Psalm 121
A Song of Ascents
The stained glass that adorns our sanctuary incorporates our deep faith with our local setting, the beautiful natural Arizona landscape. Under the direction of our stained glass committee, Powers Stained Glass Studios in Scottsdale brought the Holy Land to life and into light at the front of our sanctuary. The windows were dedicated September 15, 2019, blessed by Arizona Bishop, Rt. Reverend Jennifer Reddall. The glass itself changes throughout the day, shifting colors and highlights with the natural light. Viewed from the outside of the building, especially at night when the church is lit, the glass is a scenic gift to the neighborhood. Children love to find animals hidden throughout the landscape. It is a favorite backdrop for sermons, sacraments, concerts and casual and formal photos.
The HOly Land in Our Arizona Landscape
In 2017, the Saint Matthew’s stained glass committee was tasked with filling with beauty, 530 square feet of glass on the north face of our new sanctuary. The committee made countless individual, virtual and collective tours of several local examples of stained glass work to come up with one cohesive glass style. The richly saturated color and naturally flowing line style developed over hours of driving from site to site to see different styles of glass and vendor work. Road trip discussions often included personal family pioneering histories of Chandler and the surrounding area. Many of the committee members came from farming families, had visited the Holy Land (so similar to Arizona scenery) and cherished the splendor of the desert. They gravitated toward a stained glass story that incorporated our deep faith traditions with our local setting, the beautiful natural Arizona landscape.
The scenery depicted of the Holy Land in the stained glass incorporates saguaro, ocotillo and cholla found right here in Chandler, Arizona and the scenery does not stop there. Wildflowers and blossoms cascade through pure blue water and rolling red rock. Quail, roadrunners, reptiles and jackrabbits subtly nest throughout canyons, arroyos and sand dunes.
Psalm 121
The left side of the windows reflects Old Testament imagery from Psalm 121: A Song of Ascents
PSALM 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
The Good Shepherd
The right depicts: The Good Shepherd from the New Testament showing Christ surrounded by sheep.
Committee Members
Janice Ghiz, Mike Halle, Steena Murray, Virginia Sample, Bill Rezzonico, Dale Fairbanks, Dominic Moore, Wayne Needham, and Pat Needham. Many generous donations from the congregation supported this project.
powers studio
Powers Studio was chosen for their quality of work, shown in their local examples and national recognition, their creative and original response to the committee’s vision, their experience (30 + years) and large-scale capability and their reasonable business terms. The studio was a joy to collaborate with on this immense project. The work has been featured in publications since installation.
SMEC Chapel Stained Glass
Chancel stained glass, installed during the first major chapel renovation.
The SMEC Chapel has been through two large renovations. The congregation first broke ground on April 4, 1958 at our current address. The tiny church was constructed by parishioners with adobe block and lovingly referred to as Rosie’s Cantina. In the following years, the church went through large overhauls. The north quarter, off the Memorial Garden, is all that remains of the original building and still functions as the chapel’s Sacristy and vesting rooms. The building was secured with concrete blocks and expanded to accommodate the modest congregation. At this time the stained glass that currently resides on the sides of the Chancel was installed at the back of the Chancel. In a later renovation the altar was expanded and the Chancel stained glass was moved to its current location.
In 1986 the chapel went through a significant expansion. Both the east and west ends of the building were removed and the building was stretched to give the present seating capacity of 220 and the Nave and Narthex stained glass were installed and dedicated.
TO THE GLORY OF GOD - ISAIAH. SMEC Chapel, Narthex
TO THE GLORY OF GOD - EMANUEL. SMEC Chapel, Narthex
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING for the life and love of Blanche Lewis by The Rezzonico Family
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING by the Needham Family
TO THE GLORY OF GOD, SMEC Chapel, Chancel
TO THE GLORY OF GOD, SMEC Chapel, Chancel
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING, JOY AND LOVE of their children and grandchildren by Albert and Frances Tibshraeny
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY of Harry and Elsie Newlands, Leo and Minnie Benoit by Bill and Evelyn Newlands
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY of my wife Alice Louise Hudson by Jim Hudson
TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN LOVING MEMORY of Martin A Nyvall, Kate Lacoste Nyvall, John H McNatt, Edith Henson McNatt by the Nyvall Family. Martin, Mariah and sons, John and James
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING by Judith Burtnyk
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING by our members from Sun Lakes
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING for the life of Walter and for their children Sandra and Alvin and grandson Sherrick by Edith Blunt
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING by Buzz, Janice, Annalise & Nicholas and the Ghiz and Tibshraeny Families