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Dedicated in July 1981, the Maritime Window is located on the western side of the sanctuary. It was given by Mary Bowersox and Roger Stephen Murray. The plaque beneath the window contains this dedication:
“Those
who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters:
They have seen the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep”
The words come from Psalm 107:23 often known as "the
Sailor's Prayer." This is especially appropriate since Mr. Murray, who gave the window, is a 3rd generation merchant marine. His father and grandfather also went down to the sea in ships.
"Brightly beams our Father's mercy from His lighthouse evermore" is depicted in the guise of our own Pigeon Point Lighthouse located
south of Pescadero, California. Lighthouses on both the west and east coasts were studied for this window and Pigeon Point was selected as the model in the end. In his research Bob noticed most lighthouses had red roofs so our maritime window's lighthouse was designed accordingly. The beam from the light is sending "a gleam across the wave" searching for "some poor sea-man, tempest-tossed, trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost."
In the foreground are other implements of a sailor's trade. A wooden boat is tied up on shore moored by a rope and an anchor. The boat reminds us of the time Jesus spent on the Sea of Galilee in the company
of His disciples, several of whom were fisherman. The rope and anchor have long been Christian symbols of faith. Also significant is the pelican. Pelicans are mentioned in the Bible and have been used in
Christian art for centuries.
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