Epiphany

... and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2: 9-12

Arcade window, St. Mark's Lutheran, Toledo

Aisle window, Grace Lutheran, Fremont

A Peaceful and Blessed Christmas To All

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2: 4-7

Arcade window, St. Mark's Lutheran, Toledo.

Aisle window, Grace Lutheran, Fremont

Bethlehem Lutheran, rural Defiance

A whirlwind church tour through Defiance County last Tuesday 8/4, found this one on a list of 10 churches to visit. The plan was to just stop by, take a few photos of the outside, and be on our way; as is the usual game plan for churches that I haven't contacted in advance.

We pulled into the parking lot and I was immediately charmed by this utterly CUTE little old country church!
It appeared to be lovingly cared-for. The windows were intriguing. I noticed a newer educational wing built onto the other side of the building (and also a cemetery, but I didn't start on that because I would have been yet another hour in there!)
Not an original cornerstone, but a sign of pride that a newer one with the original date was installed at some point.
The original wooden doors have been replaced with glass doors, making it easy for me to take a few shots through the doors. Now this was at 5 pm on a Tuesday afternoon, and I hardly expected the church to be unlocked at that time, with no sign of anyone around. But as is my habit, I tried the door anyway ...
... and it opened right up ... !!? I ventured inside, called "Hello" several times, no reply ... sooo, I just went to work!
What a darling little place! Beautiful windows, pews that appeared original. The chancel had obviously been updated. The altar, lectern, and pulpit appeared to be, oh, 1960's, give or take a decade. But it still fits in well and isn't at all out of place, even though I couldn't help but wonder why the original furnishings were replaced at that time ...

I love this organ case ...

This is different ...The Gethsemane window over the altar ...

Lovely cheerful little old geometric windows, each with a different Bible scene featured. Identical designs, but just enough variance in the different pieces of glass to make each one unique ...

I've never seen a Resurrection scene like this one before ...

Grisaille trim in the bottom panels of the windows ...

A view from the balcony ...

Gorgeous old wood-plank pews!

Someone did a lighted miniature of the church that sits on top of the organ console ...

This old chair that must've been in the chancel at one time, now sits in the hallway leading to the educational wing, just off the narthex.

Interesting tapestry adorning the left-hand wall ...

There is a charming and inviting patio area at the back of the church, in the space between the educational wing and the church. Wonderful use of this space!
This old door opened into the sacristy at one time. There is now a newer, more secure door in that spot at the back of the church, but rather than throw the old door away, this is what they did with it -- what a great idea!

... and even with all the old skeleton keys!

Notice that weathervane atop the steeple?

So much of the charm and nostalgia of an era gone by ...

As it turned out, via a note left on the (locked) door at sister congregation St. Mark's, VBS was scheduled for that evening. It's assumable that someone was in here getting ready for the evening's program and perhaps went home for dinner, thinking that there was no need to lock the door for that short time (remember where they're at!). My thanks to whoever made it possible for me to get these lovely pictures, which will of course be emailed to the church!

St. Mark's Lutheran, rural Defiance

A couple miles down the road from Bethlehem, bordered on all sides by cornfields and soybean fields, you come to an intersection and this jumps out at you from behind the corn ...

St. Mark's is Bethlehem's sister congregation, both served by Pastor Tom Frey.

It was apparently expeditious to use the same blueprint for both of these little churches at the time they were built. At some time, however, a basement was dug underneath this one - and an educational wing added here too, not that long ago as a matter of fact.

Look at the fish-scale shingles on that steeple!

Cornerstone not in the corner, but high up above the front door, in German.

Same again over the front door. I'm speculating that perhaps this church was established as a firmly German church, and the other one more of an English-speaking church; although during the 19th century when these congregations were being established, German was still pretty much universal; in particular for the German farmers who founded churches such as these.
This church wasn't standing open! I wish I could have gotten an inside look at these windows. I tweaked these photos to bring up the window detail as much as I could, since these were west-facing with alot of sun glare. It appears that perhaps they're more elaborate than the ones at Bethlehem; more intricacy to the geometric designs. Look close to see the small circular chrismons in the center of each.
Good back view of the church from their cemetery (I need to get back out there and get pictures in both of those cemeteries!)

... and yes, that's another Gethsemane window over the altar!Picturesque view from behind the pines ...

... and the sign that says it all!

St. Mark Lutheran, East Toledo

Lutheranism's crown jewel of Toledo's East Side!

The congregation was founded in 1884 by German members of St. Paul's, living on the East Side, who were tired of dealing with the Cherry Street Bridge washing out (the German Catholics who founded Sacred Heart did so for the same reason). St. Mark's first church, a long-gone wood frame building, stood where the current building stands and was moved back to the next block to make room for the new one since the congregation was growing rapidly. The cornerstone was laid in 1916, and the new church was dedicated August 26, 1917.The cruciform church is Tudor-Gothic in design, and seats 900. The architects were Speer and Gehrke of Detroit, and church member Fred Rinker was the contractor.

The steeple rises 112 feet above Woodville Road.

Since then, a large parsonage (now used for offices) was added in 1926, and an educational wing was added in 1951. This historical information is taken from "Treasures of East Toledo" by Pastor Larry Michaels, who divides his time quite nimbly between Martin Luther, where he is senior pastor; and St. Mark, the church he grew up in, where he is resource pastor. Thanks, Pr. Larry!My initial reaction upon entering the sanctuary for the first time, was to just stand there gaping at what I was seeing! I have heard other people describe having the same reaction. The sanctuary is immense and magnificent. The numerous stained-glass windows glow like gems. That altar and statue are among the best I've seen!

That wraparound balcony made it easy to get up to the large stained-glass windows in the transepts.
The left transept. The large window is Jesus with the children, and the smaller windows underneath the balcony, tell the Christmas story.... and the right transept. The large window is Jesus at Mary and Martha's, and the smaller windows tell the Easter story.

That altar is just about perfect ...

Simply wonderful!

Closeup of Jesus with the children.

Closeup of Jesus at Mary and Martha's.

Mary and Martha's dog!

The Gethsemane window is at the back of the church, at the top edge of the balcony.

Something not often seen: the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with the expensive ointment, wiping them with her hair. This is one of the smaller windows that line the lower edges of the sanctuary, under the balcony going toward the rear of the church.

Pilate's very worried-looking wife watches the proceedings from the gallery ...

"Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

--> The font and processional cross.

Among the windows in the narthex are the wedding at Cana, the baptism of Jesus, and Jesus healing the sick.

... and under the balcony, Martin makes his case.

"Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht Anders tun. Gott hilfe mir. Amen."

My Photobucket pictures may be viewed in their entirety here:
http://s480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/shariys/Churches/St%20Mark%20Lutheran%20Toledo/