One of many people’s favorite stained glass windows in Grace Lutheran Church is hard to see from the inside of the church. This window dominates the balcony on the east wall of the sanctuary. You have to be in the front part of the church, looking up toward the east, to even see it. This window is the famous biblical scene of Jesus and the children.
Old time Lutherans will remember how we used to read the words of Jesus at each baptism: “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.” What we often do not remember about the story is that women and children did not count for much in Bible times, so when the mothers of infants and children approached Jesus to have the rabbi (teacher) touch and bless their little ones, the disciples of Jesus tried to shoo them away in order to save the time and energy of the Master for more important people.
May Grace Lutheran Church always stand for its name–Grace for the undeserved, unreserved, love of God for each and every person in this world. May every one of us who sees this east window remember that Jesus welcomes each of us as a child of God, a brother or sister in the human family, that each of us might know and love our Heavenly Father. For Jesus not only welcomes us–He makes us the Kingdom of God.
(Text about the stained glass windows provided by Pastor Darrel Gerrietts, 1990.)