Commissioned and designed by Rev. Audrey Warren, the cross was envisioned as a work of sacred art that would speak to the presence of God in the midst of human life. Rather than simply serving as a traditional symbol at the front of the sanctuary, it invites worshippers to consider the ways the divine and the earthly meet, overlap, and become visible to one another.
The design is especially striking when light shines through it. As the light moves across the sanctuary, the central cross casts shadows that form two additional crosses, one on either side. What first appears to be a single cross becomes an image of three, recalling the scene of Jesus' crucifixion between two others.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is crucified between two criminals. One mocks him, while the other turns toward him with a simple request: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus responds with a promise of paradise (Luke 23:39–43).
In that moment, even in the suffering and darkness of the cross, the distance between heaven and earth seems to disappear. Grace reaches into human brokenness, and the promise of God's presence becomes visible in the most unexpected place.
The sanctuary cross invites us to reflect on this same mystery. Heaven is not simply a distant destination, nor is God's presence confined to a place beyond our reach. Throughout scripture, we encounter moments when the boundary between the sacred and the ordinary becomes remarkably thin: in prayer, in worship, in acts of compassion, and in the transforming power of love.
The cross also changes in appearance throughout the Christian year. During Lent, a purple cloth is draped over it, marking a season of reflection, repentance, and preparation as the church journeys toward the crucifixion. At Easter, the purple gives way to white, proclaiming the joy of resurrection and the promise of new life.
These simple changes remind us that the Christian story holds both suffering and hope, death and resurrection. The cross remains the same, but the seasons invite us to encounter its meaning in different ways.
There is something especially beautiful about a cross whose message is revealed through light and shadow. The additional crosses are not separate objects but images made visible when light passes through the central cross. They remind us that faith often invites us to see more than what first appears before our eyes.
The cross stands as a reminder that God's presence is not always found in the extraordinary. Sometimes it is revealed through the ordinary elements of our lives: light, shadow, silence, prayer, and the people standing beside us.
As First Church Miami celebrates 130 years of ministry in Downtown Miami, this sanctuary cross reflects the congregation's hope that worship will help people recognize the nearness of God. In a city filled with movement, noise, ambition, and change, the sanctuary offers a place to encounter the sacred and remember that heaven is not as far away as we sometimes believe.
The veil is thin. The light shines through. And even in the shadow of the cross, God's grace is near.