Reredos are used to give the altar a proper setting. They are called “reredos” when the setting is carved stone or wood behind the altar. The theme at Grace is “Mountains of the Lord”:
Facing the Altar, the panel on the left recounts the story of the Flood and Mt. Ararat with the dove and the olive branch; Mt. Sinai, with the burning bush and giving the law. Mt. Tabor with the crown is on the left of the figure of Jesus as the Christ, and Mt. Hermon, with the monogram for the name of Christ carved in the sunburst is on the right. These two mountains reflect the belief that Jesus was indeed both God and man – the God of both Testaments.
The next panel is Mt. Calvary, the meaning and importance of what happened there being the center of our religion. The processional cross is part of this panel and a reminder of its part in our salvation.
The last panel is the Mt. of Olives, the mountain from which our Lord ascended, with the promise that He will come again.
The altar has reference to Mt. Pisgah, and the 7 altars is the focal point in the church. Carvings on the pulpit give Scriptural reference to the Sermon on the Mount. The Narthex woodcarving is a call to Worship and introduces the worshiper to the narration of the Sanctuary.
The 11 architectural glass windows display an individual theme:
The f
ront windows theme is “Creation of the Cosmos/the Heavens” with “Creation” on the left and “Communion” on the right. In darkness when all the windows are dark, small pieces of “space glass” remain shining within the interior windows, like little stars, reflecting available light.
At the rear of the Sanctuary, the center round glasswork displays “Rejoicing” with the “Holy Spirit/Baptism” and “God the Creator/Man and Animals” on the left and right.
At the Church Entrance, there are five panels: “Rebirth,” “Pentecost,” “Unifying”, “Tree of Life,” and the “Great Commission.”
Within the side windows and the entrance doors are more specific symbols in crystal medallions. The medallions with the pear and the apple remind the congregation of its roots in Chicago Park, CA.
