The
Comforter Whom The Father Will Send In My Name
The
Pentecost window is the last in the series surrounding the
nave of the church, and is located closest to the lectern.
The disciples of Jesus are seen on the day of Pentecost
as they receive the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the dove
and the flames. God's Word, inspired by the Spirit, is read
at every service from the lectern nearby.
Cresting the
lower portion of the last window is the present Seal of
the City of Albany, dating from 1789. Directly beneath,
and continuing the congregation's history, is the First
Lutheran Church which stood at Pine and Lodge Streets from
1870 to 1334. During its period of service, it saw the initiation
of a long line of loyal societies and organizations; it
marked the appearance of First Lutheran's First deaconess,
Sister Margaret Gundrum; and it heralded the age of radio
with regular Sunday service broadcasts. Half-imposed upon
the rendering of it is Redeemer Lutheran Church, the little
chapel on Lake Avenue, now supplanted by the Elouise Apartments.
Not until the middle of the nineteen twenties did the uptown
(Redeemer) and the downtown (First Lutheran) congregations
consolidate into one.
Proceeding
clockwise is the Friendship House, which is shown in its
present location on State Street. Its facilities have served
spiritually and secularly, as its basement contains bowling
alleys and a gymnasium, and the balcony of the main hall
at one time housed a projection booth for motion pictures.
Services of the church were held in Friendship House from
1929 until 1954. Sounder economic times saw fulfillment
of the twenty-five-year wish of the congregation to complete
its construction plans for First Lutheran on Western Avenue.
Forming the downstroke of the letter "T," the
present-day church adjoins Friendship House and is accessible
through it.
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