Baptismal Font

The baptismal font stands inside the entrance to the sanctuary to signify that Holy Baptism is the first event of the Christian life. Just as people enter the place of worship through the doors, people enter into membership in the body of Christ through the act of Baptism. The Christ Candle stands near the font as an additional visual reminder that in our Baptism we are crucified and resurrected with Christ.

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The Lighted Globe
Given by Mary Anna Larson in memory of Walter Larson, 1995
Simeon’s Studio, St. Louis Park, created the Lighted Globe

The Lighted Globe, situated inside our sanctuary doors is popular in churches in Sweden. It is illuminated with votive candles. Persons are invited to light a candle to symbolize a particular prayer or hope. These “lighted prayers” are a visible sign of the prayers of the whole community “for the whole people of God, and for all people according to their needs.”  

The Lighted Globe is dedicated with the words of Jesus: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

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"Into the Shining Brightness"
Given by Cathryn Frankenberg and Family in memory of Patrick D. Frankenberg, 1996

Into the Shining Brightness is a six-panel fiber artwork created by Marjorie Ford of Cantraip Studio, Minneapolis:

Lowest Panel  
The symbols refer to the baptism of Christ and to our own baptism.

Second Panel Inspired by Matthew 3:16-17 
 
“. . . and at that moment heaven opened; he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove to alight upon him: and a voice from heaven was heard saying, ‘This is my son, my Beloved, on whom my favor rests.’ ”

Center Panel
Inspired by three Bible Verses: 

Isaiah 27:19:  
“O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth to those long dead.” 

1 Corinthians 15:20:  
“But in fact Christ has been first raised from the dead, the fruits of those who have died.”
 
Luke 24: 50-51: 
“ . . . lifting up his hands, he blessed them While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven.”

Top Three Panels
Inspired by two Bible Verses: 

Mark 12:25:  
“for when they rise from the dead, they . . . are like angels in heaven.” 

Daniel 12:3:  
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

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“The Body, Nourished and Sent”
Given by Donn Escher in thanksgiving and praise to God, 1999.
The Body, Nourished and Sent is a six-panel fiber artwork created by Marjorie Ford of Cantraip Studio, Minneapolis.

Panel One - Manna from Heaven
Inspired by two Bible Verses: 

Exodus 16:15 
“When the Israelites saw him they said to one another “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”
There are seven streams of light to signify that the Israelites would receive sufficient for each day; two streams are paired because they would receive sufficient for two days on the day before the Sabbath.

John 6:32-35 
"Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.” They said to him. “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and who ever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
The first panel lays the foundation for the succeeding panels, where Christ is seen as the Bread of Life.

Panel Two - Feeding the Five Thousand 
Inspired by Matthew 14:19-21

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves, and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled.

Panel Three - The Last Supper
Inspired by Matthew 26:26-28 

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Judas is at the far right with his bag of silver; at the far left is the basin and towel, which Jesus used to bathe the feet of the twelve. The figure of Christ is designed to show the pouring out of his body and blood into the chalice and bread for all to share.

Panel Four - The Road to Emmaus
Inspired by Luke 24: 13-15, 28-31

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus . . . While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him . . . As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

Panel Five - The Holy Communion
Inspired by Martin Luther, The Small Catechism: 

Our Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying “Drink of it, all of you. This cup is the covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Panel Six - Nourished for Mission
Inspired by Mark 16:14-15, and also the Lutheran Book of Worship and With One Voice: 

“Go in peace, serve the Lord" 
“Thanks be to God”
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.' ”
People leave the worship space carrying the gift of Christ’s nourishment into the world.

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“Adorn This House” 
A Baptismal Banner Given by the Ruth Circle, 2000.

Adorn This House is a liturgical fabric artwork created by Jeanette Paulson, Duluth:

The Baptismal banner is a liturgical fabric art banner. The vertical design incorporates water, a descending dove, and a cross by using a water motif. It is set on a grid of rectangles and uses the watercolors of aqua and teal.

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“Children By Grace, Extending Christ's Embrace"
Created by David Hetland and StudioWorks, LLC.


Family of God's first set of stained glass windows is inspired by the following bible verses:

Galatians 3:26-28
" . . . for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

Romans 12:3-8
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.  We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us:  prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching, the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness."

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"A New Creation"
Given by Donn Escher and Bruce and Ona Cary and family in memory of Julie Cary
Designed by David Hetland and StudioWorks, LLC.
Window Fabrication by Orchard Stained Glass of Fargo



"New Creation" is a series of seven stained-glass windows made for the upper south sanctuary openings of Family of God Lutheran Church.  They are fashioned with leaded cathedral, opalescent, and streaky glass with hand-painted and sand blasted details.

The imagery contained within the design consists of symbols of Creation.  In the beginning, God's hand brings forth life.  He created the world and we are created in God's image.  Rays of light cascade through the darkness giving life to everything earthly.  The windows show a creating hand separating the waters from the firmament, creating plants, stars, sun, and moon, creatures of the sea, sky, and land, culminating with the creation of human beings.  The star of Bethlehem reminds us of the Son of God being born into this world.  The cross speaks of the death of Jesus, through which our sins are forgiven.  The flag proclaims the resurrection, through which the "New Creation" is begun, and the golden city shows the Heavenly New Jerusalem, where the "New Creation" is brought to completion. 

Click here to enjoy a closer look at some of the "Creation" panels.

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