St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

{a/k/a North Green Grove}

1879•Fiftieth Anniversary•1929

1879•Seventy-Five Year Anniversary•1954

1879•Centennial Anniversary•1979

1879•125th Anniversary•2004

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For many many years, the Shield of St. Paul welcomed people into St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Because of the new construction in 2001, it had to be removed. It was thought to have been lost or destroyed but was found in 2004. It had been refurbished and once again is on display.

(Note: A photograph of the original “Shield of St. Paul” is not available at this time)

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Under Pastor Schneider’s encouragement, we were able to start a stained glass window project and slowly replace the eight windows in the Church nave. Memorial monies and donations were collected and as we received enough money the new windows were purchased and installed.

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The first two windows were installed on October 27, 1996. The first two windows are dedicated to St. Paul and St. Luke.

The symbols for St. Paul are the open book with the inscription (Spiritus Gladius) sword of the spirit and refers to His fiery personality as a dedicated follower of our Lord. He embarked upon a series of missions under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The symbol in the lower portion of the window recalls Paul’s conversion and is referred to as the Shield of Faith.

The symbols for St. Luke are the winged ox because his writings gave a very full account of the sacrificial death of our Lord. His original profession was that of a physician, hense the caduceus - the symbol of the medical profession.

The next eight symbols (four windows) represent events for the life of Christ.

The Nativity symbol portrays the humble beginning of the infant Jesus in a manger. Overhead, the Star which lit the way for the Three Wisemen (Magi) to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold His kingly office, frankincense for His priestly office and myrrh for His prophetic office.

The symbol of Jesus as a young boy listening to and conversing with the high priests while the Lamp of Knowledge recalls the words, “And all who heard him were amazed at His understanding and answers.”

The symbol of Christ Calling His Disciples. The fish net draped over the modified Chi Rho recalls Our Lord’s words, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The changing of water into wine at the Wedding Feast in Cana recalls Our Lord’s first miracle. The interlocked gold rings superimposed of the cross serves as a symbol of Christian marriages.

The symbol of the Healing Christ is the Jerusalem Cross also know as the cross potent because of it’s resemblance to an ancient crutch, symbolic of Our Savior’s power to heal the diseases of men’s bodies and souls.

The Maltese Cross in the lower corner represent the eight beatitudes which Our Lord delivered at the Sermon on the Mount. Because it has eight points, it serves as a reminder of the Beatitudes.

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