NB: The cross is temporarily in storage as we have re-arranged our Sanctuary

As much as possible each of the crosses have been made from the Biblical woods (marked in italics).  Also, except where certain colors were significant and it was necessary to employ vegetable dyes, the colors of the woods are their natural color without any stain or other coloration.

Barbed Cross:  This cross is made from a combination of sycamore and cedar.  It was dyed purple.
Cross and Orb:  This cross is made of myrtlewood.  If you look closely you may see a curved band at the equator made of walnut.  It was dyed blue to remind us of the King's royal family.
Jerusalem Cross:  This cross is also known as the Crusader's Cross and it is made from English brown oak since many of the crusaders came from England.  The color of this cross is natural except for the painted grey center portions.
Arced Cross:  This cross is made from pine.  It is dyed green to represent healing and growth.
Rounded Cross:  This cross is made of cypress and this is the natural color of the wood.
Cross of the Ascent:  This cross is made of myrtlewood and is dyed red to remind us of Jesus' blood shed for us on the cross.
Star Cross:  This cross is made from wenge, a wood native to Africa.  The deep black color is natural and reminds us of Jesus' death on the cross.
Titled Cross:  This cross is made of holly, one of the world's whitest woods.  this is its natural color.  Its whiteness represents Jesus' purity.
Flowered Cross:  This cross is made using several woods.  The center circle is a wood called ziricote which comes from Mexico.  The arms are Osage orange, natural to the United States.  this is its natural color.  The third material is real gold leaf.  the gold reminds us how much our salvation cost -- the precious life of God's only Son, Jesus.
 
 

The History of the Cross:
The cross was made by a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Paul Burri.  Here is the story of the cross, as told by him:
"From the day my wife Betty and I began attending services at Good Shepherd regularly, I would sit in church looking around, trying to think of something I could contribute to Good Shepherd's decoration.  Trouble was, it looked to me like everything that needed to be done had been done.  There were beautifully made banner hangers, a complete set of wall candleholders, great wooden crosses on each side of the altar and even a set of candleholders that went on each pew at special times during the year.

Then last year during Lent, Pastor Johnson gave a series of sermons on "The Wisdom of the Cross" and at each sermon, he held up a simple colored cardboard miniature cross to illustrate his sermon.  That was the inspiration I had been waiting for.  That day I went home and began sketching my ideas for doing those crosses in wood, and a few weeks later, I showed them to Pastor.  With his enthusiastic approval, work began.

Originally, I envisioned them on the wall to the left of the altar -- the wall where the band usually sits.  When the crosses were finally finished and the large gold cross frame had been completed, it became obvious that it was way too big for that spot.  We tried it on the side wall to the right of the altar.  It looked OK there but then someone suggested that perhaps it should be mounted over the altar.  I must admit that at first I was overwhelmed by the idea.  One evening the elders were invited to decide where it should go and after trying it here and there, the decision to place it behind the altar was unanimous.  As someone said that night, "The more you see it there, the more you feel that's the only place for it to be."

I am pleased, flattered and very humble, that the Pastor, the Elders and the congregation have agreed to mount the crosses in such a place of honor.  I hope with all my heart that it will bring pleasure to our members and beauty to our church for years to come.  To God be the glory!
 

Many thanks to Marc Muench for the beautiful photographs of the cross, which are on this page and our home page.