O Lord God, the whole world is filled with the radiance of your glory: accept our offering of these stained glass windows which we now dedicate to you for the adornment of this place and the inspiration of your people. Grant that as the light shines through in its many colors, so our lives may show forth the beauty of your manifold gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
With this prayer, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Keller, dedicated two new stained glass windows on Sunday, June 15, 2014. The windows were created and installed by St. Martin member Gil Kleinwechter.
The idea for creating some windows had been percolating a long time. Kleinwechter and his daughter Sarah took some stained glass classes when she was in middle school, where they learned basic techniques.
“I watched my daughter create an amazing small stained glass piece for St. Martin’s Lenten Stations of the Cross art project in 2010. We brainstormed, ‘What if we made some large pieces for St. Martin?” and considered that the west windows on the church would have the most impact. We measured them, and talked to stained glass pros about what techniques to use and how to suspend large pieces. Then our family got busy with two kids in high school, so it was just an idea for many years.”
Then in spring 2013, St. Martin’s education director Corrie Cabes began organizing the Unbroken Circle, a fine arts gallery, inviting participants from across the diocese.
Kleinwechter said, “I got the stained glass bug again and created the first piece. The Unbroken Circle featured art from each liturgical season, and I chose Pentecost. I sketched out my design and plan and ran it by our clergy . . . and got their thumbs-up that the symbolism was sound. I finished the first piece, a dove descending from heaven to earth, at the May 2013 gallery held at St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church in Fort Worth.”
He wanted to create a “sister” piece that would look natural and cohesive beside the first and continue telling a story of God’s love. His wife, Susan, saw an appealing picture of a cross with rays radiating from it on Pinterest, and that idea seemed a good fit with the story he had in mind.
“The story of Jesus, on the cross, bringing salvation to the world, bridging heaven and earth for us, filling the world with his glory. I ran that by Father Mike Wallens and Mother Amy Haynie, and this year I eventually got the second piece built. Then I had to make the frames, using the basic woodworking I learned from my father. ”
Glenda Morehead is one of the many at St. Martin-in-the-Fields who appreciates the transformation the windows have brought. “The windows have gone from being a real problem, with the west sun baking through mini-blinds and bleaching the carpet, to being things of beauty and inspiration.”
Kleinwechter said, “I am humbled by the reaction of people at church.” He challenged other parishioners to “consider what you can do at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.”
It is a challenge other congregations might consider, given that stewardship means offering not just money, but also gifts of time and talent.