These pictures show the pieces for the Bakersfield baptismal font and ambo. The top image is of the bowl for the font - the inside is bronze and the outside is nickel plated. The inside has a patina (a film that oxidizes on bronze) to give it a beautiful turquoise-blue color. The font stand and ambo in the second picture have custom-made mosaic inserts that will harmonize with other mosaics that are already part of the chancel design. 

When the CLA makes furnishings out of metal, we often work with John Conklin at Shorey Metal Works in Topeka, Kansas. These pictures show the ambo in different phases of construction. The long niche in the front of the ambo will hold a red mosaic panel. 

CUNE alumna Susan Thowe made this banner for Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka. We love to see Concordia alumni using their artistic talents to beautify their worship spaces! 

CUNE art student Kristin Easler designed and fabricated this 34' scrolling banner for Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. Each of the felt pieces was cut and appliqued onto the banner. The banner will rotate around the loop so that different parts of the design show, corresponding to the weeks of Lent, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. More pictures to come soon of the banner at Crown of Life! 

The 40 foot tall cross at St. John in Bakersfield was adorned with a black banner this past Holy Week. It looks so striking and poignant against a gray sky. A white banner replaced this one on Easter morning - He is Risen, indeed!

Our partner in Topeka, Kansas, John Conklin at Shorey Metal Works, made this processional cross and accompanying candle stands (only one is shown.)The cross is made of stainless steel but will be gold leafed (with real gold!) to match the wall cross that is already in the sanctuary at St. John in Bakersfield, California. 

Artist Phil Perschbacher lent a helping hand to St. Paul in Serbin, TX when they needed repairs for an old, beloved crucifix. The first photo shows how the arms of the crucifix had been crumbling away. There were also damages to the hands, hair and toe. Phil repaired the plaster form and re-painted the figure. Now that the restoration is finished, the crucifix looks clean and new again! 

Here is a picture of one of the panels for the clerestory windows at St. John in Bakersfield. The photo is a little funny-looking because it's upside down! But rotating the photo upside down was a lot easier (and safer!) than rotating the entire window. 

William Wolfram, a former CU art professor, often creates artwork for the CLA. He has worked in many different artistic media, from painted wooden crosses like the one above, to graphic designs. This cross is one that may be used for a chancel wall cross. We are blessed to work with great artists all over the country!

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when we make stained glass windows, here's an insider's peek. Glass is traced over a pattern, cut out, and then organized in piles by color and location in the window. Each piece is labeled with a number so that it can be put back in the right spot when the time comes to lead the window together. The window being made here is for St. John Lutheran in Bakersfield, California.