This entry cross at St. John Lutheran Church is one example of the stained glass art that decorates its sanctuary. The sanctuary is celebrating 50 years.
by Stephanie Croston
scroston@sewardindependent.com
Churchgoers attending St. John Lutheran Church in Seward have gone to the sanctuary at the corner of Columbia Avenue and Hillcrest Drive since 1968.
“It’s been a place of worship for 50 years,” the Rev. Scott Bruick said.
The church will host an open house to celebrate the anniversary Sunday, Sept. 16, from 3 to 6 p.m. A program reviewing the church’s story will start at 4 p.m. Refreshments will also be served.
The art and architecture of the sanctuary will be highlighted during the celebration, Bruick said. Bill Wolfram, a member of the original building committee, designed the art around the church’s theological principles.
“This is a theologically sound church structure,” Bruick said.
An illustrated book will be available to help visitors on self-guided tours during the open house.
When the congregation was considering a new building in the 1960s, the architectural movement of the time was to multifunctional space. They chose to focus on a single-function space, using the building’s design to help focus the mind on God.
“It was designed as a tent, to not feel permanent,” Bruick said, adding that it reminds worshippers that they are pilgrims in this world.
Among the architectural features are the church’s stained glass windows. Designed by Reinhold Marxhausen, the east windows symbolize the gospel, with light radiating from a cross in the center. The west windows symbolize Jesus’ life from birth to resurrection and ascension.
A stained glass window at the top of the sanctuary symbolizes the eye of God.
“It’s stained glass just for God,” Bruick said.
Two rows of sentinel bricks, bricks standing on end instead of laying flat, represent the communion of the saints.
Crosses in the entrance and included in the altar and pulpit focus the mind on Christ’s sacrifice. The altar, pulpit and baptismal font are decorated in Italian glass mosaics.
“It’s fun to think about,” Celebration committee member Brent Royuk said of the symbolism throughout the sanctuary.
The current church building is the fourth for the St. John congregation. The first was dedicated in 1879 and is the former Kasey’s Quest building at Fourth and Seward streets.
The second was built across the street to the east where the Wisehart and Winter homes are. It was dedicated in 1893 but was later torn down. A third building was constructed at Highway 34 and Fourth Street and dedicated in 1910. It seated 750 people. It was torn down in 1976. The current Thrivent building was the site of the parsonage.
“That whole block was St. John,” Royuk said.
When the third church was torn down, only the cornerstone and bell moved to the church’s current location.
The afternoon program Sept. 16 will review the church’s history. Music provided by Paul Soulek on the church’s pipe organ will play a key role in the program.
