An Illinois congregation incorporates a triptych into its modern-day church.

A decade of payments on a suburban cornfield was at an end. It was time to build. Dozens of members gently reminded the building committee to build "something that looks like a church." But what should a confessional Lutheran church look like? We gave this following directive to our architects to help them in their design: "We desire to have some old-world concepts housed in a room with a modern American vibe." As we studied old-world churches, we noted, again and again, a triptych in the chancel. The old-world triptych would make its first appearance in WELS in our chancel.

But our members were puzzled. A triptik? Wasn't that a flip map that members used before the days of global positioning devices? No. A triptych is a set of three paintings placed in a wooden cabinet that can be opened or closed. The Germans call it a flügelaltar—a winged altar. In our triptych, the center panel always remains the same. The "wings" are changed based upon the season of the church year.

It was common in old-world churches to paint the name of the church into the triptych. Since our church is Faith Lutheran Church, our center panel depicts Christ's appearance to doubting Thomas. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Faith's members are called to believe in the one they have not seen with eyes of flesh but simply trust through the eyes of faith. The other nonchangeable pictures on the altar are trompe l'oeil (French: "mislead the eye") paintings of the Communion elements and trinitarian symbols. They are painted to look like statuary.

The season of Advent is represented by the annunciation. Gabriel proclaims that the virgin will conceive and bear a son. Mary's response is one of faith: "May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). The right panel is of Simeon holding the infant Christ. The infant's arms are painted as if stretched out upon the cross. The fire of the temple altar burns in the background. Simeon's eyes see salvation. Simeon's hands hold the sacrifice for sin.

The Epiphany cycle begins with the baptism of Christ on the left. The right panel is of Christ's transfiguration.

During Lent the triptych is closed, and the paintings are hidden. Then the nine-foot crucifix that hangs above the altar gains in prominence.

The triptych is reopened during the Easter sunrise service. The hinges creak open while a men's choir chants, "Christ is Arisen!" (Christian Worship 144). The women at the tomb are on the left. They are surprised by the Easter angel. Meanwhile, a butterfly, a symbol of the resurrection, perches on their spice bucket. The right panel is of Christ's ascension. The disciples were called to proclaim the resurrection to a dying world, not to stand there with squinting eyes and sore necks!