Tent of the
Lord
United By Faith Lutheran
Church was designed by architects Cooley and Bore of Park
Ridge, Illinois, in 1961. It is “tent-like”
in appearance and for this reason the church has become
known as “The Tent of the Lord.” The unusual
curve of the fourteen trusses, each held in place by
concrete piers like the stakes of a tent, and the long
pitch of the roof gives the semblance of the shape of a
tent. The church, thus, becomes a constant reminder that
“we are strangers and pilgrims on earth as were our
fathers and mothers before us,” and we have
“no continuing city but one that is to come.”
As God’s people in the wilderness of the world, we
have pitched our tent along the road to the Promised
Land.
The
Narthex
On the wall facing the entrance in the narthex are
Italian, hand-carved, wood figures of the Lord and his
first twelve disciples.
To the left of the
office door is an etched glass window invoking the name
of the Triune God in word and symbol.
The Baptistry –
prayer chapel
From the narthex one enters the baptismal chapel. This
chapel is a place of silence, closed off from the noise
of the world. It is the place where sacrament of entrance
into God’s gracious kingdom is celebrated. When the
doors to the nave are opened the congregation may turn
and face the baptistry for the celebration of Holy
Baptism.
Two circles of pin-point
lights in the ceiling attempt to symbolize God, the
eternal creator of Light. The floor stone in the chapel
and chancel is New York bluestone.
The stone altar in the baptistry rests in a pool of
water. The oak mensa of the altar is incised with five
Maltese crosses, which symbolize the wounds of Christ. On
the bronze apron of the mensa are the symbols of two fish
and the Greek word for fish – IXØUS, used as an
early Christian Symbol for “Jesus Christ,
God’s Son, Savior.”
The continuous flow of water over the stone base of the
altar symbolizes (in sound and sight) Jesus Christ, the
Living Water, who “if one drinks he will never
thirst.” (John 4)
The Christus Rex, or Christ
the King, above the altar depicts the sacrifice and the
victory of the Lord. On the walls which frame the altar
are both a bronze symbol of the Holy Trinity and the
sanctuary lamp, symbolic of Christ the light of the world
eternally present. (John 8)
Adorning the walls of the chapel are additional plaques
depicting the four Evangelists, a figure of the risen
Christ, another metal Christus Rex and an icon crucifix.
The Nave
The oak doors which open from the baptistry into the nave
have wood push-bars in which the meaning of the Old
Testament name “Bethel” is carved --
“This is the house of God, the gateway of
heaven.” (Genesis 28) As one enters the name,
one’s vision is swept upward from the suppressed
feeling of the low ceiling in the baptistry.
The 15-foot cross over the altar gives meaning to the
words of Christ: “And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all people to me.” (John 12)
A continuous skylight with a
plastic dome runs the full length of the church. Under
the skylight is a ceiling of hand-blown stained glass,
the colors range from dark shades in the west end to
bright, brilliant colors at the east or altar end. The
myriad of colors is an expression of the New Jerusalem.
(Revelation 21)
In the chapel and church multicolor slab glass enclosed
in the masonry gives side light.
The Chancel and Sanctuary
The altar is made of Georgian-white, gold-veined marble
and is built on its own foundation. The base is
roughhewn, circular in form, made up of 19 separate
pieces of marble. The square mensa is symbolic of the
Gospel being preached in all parts of the world. Incised
in its polished marble are five Maltese crosses and on
the sides of the altar are the Greek letters Alpha and
Omega – Christ the beginning and the ending of all
creation. (Revelations 1)
Surrounding the altar is a
circular communion rail, which reminds all of the unity
of Christ’s body and the community shared by his
brothers and sisters in the church. The carved reredos
holds seven candlesticks.
Behind the reredos is an ambulatory and two sacristies.
The lectern-pulpit, from which the Scriptures are read
and the Gospel is proclaimed, is of simple contemporary
design.
The processional cross is placed next to the pulpit in
the manner of the old custom of a pulpit crucifix.
Whenever there is a processional, the cross is carried,
“lifted high,” to lead God’s people in
worship. Processional candlesticks often accompany the
cross in procession, lead the Gospel procession when the
scripture reading is carried to the midst of the people,
and frequently they stand to the sides of the lectern as
symbols of the light of Christ in similar fashion as do
the Eucharistic lights on the altar. The communion
candlesticks have Christ’s monogram, the Chi (X)
Rho (P) on black Belgian marble.
Size
The nave-chancel area is 110 feet long and 40 feet wide.
The roof arcs upward 45 feet. The seating of the nave is
350.
Mission Statement
After two years of meetings, discussions, joint worship
services, prayers and struggles, Bethel Lutheran Church
(1938-1998) and Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church
(1946-1998) made the decision to consolidate our
congregations. On December 9, 1998, the first Sunday in
Advent, we held our first worship service together and
after several months of suggestions the membership
decided on the name United By Faith Evangelical Lutheran
Church.
Our first mission statement in 1998 – United by
faith, moving forward in mission, sharing Jesus with all
– helped us to begin defining ourselves as a new
congregation. After several years of working and
continuing to struggle together, we felt this initial
mission statement needed to be revisited.
In 2002, a vision team was created to determine clearer
goals and objectives for our congregation in order to
give each and every member of UBF an understanding of
what it meant to be a member of this community. With our
new mission statement -- To be faithful disciples
of Christ for all by providing a place of haven and
healing and celebrating God's creation through the
arts – we hope to encourage every person
to feel welcome and safe in our community known as United
By Faith in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
During summer 2005, over 30 people gathered to study and
pray about what God is up to among us. During those
gatherings, our purpose statment and guiding principles
were prayed into words.
Our purpose: We are a witnessing community of faith, here
to reach and teach the love and forgiveness of Jesus
Christ.
These things guide us in that purpose:
Jesus is Lord.
All are welcome.
Teach God's love by example.
Everyone shares what they have.
Pray often for God's guidance and vision.