English: First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA. As the worshipers leave the sanctuary, they are confronted with the great triangular stained-glass west window entitled "Cycle of Celebration." The window is the work of Gabriel Loire. It depicts the Christian community in its recurrent rhythm of gathering and scattering. The coming together is pictured in the ancient vision of the community ascending the "holy hill of the Lord" (Psalm 43) for praise and worship. The community is sent back into the world to renew the world, to witness to the world's inner meaning, and to serve the world.

The world out of which the community comes and to which it returns is the familiar "world" of Central Louisiana with its river, pine trees, fields, homes, and industry. The common concerns of mankind – justice and righteousness -- the vocational orders, and ordinary life are the scene of the community's corporate and individual witness and service.

The viewers are reminded that gathering without scattering becomes introverted and irrelevant. In the same way, an attempt to scatter without gathering dissipates in work without identity. Thus, the lesson of the window is that the Christian life is a life possessing a regular rhythm of faith active in love, witnessing through serving, and serving through witnessing.