I have always been fascinated with stained-glass windows. As a child, I would often get lost in thought while examining the stained-glass windows in my home church. The windows were especially intriguing because they portrayed depictions of Jesus’ life. The vibrant glass presented scenes of Jesus’s birth, baptism, crucifixion, and his ascension as the resurrected Christ.

One of the things that makes stained-glass windows so special (apart from their obvious beauty) is that they are all unique and distinctive. They each have a story to tell, and the same is true for us. Within each of us, we have the ability to shine our light and share God’s love with others.

As Elisabeth Kübler-Ross once said, “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”

Here at Wesley Memorial UMC we are currently in the process of restoring our stained-glass windows with the help of “State of the Art Stained Glass Studio.” It is exciting to see them being brought back to their original glory from when they were first installed in 1910. My hope is that kids will continue to get lost in the beauty of these stained-glass windows for years to come.

Perhaps this is also an opportunity for us to restore our hearts as well. Perhaps God is calling us to be a reflection of Christ’s light in a dark world. As the familiar hymn says, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”

To learn more about our sanctuary restoration project, or to make a donation toward our efforts please visit: http://wesleymemorial-etowah.org/sanctuary-restoration-project

Pastor Andrew Lay