Stations of the Cross In Holy Week traditionally

Stations of the Cross In Holy Week (traditionally on Good Friday) we are invited to journey with Christ to his cross. We do not go there in place of him, but go with Christ. The Stations of the Cross has been used by Christians over the centuries as the focus of this day. This is a sombre service as we reflect on the death of our Lord. However, even in the darkness of Calvary there is the promise of resurrection: Good Friday is the night sky of the Lord; Good Friday is good; resurrection follows on from death as sure as day follows night.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

1 st Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews? ’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? ’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15. 12 -15

Prayer Jesus, Master, King of the Jews, Lord of the universe; Though you were condemned To suffer and to die, You do not condemn us When you come to be our judge Amen.

2 nd Station – Jesus takes up His Cross He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want. ’ Mark 14. 36

He gives himself again with all his gifts And now we give him something in return. He gave the earth that bears, the air that lifts, Water to cleanse and cool, fire to burn, And from these elements he forged the iron, From strands of life he wove the growing wood, He made the stones that pave the roads of Zion He saw it all and saw that it is good. We took his iron to edge an axe’s blade, We took the axe and laid it to the tree, We made a cross of all that he has made, And laid it on the one who made us free. Now he receives again and lifts on high The gifts he gave and we have turned awry. Poem by Malcolm Guite

Prayer Despised and rejected, A man of sorrows: You accepted the cross To bear our iniquity. Teach us, Lord, to deny ourselves And, taking up the cross, Find you for all eternity Amen.

3 rd Station – The First Fall of Jesus Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. Isaiah 53. 4 -5

Prayer Lord, I long for what is right But I cannot do it For sin keeps dragging me down. Raise me up each time I fall And hide my life in yours, Who are alive at the right hand of the Father Amen.

4 th Station – Jesus meets his Mother Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed— and a sword will pierce your own soul too. ’ Luke 2. 34 -35

Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Your mother’s soul was pierced by the sword, As Simeon foretold. Comfort those who stand helpless, Strengthen and rescue the victims of terror; Give hope and solace to orphans and widows, And, to all in distress, give healing and succour, For you are the Saviour of all who seek you. Amen.

5 th Station – Simon Cyrene helps carry the cross Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6. 2

In desperation on this road of tears Bystanders and bypassers turn away In other’s pain we face our own worst fears And turn our backs to keep those fears at bay Unless we are compelled as this man was By force of arms or force of circumstance To face and feel and carry someone’s cross In Love’s full glare and not his backward glance. So Simon, no disciple, still fulfilled The calling: ‘take the cross and follow me’. By accident his life was stalled and stilled Becoming all he was compelled to be. Make me, like him, your pressed man and your priest, Your alter Christus, burdened and released. Poem by Malcolm Guite

Prayer Help us good Lord, To bear one another’s burdens As Simon Cyrene bore the burden of your cross. May we be tireless in doing good And eager to work for others. As we take up the cords and follow you May we learn that your burden is light. Amen.

6 th Station – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? ” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. ” Matthew 25. 37 -40

Prayer Lord, I seek your face, And find its imprint In the loving actions of those I meet. Transfigure me by your Spirit That others may see you In my living and in all that I do For your name’s sake. Amen.

7 th Station – The Second Fall Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you. ’ Isaiah 41. 11 -13

Prayer The good that I seek remains undone. The wrong that I loathe I find myself doing. Keep my feet from falling, Lord, And guard my soul from sinning. May I walk the way of sorrow With so much love and perseverance That I share in the wonder of your kingdom. Amen.

8 th Station – Jesus speaks to the Grieving Women A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. ” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us. ” or if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? ’ Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. Luke 23. 27 -32

He falls and stumbles with us, hurt again But still he holds the road and looks in love On all of us who look on him. Our pain As close to him as his. These women move Compassion in him as he does in them. He asks us both to weep and not to weep. Women of Gaza and Jerusalem, Women of every nation where the deep Wounds of memory divide the land And lives of all your children, where the mines Of all our wars are sown: Afghanistan, Iraq, the Cote d’Ivoire… he reads the signs And weeps with you and with you he will stay Until the day he wipes your tears away. Poem by Malcolm Guite

Prayer Deepen my understanding And enlarge my vision, Lord. Seeing the cares of others And the turmoil of their lives, May I weep with the anguished And support the afflicted, in trouble and in danger. Amen.

9 th Station – The Third and Final Fall He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial. ’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. Luke 22. 9 -41

Prayer When my pride takes a tumble And my confidence falters, Remind me, loving Saviour, That, having emptied yourself Of every vestige of glory, You took the form of a slave, and hung for us on a gibbet. Amen.

10 th Station – Stripped of his garments When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it. ’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. ’ And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19. 23 -25

Prayer Lord they stripped away your clothes And threw dice for your robe: Strip away our false pride, Our glitter, our glory. Clothe us in meekness, With spiritual jewels, Let justice serve as our robe. Amen.

11 th Station – Nailed to the cross Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. ’ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, “I am God’s Son. ” ’ The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. Matthew 27. 39 -44

See, as they strip the robe from off his back And spread his arms and nail them to the cross, The dark nails pierce him and the sky turns black, And love is firmly fastened onto loss. But here a pure change happens. On this tree Loss becomes gain, death opens into birth. Here wounding heals and fastening makes free Earth breathes in heaven, heaven roots in earth. And here we see the length, the breadth, the height Where love and hatred meet and love stays true Where sin meets grace and darkness turns to light We see what love can bear and be and do, And here our saviour calls us to his side His love is free, his arms are open wide. Poem by Malcolm Guite

Prayer Fearing hardship in desert places, We grumble and enlarge our sorrows. We forget that you’re our Saviour, The deeds you have done for us these many years. As you are lifted up for us, Like the bronze serpent in the wilderness, Teach us to believe in you and so find healing. Amen.

12 th Station – Death on the cross I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119. 25 -28

Prayer The centurion saw the earthquake And called you ‘Son of God’ We wonder, as we ponder The example of your patience. We marvel at your obedience And resolve to worship you. Amen.

13 th Station – Laid in His Mother’s Arms Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. John 19. 31 -36

Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, As your mother beheld you, Lying dead upon her lap, So may you behold all who weep, All who are broken, All who are lost, All for whom you gave up your life. Amen.

Hymn There is a green hill far away, Outside a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains he had to bear; But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good, That we might go at last to heaven, Saved by his precious blood. There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate Of heaven and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved, And we must love him, too, And trust in his redeeming blood, And try his works to do.

Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, set your passion, cross and death between your judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Grant mercy and grace to the living, rest to the departed, to your Church peace and concord and to us sinners forgiveness, and everlasting life and glory; for, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you are alive and reign, God, now and for ever. Amen.

14 th Station – Prepared for the tomb After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19. 38 -42

Here at the centre everything is still Before the stir and movement of our grief Which bears it’s pain with rhythm, ritual, Beautiful useless gestures of relief. So they anoint the skin that cannot feel Soothing his ruined flesh with tender care, Kissing the wounds they know they cannot heal, With incense scenting only empty air. He blesses every love that weeps and grieves And makes our grief the pangs of a new birth. The love that’s poured in silence at old graves Renewing flowers, tending the bare earth, Is never lost. In him all love is found And sown with him, a seed in the rich ground. Poem by Malcolm Guite

Prayer Though your body was laid in a tomb, You did not rest, Lord of the Sabbath. Breaking open hell, You freed the dead from prison. Release us, and all who have died in you, From the dungeon of sin And the torment of separation. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Thanks be to God, Amen. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.

Acknowledgments: https: //www. stalbans. anglican. org/wp-content/uploads/Good-Friday. Stations-Gywneth-Leech. pptx The images are the work of Gwyneth Leech in Saint Paul's on the Green in Norwalk Connecticut (https: //www. gwynethleech. com/earlierpaintings/commissions-2005 -and-1990 s). They are modern settings of the Stations of the Cross depicting the events of each station set in a contemporary, war setting. Image Copyright Gwyneth Leech 2020. The poems are by Malcolm Guite: https: //malcolmguite. wordpress. com/2020/04/10/good-friday-the-first-12 -stations-of-the-cross-4/ from ‘Sounding the Seasons; seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year, Canterbury Press 2012′