color into glass, though they didn’t put it in windows. By the early Christian era, worship spaces began using colored glass framed in wood or alabaster to create a stained-glass effect. By the seventh century, there is evidence of stained glass in Britain’s churches. By the 10th century, windows had become full biblical storyboards.
Why? Because people couldn’t read. Bibles were rare, reserved for the wealthy or clergy. But the windows could preach. They could teach. Stained glass became a talent of artisans who offered their gifts so that others could encounter the gospel.
Even here at Zion, our windows—dedicated in 1966—don’t tell Bible stories, but they carry meaning. Each pane’s color represents a season of the church year. Blue for Advent, white and gold for Christmas and Easter, green for Epiphany and Pentecost, purple for Lent, scarlet for Holy Week, and red for Pentecost. Together, they preach the story of Jesus and the life of the church, not with words but with color and light.
God gives each of us gifts, talents—not for ourselves alone, but to help the story of Jesus shine. When we, as stained glass people, offer our talents, we become windows through which God’s beauty, wisdom, and love are made visible.
When my staff and I started planning for this campaign, we came up with the idea of getting a real stained glass window to use as a focal point. We contacted a few stained glass artists but time and cost made that idea prohibitive. But Ron Stoner who operates Glass Act Stained Glass & Art Studio in Newton Falls, came and suggested that the most effective way to accomplish our objective was to send someone to his class and make the art themselves.
Stained Glass Window Project
Thank you to Ron Stoner for all his hard work and dedication to helping Jodi Hanousek and Arianna Toth finish the Stained Glass Window project in time for the Stewardship Campaign. Jodi and Arianna attended many classes after work and even a couple of Saturdays to ensure the pieces were done in time for the Stewardship Campaign.
We used broken pieces that we had from the 60's and even replacement pieces from our panels in the Sanctuary windows. We took these broken pieces of glass and made them whole.
We too are like these broken pieces of glass. We go through trials and tribulations, whether it is a sickness, addiction, job loss, divorce, or even a death of a loved one. But like the broken pieces of glass, we are made whole.
We All have been made whole through God's Grace and Mercy. Now we All need to God's light shine through EACH one of us by our use of our time, our talents, and our treasure.
We are Stained Glass People; Stewardship Campaign 2025
Last week we began our stewardship journey by reflecting on the gift of time. Today we turn to the gift of talent—our abilities, skills, and passions that God entrusts to us for the good of the body of Christ.
To set the stage, let’s go back in history for a moment. Stained glass has been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians and Romans knew how to infuse color into glass, though they didn’t put it in windows. By the early Christian era, worship spaces began using colored glass framed in wood or alabaster to create a stained-glass effect. By the seventh century, there is evidence of stained glass in Britain’s churches. By the 10th century, windows had become full biblical storyboards.
Why? Because people couldn’t read. Bibles were rare, reserved for the wealthy or clergy. But the windows could preach. They could teach. Stained glass became a talent of artisans who offered their gifts so that others could encounter the gospel.
Even here at Zion, our windows—dedicated in 1966—don’t tell Bible stories, but they carry meaning. Each pane’s color represents a season of the church year. Blue for Advent, white and gold for Christmas and Easter, green for Epiphany and Pentecost, purple for Lent, scarlet for Holy Week, and red for Pentecost. Together, they preach the story of Jesus and the life of the church, not with words but with color and light.
God gives each of us gifts, talents—not for ourselves alone, but to help the story of Jesus shine. When we, as stained glass people, offer our talents, we become windows through which God’s beauty, wisdom, and love are made visible.
When my staff and I started planning for this campaign, we came up with the idea of getting a real stained glass window to use as a focal point. We contacted a few stained glass artists but time and cost made that idea prohibitive. But Ron Stoner who operates Glass Act Stained Glass & Art Studio in Newton Falls, came and suggested that the most effective way to accomplish our objective was to send someone to his class and make the art themselves.
Stained Glass Window Project
Thank you to Ron Stoner for all his hard work and dedication to helping Jodi Hanousek and Arianna Toth finish the Stained Glass Window project in time for the Stewardship Campaign. Jodi and Arianna attended many classes after work and even a couple of Saturdays to ensure the pieces were done in time for the Stewardship Campaign.
We used broken pieces that we had from the 60's and even replacement pieces from our panels in the Sanctuary windows. We took these broken pieces of glass and made them whole.
We too are like these broken pieces of glass. We go through trials and tribulations, whether it is a sickness, addiction, job loss, divorce, or even a death of a loved one. But like the broken pieces of glass, we are made whole.
We All have been made whole through God's Grace and Mercy. Now we All need to God's light shine through EACH one of us by our use of our time, our talents, and our treasure.
We are Stained Glass People; Stewardship Campaign 2025