The Light in the Link project brought together artists from Red Deer Lake United, McDougall United, and the wider community in a beautiful expression of Advent. With over 30 artists contributing, the four illuminated windows reflected the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, and we hope it offered a meaningful experience for all who visited, and are deeply grateful to everyone who shared their creativity. Special thanks to Dave Churchill for his help in hanging the work and setting up the lighting. Projects like this truly take many hands, and we are thankful for each one.
Each submission represented a personal reflection on Advent, adding rich layers of meaning to the display. As visitors viewed the windows from the garden, they could also see the Nativity at the center, reminding us that Christ stands behind and within all these themes.
Rev. Cox was delighted with the depth and beauty of the contributions and looks forward to an even more ambitious Light in the Link next year, with broader community involvement.
For a better look at the images, as well as a fuller description of the project and its inspiration, please see below.
All finished panels will be available for pick up by the artist after church for the next two Sundays or during Office hours.
As with any first-year project, this was very much a learning curve. There were countless small decisions along the way, but through them we learned a great deal that will shape and strengthen next year’s event. And since many of the details have been worked out you this year, Rev. Cox feels that next year we can confidently seek out input for the event from of the wider community next year. Simply put, lessons learned this year have helped Reverend Cox feel confident that opening it to the larger community is quite feasible. And he sees it as a wonderful way to draw in people of all ages, but most especially families in the area to participate.
A few things to consider about the installation itself.
The installation was purposely designed so that when viewing the images either from inside or outside, you couldn’t help but notice that Christ was central to each of the different panels.
From outside, the four groupings of windows formed a radiant witness, with the black panels reflecting the Nativity scene in the adjacent garden and centering Christ within each Advent theme.
From inside, a clear sightline to the unique nativity scene in our garden reminded us again that Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love all find their source in Christ.
In our discussions at the “Palates” group we felt that it was important that we find a way to honor the Indigenous peoples on whose land our church stands.
We also knew that we wanted to use the themes of Hope, joy, peace, and love found in our Christian tradition of candle lighting.
When we began reflecting on these themes we were struck by how closely they were echoed in the ancient teachings of the Medicine Wheel.
And, after much consideration, the group came up with the idea that the colors and layout of the top panels could echo the symbolism of the Medicine Wheel
Here’s a brief overview of some of the connections we feel authentically Honor both traditions.
East – Hope
The East is the place of sunrise, beginnings, and awakening. In the Medicine Wheel it is associated with spring, birth, and the spirit. It is where vision is formed and where light first returns after night. This resonates deeply with the Advent candle of Hope. Hope is the promise that even in darkness, light is coming. After the flood, God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign that life would continue and that the Creator’s relationship with the earth and all living beings would endure. In the same way, the birth of Christ was a sign of new beginning for the world. The rising sun of the East and the candle of Hope both proclaim that God’s faithfulness brings renewal, possibility, and trust in what is yet to come.
South – Joy
The South is the direction of warmth, growth, and relationship. It is linked with summer, youth, emotion, and movement. In this quadrant of the Medicine Wheel, life is vibrant and shared in community. This aligns naturally with the Advent candle of Joy. Joy is not only happiness, but the deep gladness that comes from connection — with one another and with the Creator. Just as summer brings fullness to the land, the birth of Christ brings fullness of life and celebration to the world. The warm winds of the South echo the glad tidings proclaimed by the angels: “good news of great joy for all people.”
West – Peace
The West is the place of the setting sun, reflection, and harvest. It is associated with autumn, adulthood, the body, and the earth. The Medicine Wheel teaches that this is a time of grounding, healing, and preparing for rest. This connects with the Advent candle of Peace. Peace is the deep sense of balance and wholeness that comes from knowing one is held in God’s care. In God’s covenant with Noah, the promise that “seedtime and harvest… summer and winter shall not cease” speaks of stability and order within creation. The West reminds us that peace is found in trusting the rhythms God has placed in the world and in our own lives.
North – Love
The North is the direction of winter, stillness, and wisdom. It is linked with elderhood, the mind, and deep knowing. Here the Medicine Wheel teaches listening, reflection, and gratitude. This resonates with the Advent candle of Love. Love is enduring and faithful through every season, even when life feels quiet or difficult. Like the snow that covers the land, God’s love surrounds and protects all of creation. The covenant with Noah and the gift of Christ both reveal a love that is steady, sacrificial, and everlasting — a love that guides, teaches, and holds the world together.
In conclusion, Rev. Cox wants to also extend heartfelt thanks to all who helped with the installation itself—those who planned, coordinated, and physically hung the windows. We hope that everyone who participated found the process a meaningful way to enter more deeply into the season of Advent and the lighting of its candles.
We are deeply grateful to the more than 30 artists who contributed over 40 images to this year’s Lights in the Link installation. Your creativity, prayerfulness, and willingness to share your gifts brought the themes of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love to life in a way that was both powerful and beautiful.
All participants for whom we have contact information will receive personal thank-you’s from Rev. Cox, as well as information on how to retrieve the stain glass that were created using your artwork.