The first paragraph from the Michigan Stained Glasss Census web site for August reads as follows. Click on the link to get information about the rest of the church, more photos of the stained glass, and information about the organization that does all of this documentation.
Founded in 1914, the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak is in its second church home, a modern Gothic grey limestone building designed by Philadelphia architect Harold E. Wagoner and built by Walter L. Couse of Detroit. Following completion of the sanctuary in 1955, a chapel and buildings for education and fellowship were added during the 1960s. The windows of First Presbyterian Church were designed by Marguerite Gaudin (1909-1991) and Eric Sundean (1924-2003) and fabricated from 1954 to 1980 by the Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia. They include 88 stained glass figural windows in the sanctuary, chapel, and Christian Education wing, and five faceted glass symbolic windows in the Fellowship Hall. Inspired by French thirteen -century stained glass, the neo-Gothic figural windows are twentieth -century versions of biblical and historical events, encompassing a uniformity of design and color as a collective whole. The pictorial narrative of the windows unfolds thematically around the west and east walls of the sanctuary, depicting Old Testament prophets, the life of Christ, Reformation leaders such as Francis Makemie, the founder of the Presbyterian Church, medieval church figures, apostolic scenes, and the parables and miracles of Jesus.
When I got onto the website for the church, I found a lot of spirit around giving back to the community. For more information about this volunteer opportunities, click onto the web link for the church below. Some of what they are involved in includes:
Hands On Missions
These ministries are accomplished by the grace of God and your efforts.
~Gleaners Community Food Bank
~Volunteers spend three hours at the Detroit warehouse.
~World Medical Relief
~Greening of Detroit
~Detroit Habitat for Humanity
~South Oakland Shelter (S0S)
~South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless (S.O.C.H.)
~South Oakland Community Lunch Program
~Joy of Jesus Camp Clean Up
~Yucatan Peninsula Mission
I noticed many of these opportunities are available for families including smaller children. What a great way to get involved.
Pat Deere
Links:
Pictures In Glass information on Stained Glass for Churches and Commercial Settings
First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak
Michigan Stained Glass Census, August Window Of The Month
