Chalfant Window

The upper section shows the Angel of Charity [i.e.Love] in an attitude of request, prayer and forgiveness.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. 3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love is patient, love is kind. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t boast, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always hopes, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”

1 Corinthians 13

The lower section shows two figures in the wild, desolate landscape. The kneeling individual is the Good Samaritan. The injured man is a Jew. Jews and Samaritans in Bible times were arch enemies.

Jesus answered [the question “Who is my neighbor?”] by telling a story:

“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up and went off leaving him half dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled cross to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

But a Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper saying, “Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill – I’ll pay you on my way back.”

Luke 10:30-36

The Good Samaritan’s compassion is costly. Compassion cost him time, money, and the willingness to return to be sure the man was restored.
The arm of the Good Samaritan is sheltering the broken man with his love. The downcast expression of the broken man is being healed by the compassionate hand of Jesus upon his heart.
Look again at the face of the broken man in the window. He has just been beaten nearly to death, yet there are no wounds, no blood. By the love of Jesus the man is already made whole. The love of Jesus has already transformed him.
Jesus bled and died to bind up our wounds, to lift up our spirits, and to make us whole. What Jesus has done he has already done for you. In Christ you are broken no longer.

From the sermon “Transformational Love” by Dr. Stuart D. Broberg, July 8, 2007

The Chalfant window was a gift of Mrs. John W. Chalfant and her daughters in memory of John W. (1827-1898) and Ellen (1836-1910).

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