| CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH | ||
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| Furnishings & Features | ||
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BRONZED SCULPTURE
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Worshipers arriving at Christ Lutheran Church are welcomed by the Trinity bronzed steel sculpture on the east exterior wall of the church. Designed by Roger Darricarrere, the sculpture portrays the Father's creative power with the rays of the sun beaming upon the cactus, while the cross symbolizes the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, the Son, and the dove indicates the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. |
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BAPTISMAL FONT
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Inside the church, worshipers see the lava baptismal font where the entrance into the Kingdom of God is accomplished through the water and Word in Holy Baptism. The dove sand painting is symbolic of the power of the Holy Spirit in the new birth of Baptism. The white sand comes from the Monterey area, the red brown from near Little Lake, California. The rings are of sulfur, the darkest blue is azurite. Also used by the artist, Anne Norby, are malachite and turquoise. The baptismal lamp stand is Oregon driftwood with moss rock base. |
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CHANCEL
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Gazing toward the chancel area the worshiper notes the sanctuary light window with its faceted glass protraying Christ the Light of the World. The cholla cactus cross was crafted by Bill Contreras. The altar slab and base are Las Cruces stone. Visible in the altar are whale bone fossils. The pulpit as well as a number of the boulders outside the church are also Las Cruces stone and were quarried near Santa Maria. On the chancel floor are San Quintin pebbles from Mexico. The paneling is weathered pine and with the exception of a few boards was installed with the back untreated side showing. The credence shelf is limestone with fossilized sea shells. |
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EPIPHANY SCULPTURE |
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Near the pulpit is the Epiphany sculpture created by Ray Mohr. The head of Christ, as a young boy, in a sleeping pose shows his innocence though He is by the symbol of His cruel death at the hand of the unbelievers. This is truly the beloved Son of God sent by His Father to Redeem the World. The Stoneware Clay used in the face of Christ representing Jesus' humility is from Medicine Hat, Alberta. From Saskatchewan's steel mill the man-made medium used to form the crown of thorns; symbol of futher suffering and humiliation of our Savior at the hands of His persecutors. From British Columbia; the majestic mystery of jade forms the five pointed star of Epiphany. The crosses fashioned from ash represents the Gospel as it spreads to the four courners of the world and beyond to include that fifth dimension; the gentiles. |
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STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
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The window behind the Organ depicts the Cross and the Crown —
through His suffering Christ has gained for us the heavenly Crown of life everlasting.
On the opposite side of the nave is the window of the Holy Spirit
bestowing gifts upon the believers in Christ. The four windows nearer the chancel on either side
illustrate 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith (cross window), hope
(anchor window), and love
(heart window), But the greatest of these is love
(larger heart window). These windows, as well as those toward
the back section of church were designed by Don Fairbanks. Roger Darricarrere was the maker of the windows near the center of church on the north wall that depict Holy Communion; the wheat portraying the bread and the grapes the cup of wine in the Holy Supper. He also designed the windows opposite. We see the Creation window showing the stars, galaxies and planets, Genesis 1:1, and the New Jerusalem window with the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit, Revelation 22:2. Windows on the north wall in the back section of church symbolize the Trinity — the hand, the light and the desert, portraying the Creation from the mighty hand of the Father; the radiant cross portraying Christ's victory over sin, death and hell for our redemption, and the flames depicting the power demonstrated by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. As then, so now the Spirit gives power to His people as symbolized by the flame approaching one of the figures. On the south side are the star and manger portraying Christ's nativity. He wears royal robes and a crown as the clouds receive Him in the glory of the Ascension. Especially appropriate to our desert setting is the window near the south exit door. Based on the prophecy in Isaiah 35:1 "The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose," the cross aloft in the sky shows how so that as the roses blooming in their brilliance they could rejoice in Christ's redeeming love.
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OTHER APPOINTMENTS
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The pews are Applachian oak and the communion set Oregon myrtle wood. The memorial plaque board is an example of English walnut grafted to black walnut with the graft showing in the open space among the plaques. |
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LUTHER SEAL
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On the choir side of the chancel is the artist's concept of the Luther seal with the rose, the heart and the cross. Luther wrote, "the cross reminds us that faith in the Crucified One saves us...the rose shows that faith brings joy, comfort, and peace -- a beginning of the heavenly joy to come." |
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