Worship with us Sundays at 9:30 AM 

A place where Creator meets creation

Our altar is a place to meet God and be met by God. This happens everywhere and at all times, but the human heart sometimes craves a focus and an object. Therefore, God, in mercy to us all, calls us to, and meets us at, those altars that we dedicate to God.

For those who would see them, there are many symbols and metaphors within this altar.

The altar sits upon three pillars. Three has always been associated with God whom we have come to know as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. The pillars are equal in every way, as are the persons of God.

Each pillar has twelve sides. In these we are reminded of how it is that we come to know God through the Christian faith. The twelve tribes of Israel are reckoned as the descendents of Israel, the name given to Jacob by God. Jacob was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, with whom God made a covenant and who was called "a friend of God". Jesus chose twelve disciples whom he called friends to be with him in his ministry on this earth. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit empowered and sent out the twelve apostles into the world to proclaim the message of salvation and peace with God and with our neighbor. In these pillars of twelve sides we acknowledge how almost all that we know of God we know through the lives and stories of the twelve tribes of Israel, the disciples, and the apostles.

A triangle sits upon the pillars. Here again the number three and the identity of God is invoked, but this time the three sides of the triangle are not of equal length. In this we are reminded that, though the persons of God are equal, our experience of God may have an emphasis. As we look at creation we may feel most closely aware of God as creator. As we look at ourselves we may be most aware of God as our redeemer. As we consider how God calls us into peace and into change we may be most aware of God as sanctifier.

A glass ellipse sits upon the triangle. In the circle we are reminded both that God is one and that God is eternal. The ellipse is a shape which is still symmetrically perfect and yet drawn out or stretched. Here we may find that our perception of our eternal God is that of a mortal being. We perceive eternity from the point of view of those who dwell within the progression of time. Thus, the circle is stretched and elongated, as we experience time.

The glass is seven feet long, and three feet deep. Seven, we may associate as a metaphor for creation. Three, again reminds us of the person of God. Here, creator meets creation.

Placed beneath the altar is a stained glass depiction of the mountains to the northwest of Las Vegas. In ancient times the altars of the people of Israel were made of "unhewn stones". These stones, which no hand but God's have fashioned, were a consistent feature of altars to God. The mountains depicted in stained glass are the unhewn stones-shaped only by God.

Placed on top of the altar are candles. These primitive lights reminds us at once that God has called light to displace darkness from the beginning of time-God will reveal that which darkness would obscure, and that God's Word-incarnate in Jesus-is the light of the world.

Also on the altar is a cross. The cross, along with the elements of Holy Communion when they are served, remind us of the lengths to which God will go to call us out of lives lived without hope or love. The altar has long been perceived as a place of sacrifice-a place of atonement-where an animal's life might be exchanged for a sin. Some contributors to the Bible saw Jesus as a penultimate sacrifice atoning for all sin throughout time. For us, our altar is a place of gathering those who seek God and a focal point for our relationship with God.

The altar is a gift to the congregation from Karin Krueger in memory of her husband Walter. The design is by her son David. Many hands have contributed to its making, both within and beyond the congregation.

A place where death is transformed

Jesus taught us:  "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."  (Matthew 16:24-25)  Therefore, our cross has no image of any one person, not even Jesus, because Jesus taught us that there is a cross for everyone who would follow him.

The cross is a tool of death.  Even as Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, he teaches that in following him we must die to oursleves.  Self-interest is not how Jesus lived his life, nor is it the way to live our lives if we seek to emulate Jesus' values and goals.  Therefore, in the cross, every Christian is reminded of the call to die to self.  For this reason, our cross has two beams of oak - quite heavy enough to serve as a cross which is a means of death.

Jesus transformed the cross, but not in his dying - lots of people have died on crosses.  Jesus' transformation of the cross is a result of his resurrection!  He reveals in his own death and resurrection a central mystery of our faith:  "Those who lose their life for my sake will find it."  The world teaches us that death leads to being dead.  Jesus teaches us that death leads to our discovering and truly possessing life.  For this reason, our cross has two "beams" of branches in which vines and flowers are woven - symbols of life.

Finally, our cross has arms of equal length.  This form is known historically as a "Jerusalem Cross".  Our cross is in this form to convey the equality and balance between our calling to die to self and our promise that we shall find our life.  Jesus is followed when we die to self and discover life.  This mystery, its juxtaposition and balance, has ever invited people to repent - turn from - what lives we had, and believe in the gospel - the good news - and embrace the lives we discover in Jesus. 

This cross is presented to Northwest Community Church
in memory of Ed and Gloria Dickelman
by their daughter, Linda,
her husband, Ed,
and their family.