The First Congregational Church of Des Plaines is the home to a spectacular set of Edgar Miller stained glass windows that showcase his work as a lavish storyteller. Each one of the panels in the set built above the altar on the west side of the sanctuary depicts a different parable from Jesus’ teachings. These windows, created in 1947, were commissioned as a memorial gift to the church by parishioner William H. Fischer in memory of his wife, Beulah, who was one of the church's most loyal members and president of their Women's Fellowship Board. The windows were fabricated at the studios of Gianinni and Hilgart, and likely installed during the refurbishment of the entire chancel and altar areas. Edgar, as the decorative director of the project, was also responsible for intricate wood carvings along the altar canopy and a large gold-leaf scripture band encircling the chancel.

The scripture band inscribes Jesus's answer to the question "What is the greatest commandment?" from Luke 10:27: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength and thy neighbor as thyself."

Each individual panel includes a quote from the scripture identifying the main message of the story. The attention to detail in these windows is stunning and they radiate with Miller’s playful expressionistic tone. The windows are colorful and dynamic, yet still manage to convey the gravitas of the stories of Jesus’ life and teachings. Inspired by Renaissance art and in the liturgical setting, Miller’s windows harken to a baroque past while they still remain electrifying in a way that only a modern designer would have considered.

If you would like to visit the church, the best way to do so would be to attend a Sunday or holiday service when the church is open to visitors.