San Geronimo Community
Presbyterian Church
 

                 

Memorial Windows
 

The Sacrament of Communion

Donors:  Jene and Janet Chadwick in memory of his mother Arleen L. Chadwick and her aunt Esther Kahaunaele

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and handed it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is the body, and he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it; for this is the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."* This ceremony as instituted by Christ, in anticipation of his death, is the basis for the Presbyterian Sacrament of Communion.

The crucified Christ is surrounded by the risen shepherd, staff in left hand he stands ready to lead his flock of followers into life through the valley of death.

As proof of his resurrection he offers a pierced, bleeding right hand. The blood flowing from his palm evolves into grapes, his limp body into loaves of bread.

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt in the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may raise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance"**

*     Matthew 26:26
**   The Profit, Kahlil Gibran  

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The Sacrament of Baptism

Donors: Carlton and Ruth Travis in appreciation to the founders of this church. Charles M. Charrau; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford Dillman; Mrs. Thelma Simpson Dickson; Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Houch; Mrs. Minnie Lightner; Mrs. Jacqueline Miller; Mrs. Rova Rollins; Mrs. Catherine Stratton; Mrs. William A Robinson; Mr. Austin Walker; Mrs. Anna Simpson; Mrs. Amelbe Thompson; Mr. Hugh Edward Dillman; Mrs. Constance Mae Howard and Mrs. Hennrietta McDonald.

Water, blue, purification, peace; new growth, green cleansing, baptism; God's promise that, sharing Christ's reconciling work, you will also share his victory; that dying with Christ in sin, you will be raised with him to new life.

Our Lord commands us: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age"*

Baptism, a promise to tell each new disciple the good news of the gospel, to help him to know all that Christ commands, and by your fellowship, to strengthen his family ties with the household of God.

"God our Father: we thank you for your faithfulness, promised in this sacrament of baptism, and for the hope we have in your Son Jesus. As we baptize with water, baptize us with the Holy Spirit, so that what we say may be your word and what we do may be your work. By your power, may we be made one with Christ our Lord in common faith and purpose."**

*    Matthew 28
**  Presbyterian Worship Book                             Return to Top of Page

Fellowship 

Donor: Edie Robinson in memory of her husband, J. Brook Robinson

"Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in."*

A kneeling black man, hair shining, purple, blue, raises his hands to heaven in prayer. His uplifted arms take the shape of a steeple; shadows falling upon his chest form the face of a red man. His skirt of Polynesian color and pattern reveals an embroyonic face. Mirrored praying figures in profile are held in the palm of a cupped hand. Facing him a hymnal from which eh sings. Oh Brother Man.            

"Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever your enter into it take with you your all. Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute. The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight, for in revere your cannot rise above your achievements nor fall lower than your failures. And take with your all men; for in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair."**

*   St. Augustine
** The Prophet, Hahlil Gibran       Return to Top of Page   

 Hope, Damnation

Donors: Reverend Gene Burris and Reverend Charles Orr

Blue, green purple, a coiled snake symbolizing Satan, the tempter of man and woman. "And the Lord God said unto the woman, 'What is this that Thou hast done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat'."* The serpents head, an Alpha, reaches toward an Omega, first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord."** Beside the Omega, green leaves. Above, purple, transforming it into a thistle. Earthly sorrow and sin originates in the curse pronounced against Adam by God,..."cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and Thou shalt eat the herb of the field." Thistle and Omega join forming the head of a scorpion,...." and their torment was the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man." The scorpions tail intertwines with the spiral of a somberly colored snails shell, the lazy sinner that seeks not the light. All colors unite in a butterfly, perched on the skull, now a cocoon, symbolizing resurrection, Christ's promise of life after death. At the wing tips are two eyes, the eyes of an owl. his head crowned with bright light. The owl, an attribute of Christ, who sacrificed himself to save sinners,...." to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death...." Then spake Jesus again to them saying, 'I am the light of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life!'" God is in all we see and experience when we use his light.

*  Genesis 3:3
** Revelations 1:8                                                   Return to Top of Page 

Music

Donor: Mary Weaver in memory of her husband, Walter M. Weaver

          "A minstrel stands beside a singing stead,
          sharing that same song with a bird and the wind.

          As God is my maker His song is my life
          Listen to life around us, music we hear

          Have you not heard the melody in a brook?
          Symphonies of the wind?
          A birds song, soft as a cloud floats.

          Even in the clash of thunder His voice is near.
          We too are echoes of harmony as we praise the Lord,
         
          Singing loud in thanksgiving, reverent in prayer,
          shrill and pensive in despair
          Give it forth for it truly lives there.

          As God is my maker His song is my Life,
          His way as a tone is clear."*

The minstrels head is silhouetted by the tuning end of a stringed instrument. His arms form the sides of that instrument, and the wings of a bird flying skyward. Gold, blowing reeds grow from the water at his feet. In the water a Lotus blossom floats, symbol of unspoiled peace and tranquility.

*  His Song is Life, Margaret Britton 

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Christmas

Donor: Ruth M. Justice in memory of her parents, Faith D. and Donand H. Rundberg.

A resting lamb looks past a sprig of holly at the sleeping Christ child. "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."* is the message of the angel above. The angel's hands folding reverently in prayer form the star to guide worshipers. The candle, is lit by that star for He is the light of the world. Her skirt and evergreen tree, symbolizing God's unending love for us...."for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son"**...to be crucified by those He loves. The thorny holly is the crown for this King of Kings; the blood He shed is red as it's berries.

The Virgin Mary smiles adorningly, as she watches over her newborn son. His swaddling clothes wrap around him forming a bow. He is God;s gift to the world for whoever shall believe in Him shall have everlasting life.

*   John 1:9
** John 3:16                                                          Return to Top of Page 

History      

Donor: Carolyn Hills in memory of her son, George R. Hills

The window shows a red shield with white cross, the flag of Switzerland where John Calvin developed Geneva into a model community. Church and state worked together in Harmony.

Also included is Scotland's flag, blue with white x; a burning bush, symbol of the church of Scotland, and part of the seal of the General Assembly. The yellow of the Celtic Cross of the seal is superimposed on the flag of the United States of America.

Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought with them the influences of John Knox and the Reformed Church to the thirteen colonies. The dove is one of the earliest symbols of the church and represents the Holy Spirit. The Greek letters Alpha and Omega, referring to Christ as, "the beginning and the ending!"* The cross with an orb at the base and wavy line at the top identified three parts, represents Jerusalem. The Greek letters in this symbol translate, "Jesus Christ Do Thou Conquer."

Our Heritage and quest; to seek ways to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and all Life, and to work and pray that all people may be united in Christ's Kingdom

*  Revelations 1:8                        Return to Top of Page 

Ascension

Donor: Margaret Britton, in thanksgiving for deliverance to her home in Lagunitas, California.

In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself. Jesus Christ is God with humanity, the eternal Son of the Father who became man and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission.

Jesus' head is profiled against the clear white of God's hand as God guides Jesus in his ascension. His hand bleeding, pierced in crucifixion, evolves into the golden dove of the Holy Spirit, reaching earth bound man in prayer.

Lord God, in your creation, you span the distance of space and time; you hold the universe in the hollow of your hand. You have brought forth man in the evolution of your purpose; you have shown us the perfection of man in Christ, as the expression of your mind as the stamp of your authority. We pray that, through our worship, we may find fulfillment in your plan through Jesus Christ, our Lord....Amen

                                                           

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Margaret Britton

Margaret Britton, an artist and member of this church designed and created all the windows in her studio in Lagunitas. The windows were designed to fit the existing windows in the sanctuary prior to our recent renovation. The windows were carefully removed from the old sanctuary and installed in the chancel of the remodeled sanctuary. The round window was originally in two parts and located at the front of the sanctuary to the right and left of the chancel. It is now combined into one window and located above the door in the narthex.

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