People the Light Shines Through

Stained Glass Reredos dedicated February 8, 2004

While many retired pastors are enjoying their retirement years at a somewhat slower pace, retired Pastor and District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Richard Lehto and his wife Eleanore, have not slowed down much. In addition to the normal pulpit supply and responsibilities with Conference committees, and an active angel pin business, Dick and Eleanore have returned to Dick’s home town and affiliated with First United Methodist Church.

Who knows, but that you have come to the kingdom for a time such as this?

Dick and Eleanore have provided ministry to First UMC in many ways, singing in the choir, serving as liturgist, and as interim during a difficult transitional period. For this service, and their winsome and gracious presence, the church designated Dick as Pastor Emeritus.

For years, the church had been looking to replace the dated plastic panels in the reredos, but couldn’t decide on the method. Most plans would have been quite expensive, or controversial. Dick and Eleanore Lehto came to the Trustees with a plan to design and build a stained glass installation, with volunteer labor, at great savings to the Church. No one had any idea how quickly this would go, nor of how beautiful the result.

Taking his inspiration from John 8.12, “I am the light of the world,” Rev. Lehto designed a series of panels which would harmonize with the existing windows, yet be an exciting new design, a sunburst reflecting the central cross. Eleanore undertook to train and encourage more than 30 volunteers to produce this work in our own stained glass studio, working on Mondays. As the vision caught on, the excitement and enthusiasm grew: folks volunteered to make dinner, so the workers could work essentially all day. Carpenters and electricians were brought in to make the necessary adaptations; donors generously supported the project with their gifts and prayers. Thousands of hours of volunteer labor brought a beautiful result.

The reredos as we see it today is a testimony to what can be done, by the grace of God, working together in common cause. It is more than a beautiful addition to the chancel; it is a testament to the vision and dedication of so many who have made this possible. It has galvanized our Church! Although the stained glass project is continuing in a different form, what other ministries could we accomplish? It is perhaps a new beginning, helping us to realize what we can do together!

A Sunday School teacher was talking with her students about saints, and asked the class to define what a saint might be. Various answered were offered, a good person, a person who is an example to others, etc., but one little person raised her hand enthusiastically to say, “A saint is a person the sun shines through!” Upon further inquiry, the teacher found she was referring to the stained glass windows in their church, depicting several of the saints of the Church.

Thanks go to the donors and volunteers, but especially to the Lehtos, whose vision, skill and dedication have characterized the success of this endeavor.

Pastor John M. Germaine