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A brief description of each window, starting at window 1, the front or pulpit end of the sanctuary and moving toward the back of the sanctuary or entrance end, follows:

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The creation of the world shows the world emerging from the water and the clouds.  Above it are the sun, moon and stars; along with some flying warm blooded creatures.  On the earth is a plant, and in the sea, a fish.

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WINDOW 2
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
    
GENESIS 3:2-3

The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die' ".

Eden was a beautiful place.  There were many trees growing in the Garden of Eden from which man could eat, but man was instructed by God not to eat or touch specific fruit.

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WINDOW 3
DEVELOPMENT OF MAN
  
GENESIS 4:22

. . . who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron . . .

Genesis says early man discovered fire and devised tools.   Shown are an ax, a knife and a saw.  The Bible also mentions music, as suggested here by the trumpet.

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WINDOW 4
THE GREAT FLOOD
  
GENESIS 6:14 & 9:13

So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; . . . I have set my rainbow in the clouds, . . . the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

The rainbow is the sign that God will never again destroy the earth and the living creatures by a flood.  Above the rainbow is the dove.   Below the ark are the animals.  Notice that there are two of each animal shown.

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WINDOW 5
THE SHEPHERDS
  
1 CHRONICLES 4:39, 40

they went . . . in search of pasture for their flocks . . . They found rich, good pasture . . .

The three sheep on and about the mountain and the staff beside it symbolize the period of the shepherds.

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WINDOW 6
ABRAHAM’S FAITH
  
GENESIS 22:1 - 18

. . . God said, "Take your son, . . . sacrifice him . . . He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar . . . he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. . . "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said . . . Now I know that you fear God . . . there in a thicket he saw a ram . . .

Fire burns on the sacrificial alter.  Nearby is the ram that God would have Abraham sacrifice instead of Isaac.

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WINDOW 7
ENCOUNTERING GOD
 
EXODUS 3:2 - 14

. . . The bush was on fire, it did not burn up . . . where you are standing is holy ground . . . I have come down to rescue them . . . I am sending you . . . "I am who I am

The story of Moses’ encounter with God begins with the burning bush that did not burn up.  Beside the bush is the staff of Moses.

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WINDOW 9
GOD WITH THEM

  
NUMBERS 10:33

So they set out . . .The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them . .

JOSHUA 6:20

. . . at the sound of the trumpet, . . . the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

The ark was Israel’s most holy possession and they always took it with them every- where they went, even into battle.  The trumpet and sword shown below the ark were powerful weapons for Israel, when used as God directed.

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WINDOW 10
GOD’S VICTORY
 
JUDGES 7:16-21

. . . he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. . . they blew their trumpets and broke the jars . . . all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

God reduced Gideon’s army to 300 men, each armed with a torch burning in a jug, a sword and a trumpet.  God gave them victory over an enemy numbering in the tens of thousands.

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WINDOW 11
WORSHIP
 
EXODUS 25:31 - 40

"Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out . . . shall all be of one piece. . . make its seven lamps . . .

EXODUS 30:1

"Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense.

The seven-branch candlestick, menorah, shows the worship of God.  It rises above the altar of sacrifice and is topped by a crown, the Sabbath.   The scroll shown in the next window reflects the study of the Torah or Law, which must accompany worship.

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WINDOW 12
ELIJAH
 
2 KINGS 2:11

. . . suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven . . .

The chariot depicts that in which Elijah ascended to heaven.  Only two men have been taken to heaven without going through physical death, Enoch and Elijah.  The chariot depicts that in which Elijah ascended into heaven.

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WINDOW 13
CAPTIVITY
 
PSALMS 137:1-3

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept . . . There on the poplars we hung our harps, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; . . .

Here the harps are hanging on the poplar tree.  Behind the tree is a ziggurat.  The poplar tree and ziggurat (a tower temple in the form of a terraced pyramids with each level smaller than the lower one) shows the Jew's lamentation in the Babylonian captivity.

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WINDOW 14
MACABEES
  

The Macabees are a group of Jews who distinguished themselves during the 400 year period before Christ.  Enemy attacks, during this period, were accomplished on the Sabbath in Temples during worship.  Many of the men were killed and the women and children were taken into captivity. This tended to reduce or eliminate worship.  The Macabees made efforts to rekindle the faith.  This is shown here by the lighting of the candles on the nine branch menorah.

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WINDOW 15
ROMAN EMPIRE
  

The Roman Empire had conquered and ruled most of the known world. Their rulers claimed to be gods and were very demanding.  The Jewish people were independent and served their one and only God.  These were critical times for the Jewish nation.  Roman domination is shown here by the Roman banner with the S.P.Q.R. (For the Senate and People of Rome) sign and the eagle mounted at the top.

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For more information on the Asbury Windows, please contact Asbury United Methodist Church at aumc@asbury.com.

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Revised: February 16, 2008.