Stained-glass door panels send spiritual message

If the heavens declare the work of God, then Bill Matzat's ecclesiastical artwork reflects the divine.

Matzat recently completed several panels of stained glass in wooden doors that adorn the entrance to the sanctuary at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

The project was an enormous undertaking and the first time Matzat has worked that intensely with stained glass. He's been working with wood and creating art since he was a child.

"I'm not sure I know where to stop," he said. Matzat taught himself woodworking skills as a youngster and has built furniture, carved signs and designed crosses that hang in area churches.

Working in glass adds another dimension and creates more energy in a piece of art, said Matzat, who is also chaplain at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

"To take something inert and unforgiving like glass and turn it into something dynamic" is at the heart of his work, Matzat said.

He said the project was worshipful -- it almost had to be. Matzat, a former minister at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, told parts of the biblical story in the door panels.

He spent time with stained-glass experts in St. Louis to learn the mechanics of creating glass. He used his background in theology to sketch a design.

The first set of doors -- there are six in all and two sets of side panels -- tells the story of creation and Old Testament history. Images of the ark, the burning bush, the parted Red Sea and Mount Sinai are shown. The middle set of doors shows the word and sacraments of the Lutheran Church. The Holy Spirit is shown by a dove, and water flowing from one side of the door frame symbolizes baptism. Grapes and sheaves of wheat represent the elements used in communion. An open Bible acts as an anchor. The construction of the solid oak frame depicts a cross when the doors are closed.

The last set of doors show Christ's second coming and the New Testament, with images of a lion and lamb lying together. The Alpha and Omega symbols also are represented.

When members at St. Andrew approached Matzat about creating doors, they expected he would develop wooden doors, perhaps with panes of clear glass. The doors were needed to screen the sanctuary from other open spaces in the church and were part of a redesigned building layout.

Matzat sketched out his ideas, developed some samples and showed them to church members, seeking approval. He received it and began his work.

The project combined what Matzat loves as a hobby with his passionate faith. "It brings to us the story of salvation and does it in a creative way through stained glass."

Matzat said the purpose for his creation was to show the biblical story and history. "It's meditational. People stand and see different things that have spiritual meanings."

One woman stood at the doors and wept because of something that was depicted. "It's interesting to see the different responses," he said.

The door panels are visible reminders of God's grace, he said.

"There are no words and no sounds, but yet a message goes out to the world," he said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126