"When We All Get to Heaven" Stained Glass Windows

Dedicated September 28, 2003

One section of the windows

The designer and creator of these windows is a local artist discovered and known by one of our church members. Her name is Dolores B., and her home and studio are in Spring Valley. In the process of designing the windows, Dolores visited our sanctuary on several occasions. We told her that we wanted to celebrate our proximity to the ocean--that we are the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church. She noticed the pipes in the back of the sanctuary which match our still-relatively-new organ’s ability to play a trumpet fanfare. Her ultimate design includes trumpets that might be thought of as announcing the resurrection (as in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable…”).

Because the windows interface with the courtyard, the vine and the branches theme of John 15 is also present, reminding us that when we (the branches) are joined to Christ (the vine), we are joined to one another and we will always have life. The calla lilies are another symbol of resurrection, and among the things we might think of as we admire the lilies (not even Solomon was clothed in such splendor – Matthew 6:29) is the Easter morning excitement of little children running around looking for eggs. Both the lilies and the children remind us to trust ourselves to God’s care.

Water is not only the ocean, it is also creation and liberation and baptism and the gift of life. The book of Revelation’s vision is that when we all get to heaven, we will see what the angel showed John: “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the city. On either side of the river is the the tree of life … and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2)

These stained glass windows are a picture of our community because they depict our faith; because they are an example of how we work together to accomplish the dreams and visions given to us by God; because they are breakable like we are, but their fragility contributes to their beauty; and because they are made up of many pieces (many parts) which by themselves might be meaningless, but joined together create a unified design of hope and joy.

The magic of stained glass is that when the light shines through it, the colors become radiant and alive. In the same way, God’s light shines through the community known as the church, so that our true colors of healing, prayer, forgiveness, and mutual support might be made known to all.