The statement “a picture is worth a thousand words” is certainly true as you walk through the facility of St. John. Although no words are spoken, the gospel of Jesus is communicated constantly through the various works of art found in both the church and school.
The elegant stained glass windows and Christian symbols surround us as we worship, reminding us about God’s plan for the salvation of the whole world. And likewise, the school classrooms also depict the life and ministry of the disciples through the crafting of the mosaic panels.
As you move around the building, stop, and take note, not only of the beauty of the art, but also the powerful messages that are portrayed.
The word “Chrismons” means Christ’s monogram. St. John first used them in 1968. They were all made by members of our Congregation. All Chrismons are made in combinations of gold and white beads. White is the liturgical color for joy, purity and perfection. The gold represents our Lord’s majesty and glory. The evergreen Christmas tree is a symbol of God’s constancy. The white lights on the tree represent Christ’s constant presence as the “light to the World”. (*The word Chrismons is copyrighted by the Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Danville, VA.)
Click here to read about the meaning behind each of our Chrismons.
Update on the mosaics: The mosaics were removed from our school classrooms on July 25, 2023, by Evan Balleweg and his assistant and transported to Concordia University, Nebraska. Mr. Balleweg is the Operations Manager for The Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. He is supervising the restoration, cleaning, and installation of the mosaics which will be displayed at the University. Professor Jim Bockelman, who is the chairman of the Art Department, is also working with this project. We will be receiving monthly updates from Mr. Balleweg as to the progress of the mosaics.
Mr. Balleweg reports:
“Hanging storage system has been built in the studio, allowing mosaics to be displayed when not being worked on. We have capacity to work on four mosaics at a time. Initial test cleaning has been successful but is waiting for students on campus to begin in earnest. Work on new frames has begun. Jim Bockelman was very impressed with the pieces and has proposed a gallery show in the Marxhausen gallery to celebrate this wonderful gift. Gallery show will take place from October to December with the understanding that some restoration work will likely still be ongoing at the time. Memorial names and information would be useful in preparing the exhibit. After the conclusion of the show the mosaics will be moved to a permanent location (likely in the Janzow Campus Center but still awaiting final confirmation). There they will have an official dedication, etc.”
You can see pictures of the restoration process and the hanging system by clicking this link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WY23Te7bb1BXbVM9
Background on the mosaics: Thirteen mosaics depicting the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. Artist Reinhold Marxhausen created the mosaics in 1964 for the school’s dedication. Each of the disciples is represented in an individual mosaic and a final piece titled “The Great Catch” depicts Jesus calling his followers.
From 1951 until his retirement in 1989, Marxhausen taught at Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. He was the art department’s first chairperson and fully trained artist and, during his tenure, mentored hundreds of students. During this time, Marxhausen gained national recognition by exhibiting his artwork and embarking on a nationwide tour to give talks and hands-on seminars at churches and schools. His most well-known works span the scale from two giant mosaic murals in the Nebraska State Capitol building to the charming, pocket-size sound sculptures called Stardust.
Click on the Mosaic title to see the story it tells. The former location of each mosaic is included in the descriptions.
The Great Catch of Fish - Narthex
The mosaic panel in the Narthex illustrates The Great Catch of Fish as written in Luke 5:4-11.
The Disciple John - Room 203
John is the disciple our congregation is named for. Room 203
The Disciple Matthew - Room 202
This mosaic depicts the Disciple Matthew who was a tax collector. Room 202
The Disciple Philip - Room 204
This panel depicts two events in the life of Philip, based on John 6:2-14 and John 12:20.
The Disciple Simon, the Zealot - Room 304
Not to be confused with Simon Peter, the Bible does not give us much information about Simon or why he was was known as the "Zealot"
The Disciple Peter - Room 103
In contrast, the Bible provides a lot of detail about Simon also known as Peter - the Rock.
The Disciple Andrew - Room 101
Andrew was Peter's brother. This mosaic is based on John 1:35-42.
The Disciple Thomas - Room 102
Thomas is often given the nickname “Doubting Thomas” because he doubted the fact that Jesus had really risen from the dead.
The Disciple James - Room 201
The contrasts in this panel remind us of the contrasts in Jame's life.
The Disciple Bartholomew - Room 301
It is believed that Bartholomew was also known as Nathanael.
The Disciple James the Less - Room 104
This mosaic depicts the power of prayer as recorded in James 5: 17-18.
The Disciple Jude - Room 302
The artist called this panel the “Missionary Outreach” panel.
The Disciple Judas - Room 303
The central figure of the panel is a dead tree-the symbol of the betrayer, Judas