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by John Clay McHugh M. D. (Photographer), Taryn Dufault (Illustrator), Karen Johnson McHugh (Illustrator)
Did you know that Moses is depicted with horns in our stained glass windows? Did you know that we have a grasshopper in our sanctuary? How about a Phoenix or why a Phoenix is often associated with the life of Jesus? Did you know that Judas is depicted and that he has no halo? Have you ever noticed the rainbow or that one side of the windows is more complex and darker than the other? Why is the Temple shown in phases and represented in three separate icons? Did you know that one of the most respected stained glass studios in the world designed and manufactured our windows? They left their mark in one of our windows; do you know where? Did you know that the windows were placed into their location over time as donors were secured to pay for them? Have you ever noticed that the stained glass windows are surrounded by clear glass and thus allow for light to come into the sanctuary with beautiful tones and at the same time allowing one to see outside? The content of the windows, arranging for donors to pay for them and coordinating the stain glass studio's iconography with the architectural design of the construction company was all under the watchful eye of the then Pastor of the First United Methodist Church Reverend Jim Thompson. Reverend Thompson was truly the right man at the right time for our church. This book is intended to be both illuminating and instructional to the young and the old alike. For the adult each of the figures in the windows has been isolated by digital photography, their position delineated, and accompanied by a verse representative of their biblical significance. One can quickly see how the broad range of subject matter represented in our windows could serve as a summer long Bible study. In regards to children each figure has been rendered as an easily recognizable cartoon that can be colored and thereby encourage an understanding of the Old and New Testament and also our sanctuary's windows. One can envision a youth Sunday school class sitting in the sanctuary coloring the various figures being bathed by the light coming through the stained glass as they use it for a template. Finally it is hoped that this book will foster a better knowledge, understanding and appreciation of our windows and in turn further enhance the worship experience; a goal that Reverend Thompson so passionately and diligently strove to achieve. John McHugh
