Choir Triptych

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=130 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="12ba6e903.jpg"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="11fcbc320.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>OFC:  713-526-5731      5315 MAIN STREET, HOUSTON TEXAS 77004      FAX: 713-524-1709</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Matthew Lutheran Church Houston, Te"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>  ~   </B><A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Worship Schedule"><U><B>WORSHIP</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Map Directions"><U><B>LOCATION</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id362.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="URL Calendar Home Link"><U><B>CALENDAR</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="mailto:info@stmatthewhouston.org?subject=Website Inquiry" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@stmatthewhouston.org?subject"><U><B>EMAIL 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VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC99 HEIGHT= 21 WIDTH="134"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="21" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="134" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#990000 WIDTH="421"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="21" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="421" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="4" WIDTH="558" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#990000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC99" FRAME="HSIDES" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 487 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13320f630.jpg" border=0 width="527" height="355" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <U>This choir loft triptych, or facade window, depicts the church at work in the world.</U></div> <bR> <div> Christ is the central figure giving the great commission to the church on</div> <div>  the Mount of Olives just before He ascended into heaven.  While Christ occupies, </div> <div> quite properly the center lancet, and attention is focused upon </div> <div> Him who gives the commission, beneath Him...</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 356 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="94cc20f0.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> ... is the symbol of the Lamb of God bearing the banner of victory.</div> <div> The church evangelizes by means of the Word and sacraments and, therefore, </div> <div> these symbols are found at the very top of these three windows: </div> <div> center, the Word; left, holy communion; and right, baptism.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 394 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id545.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apostles Left"><U><IMG SRC="13339b0e0.jpg" border=0 width="155" height="270" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>   <IMG SRC="92fb10f0.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <A NAME="apostles_right_anchor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="id546.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apostles Right"><U><IMG SRC="1334a10f0.jpg" border=0 width="161" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="492" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#990000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC99" FRAME="VOID" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> Left Lancet Top</div> <div> Holy Communion</div> <bR> <div> Thomas, Bartholomew</div> <div> & Philip</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="160"><div> Center Lancet Top</div> <div> The Word</div> <bR> <div> CHRIST THE LORD</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> Right Lancet Top</div> <div> Baptism</div> <bR> <div> James the less, </div> <div> Matthew and Jude</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 470 WIDTH="538"><div> As it is God alone who converts, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps in the faith, He uses human instruments for this marvelous miracle.  The vanguard were the apostles and, therefore, they are depicted in the middle lancets show above.</div> <bR> <div> In the left top lancet we have </div> <div> <U>Thomas, Bartholomew,  and Philip.</U></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Thomas is pictured with stones.  Either stones or a carpenter's square and a spear are the symbols of this apostle because he built a church with his own hands in India.  Later he was persecuted there and was killed with a spear by a pagan priest.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bartholomew is said to have been flayed alive, hence he is usually represented by flaying knives - then he was crucified.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Philip:  The basket with the loaves of bread, because of Philip's remark when Jesus fed the multitudes.  [ John 6:7 ]</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> At the top of the right lancet window we have</div> <div> <U>James the Less, Matthew, and Jude.</U></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">James the Less:  This James was put to death by a club and then his body was sawn asunder after this horrible martyrdom.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Matthew: Battle axe.  While Matthew is usually symbolized by the three purses referring to his usual calling as a tax collector, tradition states that he was put to death by a battle axe.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jude:  This apostle, also known as Thaddeus, or Lebaeus, traveled to many ports on missionary journeys and, therefore, the ship.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 548 WIDTH="538"><bR> <div> At the bottom of the lancet windows we have</div> <div> <U>Andrew, Matthias,  </U><U>James the Greater,  </U><U>John and Peter, and Simon</U></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="335" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 129 ><NOBR><div>  <A NAME="andrew_anchor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="id543.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Andrew"><U><IMG SRC="13f7976d0.jpg" border=0 width="151" height="109" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="153"><div>  <A NAME="matthias_anchor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="id544.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matthias"><U><IMG SRC="13f88f6c0.jpg" border=0 width="143" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="171"><div> Andrew</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="153"><div> Matthias</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="id547.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="James the Greater"><U><IMG SRC="948a9990.jpg" border=0 width="169" height="153" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>   <A HREF="id548.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Peter"><U><IMG SRC="946989b0.jpg" border=0 width="152" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>    <A NAME="matthias_and_simon_anchor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="id549.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matthias and Simon"><U><IMG SRC="1335ab9a0.jpg" border=0 width="171" height="154" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 82 ><NOBR><div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="4" WIDTH="481" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#990000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC99" FRAME="VOID" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 50 WIDTH="141"><div> Bottom Left Lancet</div> <div> James the Greater (the staff and  wallet) </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Bottom Center Lancet</div> <div> John & Peter</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Bottom Right Lancet</div> <div> Matthias and Simon (the fish on the hook)</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 371 WIDTH="538"><bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Andrew:  While preaching in Greece, he was put to death on a cross of this type: X, therefore, the crossed fish as his symbol.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">James:  (The Greater - Major).  The pilgrim staff and wallet is the symbol for this apostle's zeal and missionary spirit.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> At the base of the center lancet we have</div> <div> <U> John and Peter.</U></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">John:  Early writers state that John once drank from a poisoned chalice and was unharmed. Jesus once said that John should drink of His cup.  Therefore, the symbol of the chalice with the serpent.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Peter:  The crossed keys recall Peter's confession and our Lord's gifts of the "Keys of the Kingdom" to him as the spokesman of the apostles. [Matt. 16:18-19]</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Matthias:  Chosen to take the place of Judas.  He is symbolized by the open Bible and a double bladed battle axe.  He is said to have been beheaded after his missionary work.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800009900.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Simon (The Zealot):  This symbol is a fish impaled on a boat hook because through the power of the Gospel Simon became a great fisher of men.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=155 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="122e30960.jpg" border=0 width="48" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id499.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meet Our Leaders"><U>Meet Our Leaders</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tour Our Church"><U>Tour Our Church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id493.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Read Our History"><U>Read Our History</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id626.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arts and Music"><U>Arts and Music</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U>Special Events</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id515.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><U>Photo Gallery</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=70 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="id423.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Search"><U><B>BIBLE SEARCH</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LCMS Links"><U><B>LUTHERAN LINKS</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Online Devotionals"><U><B>DEVOTIONALS</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id563.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Matthew Sermon Archives"><U><B>SERMON ARCHIVES</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> © 2008  St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, TX - All Rights Reserved</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>