For Jim Bowers, Harmonie Church is a place of both worship and remembrance.It’s both personal and spiritual for the longtime Innsbrook resident, whose wife Betty lost a battle with cancer last September.Just five days prior to her death, she was able to see the completion of a stained-glass window that was dedicated in her honor.“It’s hard to realize that she’s gone, but we had such beautiful memories together,” said Jim Bowers.The window was part of a project that holds more meaning than initially intended.Fred Mueller, a member of church’s board, decided the addition of stained glass windows would add aesthetic appeal to the church which is considered a landmark and part of the Missouri Historical Registry.But he never imagined the creative ideas and deep meanings that would evolve from what was initially a beautification project.“The church wanted to leave the lowest windows open and make the top windows, which are slanted, stained glass,” explained board president Nancy Pound.So the board opened the idea up to the congregation, who began generously pouring out the funds for the project.“It took off like wildfire,” said Pound. “By time I left the meeting we already had four people offering to sponsor.”However, this was about more than investing money in the church. It was about the congregation having a chance to instill what is near to their hearts into the physical framework of the building — to speak through art.For Glass Garden owner Bevery Holden, it was a privilege to be part of such a unique project.“It meant a great deal in many different ways,” said Holden. “I thrive on the artistic flow of being able to design all these. The biggest thing was that it made these people really happy.”Each of the 10 windows quickly found a sponsor and visitors began to pour into Holden’s Warrenton shop to begin the process of designing their creation.“Each window was completely different,” said Holden. “Some people came in with ideas and others didn’t.”One wanted to express the love of Christ through imagery. Another portrayed an ark with woodlands and wildlife, while others featured the dove of peace and flora and fauna.Each was personal to its creator.Yet one window carried a particularly deeper meaning. When the idea was brought in to design a window for Bowers’ beloved companion of over six decades, Holden decided to expedite the process.She finished, just in time.“When I made the arrangement for the window, she was very ill,” said Jim. “I wanted her to see the window before she passed away, and fortunately she was able to.”The window depicts praying hands with a heart and angel wings. Near the bottom of the window are two roses springing from the words “Memaw.”“They located the window close to where I normally sit so I can see it every Sunday when I go to church,” explained Bowers, who fondly recalls memories of his 65 years of marriage to Betty.Her window is one of eight in the sanctuary, while two more decorate the common room.The windows were finished in time to be installed the week prior to Christmas, meeting the church’s goal.“She designed these gorgeous windows and the church looks extremely beautiful,” said Pound.The artwork may go unnoticed to the general public, because of the church’s quaint country location. The building, which welcomes 150-200 different churchgoers over the course of a year, is privately owned.“It’s owned by a family,” explained Pound. “We pay $1 year to use the facility.”The church, which is nondenominational, has a capacity of around 120.

Harmonie Church on Stracks Church Road recently had 10 custom-made stained glass windows installed. The windows were designed and donated by members of the congregation and were constructed by Glass Garden. Derrick Forsythe photo.