Commemorate Earth Day
Saint Michael’s Litchfield West Window
This window depicts creation – oceans, rivers, earth, sky, heavens, and their inhabitants from whales to angels – which are described in the Canticle titled The Song of Creation. The phrase, “O ye servants of the Lord, Praise ye the Lord, Praise him and Magnify Him forever,” which is inscribed across the lower part of the window appears on page 47 of the prayer book, the next to last stanza.
We have had a framed cartoon of this design in the church for as long as anyone can remember. Designed by the French artist Edward Liddall Armitage, it appears to have been done in the 1920’s or 30’s. While many of the medieval gothic churches depicted the last judgement on the west, with the resurrection on the east, we agreed that this creation window was appropriate for our church and for Litchfield. It was finally fabricated and installed by Stained Glass Resources in Hampton, MA in 2017
Scott McDaniel, the designer on the staff of Stained Glass Resources, received his early training at the Burnham studio, which designed some of our earlier glass. He has taken the cartoon and simplified some of the details in the framework and enriched the colors in the images.
A Song of Creation
Invocation
Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
I The Cosmic Order
Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him forever.
Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and summer, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
II The Earth and its Creatures
Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
III The People of God
Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Doxology
Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Words in bold are depicted in the window.
Words that are underlined are not specifically depicted in the window, but their spirit is present among us as we stand in awe of God’s creation.
