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July 11, 2011 at 11:30 AM

By Christie Munson, Communications/Grants Manager

If you’ve attended any events, meetings or other gatherings in our Everett Luther Life Center (or Life Center), you’ve seen the beautiful “Tree of Life” stained glass windows, which have been a part of our history for many years.

Over time, the stained glass curtain or shade became inoperable. With leadership from resident, Rosie Sells, and the Beatitudes Campus Residents Council’s Buildings and Grounds Committee, it was determined the best and most cost effective solution was to remove the shade at a cost of $3,000, until the next step and associated costs could be determined. We listened to our residents’ requests about the stained glass window and thank you for your patience while staff and the committee worked to determine the best solution.

On June 7, 2011, the curtain was removed to let the light shine through this beautiful work of art and important symbol on our campus! Please stop by the Life Center to see the magnificent “Tree of Life” stained glass windows or take a look during the next event you attend in the space.

The campus believes we have chosen the most cost effective removal solution and want to acknowledge all who donated their time and resources to the Life Center Stained Glass Curtain Removal Fund. The full $3,000 was raised entirely by residents and we thank each and every one of you for your generous gift to this important initiative. Donors include:

• Lowell & Joannie Bailey
• John & Marie Dannan
•  Nedra Day
•  Robert & Betty Jean Easley
• John & Patricia “Polly” Fels
•  Caroline “Carri” Geyer
• Loren “Buck” & Carolyn Grisinger
• Dr. Erdie & Claudia “Bobbie” Morris
• Terry Morris
• Charlotte Peterson
• Tom & Freida Royden
• John & Rosie Sells
• Carol Severance
• Jack & Betty Wilson
• Phyllis Yates

Tree of Life and Clerestory Stained Glass Window History: 

The 20-foot faceted glass and eighteen clerestory windows (the smaller stained glass windows high up along the sides of the Life Center) were given to the campus by two very generous residents and donors, Mrs. Helen W. Esgate and Miss Helen H. Esgate. This gift was in memory of Mr. Arthur T. Esgate and Miss Edith M. Esgate. The windows were designed and manufactured by The Judson Studios, California – the same company that designed and created the windows in both the sanctuary and fellowship hall of Church of the Beatitudes.

The overarching theme of all the windows is the “Continuity of Life.” The main stained glass Tree of Life windows has four main themes, which include: 1) Healing – relating to the idea of healing, which is depicted with the Son of Man rising with healing in his wings; 2) The Old and New Creation – the old creation depicted by the hands and globe of the earth in the lower left corner and the new creation shown in small bursts of light in the tree trunk in the center; 3) Trinity – shown by the Father as creator in the lower left, the Son shown by the sun in the upper center and the dove representing the Holy Spirit near the top; 4) Cycle of Life – “birth” is depicted by the water and earth in the roots of the tree, the truck and branches represent growth, the blossoms represent fruition and the blackness in the background represents death that is overpowered by the gold of the sun.  We continue to give thanks to the Esgate family for their benevolent gift of exquisite beauty and special meaning for the Life Center and Beatitudes Campus.

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