1859 ~ Martin Luther Lutheran Church ~ 2009
150th Anniversary
“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8
Baptistry ~
The baptistry is located in the north transept. The baptismal font is slightly elevated – liturgically speaking is throned. The font itself has eight sides, a number which from early times symbolized regeneration, rebirth or being born anew of water and the spirit. This is to remind us that we became members of Christ’s Kingdom through baptism into the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is fitting that the baptismal font be throned, because baptism is a sacrament or a sacred rite of our church since it was instituted by Christ Himself. The carvings on the cover of the font carry our eyes upward. The purpose of this is to direct our attention upon things spiritual.
“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:20
The Chancel ~
This part of the church contains the lectern, the pulpit, the organ, the choir stalls, the clergy stalls and the chancel rail. The Eternal Light with its red cover hanging in the chancel represents the presence of the Holy Spirit. This light is never extinguished.
The carvings on the lectern and the pulpit are constant reminders that the Word of God in its truth and purity are preached here. The shield on the lectern is that which as been assigned to Paul, the emblem means: the sword of the spirit has cut through our own will and has subjugated ours to the will of God.
On the pulpit we note different carvings: several of the cross – whenever a cross ends in sharp points, it reminds us of the suffering of Christ and is called the cross of atonement; where a cross ends in a curve greater at the outer edge than at the cross beam, it means the radiant cross of Christ, the glorious cross empty of burden on Easter morning. Around the top of the pulpit we see vines, leaves and grapes. These recall, John 15:1 ~ “I am the True Vine.”*
The lectern is the place where scripture is read and prayers may be offered. It reminds worshipers of God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible.
Among the special inlaid tile on the floor of the chancel, we find symbols reminding us from eternity to eternity “I am God”. Another of a dragon reminds us to be wary of the cunning and treacherous, another of a serpent and tower of Babel signifies how sin entered the world and man’s attempt to overthrow God, another of a daisy reminds the clergy to preach Christ.
*It may be noted here that grapes are symbolic of Holy Communion and the blood shed by Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. Grapes are also symbolic of the fruitfulness of the Christian life.
Next month ~ The Altar
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