Visitors to the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus sometimes observe that there is no cross. In fact, there is. A crucifix is suspended over the altar, but because this piece of art is thin and suspended in front of the massive stained glass window of Saints Timothy and Titus, the crucifix is not very visible.
You can see it now. A most generous gift from the estate of Mr. Eugene and Mrs. Nell Fincke will fulfill the original design of the chapel, stained glass windows throughout. Mr. and Mrs. Fincke were longtime supporters of the Seminary; Mr. Fincke served many years as chairman of our Board of Regents, then called the Board of Control. A special committee has worked for two years and the current Board of Regents has approved the committee’s work. The theme of the new windows will be the “Te Deum Laudamus,” “We praise Thee, O God.” Because the chancel window of Timothy and Titus is faceted glass, a modern style inconsistent with the older-style, more traditional leaded glass that will be installed in all the windows, the chancel window has been removed and temporarily replaced with clear glass. For the time being, you sit in the pew and indeed see the cross of Jesus. The window of Saints Timothy and Titus will be reinstalled near the external entrance to the chapel building.
This reminds me of the center of Christian piety. We get attached to the sanctuaries in which we worship. The architecture of the building, the ennobling sounds of musical instruments and choir, stained glass windows that visualize the story of our salvation… these support our devotion, but the focus of our piety is Jesus. We see His cross clearly now in our chapel, and we’ll see Jesus as never before when the new windows are installed. The new chancel window will be a splendid depiction of the resurrected Christ. The south transept, clear glass now, will be Jesus on the cross and the north transept, also clear now, will be His ascension, exaltation, and return in Judgment. These new windows will help form the piety of our future pastors, deaconesses, and indeed of all who will worship in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, the piety that looks to Jesus Christ and sings, “Te Deum Laudamus.”