VERSION: 9 April 2002
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
(or THE WAY OF THE CROSS)
NOTES
The Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross) is a devotion which began in early times at Jerusalem. Pilgrims would follow the Via Dolorosa from Pilate's house to Calvary. At a much later date, it became customary to set up 'stations' in churches (places where incidents from the passion of Christ are represented), and to re-enact the walk of the pilgrims inside the church.
The Stations of the Cross devotion is appropriate to any part of the Lent or Holy Week celebrations.
The devotion may consist of any number of stations. The traditional number is fourteen, although a number of these traditional stations are legendary. The notes at the end of the rite give material for ten biblical stations. Sometimes a final station commemorating the resurrection is added. Congregations should feel free to develop their own rite, taking material provided here as a example.
The devotion can be done indoors or outdoors. If the weather permits, an outdoors celebration, involving a lengthy walk between stations, can be quite effective. Each station may be marked either with a simple cross or with an artistic representation of the event which the station commemorates. Some congregations have created small textile banners depicting the stations (eg St Mark's Lutheran Church, Underdale SA). Dramatic re-enactments or mime tableaux may also be used to represent the station. If the devotion is conducted indoors, stations may be marked on the walls, and the congregation follows the minister(s) around the perimeter of the building. Alternatively, the congregation might remain seated in their pews, while representations of the stations are performed dramatically or shown on an overhead projector.
The Stations of the Cross can be used in groups or by individuals in private. It is quite appropriate for laypeople to lead these devotions.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
(or THE WAY OF THE CROSS)
I. INTRODUCTION
HYMN
A hymn may be sung. This may be 'Take up thy cross, the Saviour said' (LH 351, TIS 583).
IN THE NAME
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYERS
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In him is our salvation, our life and resurrection.
Let us pray.
Mercifully help us, Lord God,
so that we may joyfully meditate on your mighty acts,
by which you have given us eternal life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
II. THE STATIONS
See the Appendix at the end of the rite. The congregation follows the minister(s) in procession, stopping at each station for the readings, prayers, and responses. A verse of the hymn 'At the cross her station keeping' may be sung while moving from station to station. (Tune: Stabat Mater, in Gather 332, TIS 334. Note that TIS 334 gives a different version of this hymn, in 8 verses.)
1 At the cross, her station keeping,
stood the mournful mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
2 Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all the bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.
3 O how sad and sore distressed
was that mother highly blessed,
of the sole begotten One!
4 O the depth of her affliction
as she saw the crucifixion
of her dying, glorious Son.
5 Who, on Christ's dear mother gazing,
pierced by anguish so amazing,
would not also with her weep?
6 Who upon Christ's suffering thinking,
such a cup of sorrow drinking,
would not share in Mary's grief?
7 For his people's sin chastised,
she beheld her Son despised,
scourged, and crowned with thorns entwined.
8 She saw him for judgment taken,
and in death by all forsaken
till his spirit he resigned.
9 Jesus, may her deep devotion
stir in me the same emotion,
source of love, Redeemer true.
10 Let me thus, fresh ardor gaining
and a purer love attaining,
consecrate my life to you.
III. CONCLUSION
CLOSING PRAYERS
Saviour of the world, by your cross and precious blood you have redeemed us.
Save us and help us, Lord.
Let us pray.
We thank you, heavenly Father,
that you have delivered us
from the dominion of sin and death
and brought us
into the kingdom of your Son.
We pray that,
as by his death he has destroyed death,
so by his resurrection he may recall us to life.
We ask this through your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
May the God of peace,
who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
equip us by the blood of the eternal covenant
with everything good,
so that we may do his will,
working in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ;
to whom be glory now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN
A hymn may be sung. This may be 'When I survey the wondrous cross' (LH 54, TIS 342).
APPENDIX: Stations, prayers, readings
THE LAST SUPPER
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 14:17-26
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my food,
has turned against me. (Ps 41:9)
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
your Son instituted his holy supper
as our passover feast,
and gave his life for us.
Unite us all by faith in him,
so that we who eat his body and drink his blood
may pass with him from death to life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Luke 22:39-48,52,53
The Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.
He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die. (Isa 53:6b, 8a)
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
your Son willingly endured
the agony and shame of the cross
for our redemption.
Give us courage to take up our cross
and follow him.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
JESUS IS WHIPPED AND CROWNED WITH THORNS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: John 19:1-3
I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill. (Ps 2:6)
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God,
it is your will to restore all things
to your beloved Son,
whom you annointed priest forever
and king of all creation.
Grant that all the people of the earth,
now divided by the power of sin,
may be united
under the glorious and gentle rule
of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;
through whom we pray.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: John 19:5a,14b-17
God did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all. (Rom 8:32)
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
your dear Son suffered pain before joy,
and was crucified before he received glory.
Grant that the way of the cross
may be for us the way of life and peace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
SIMON CARRIES THE CROSS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Luke 23:26
Those who do not carry their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:27)
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
your Son came not to be served,
but to serve.
Help us to follow his example
so that we share one another's burdens,
living not for ourselves,
but for others.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Luke 23:27-31
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy. (Ps 126:5)
Let us pray.
Father,
you show mercy rather than anger
to those who hope in you.
Teach us to grieve for the evil we have done,
so that we may receive your gift of life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 15:25-32
They have pierced my hands and feet.
People stare and gloat over me. (Ps 22:16b,17b)
Let us pray.
Merciful Father,
our Lord Jesus Christ
suffered shame for our sake.
Give us grace to humble ourselves before him,
so that our sins may be laid bare
and we may know your forgiveness.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
MARY AND JOHN AT THE CROSS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: John 19:25-27
Tears are upon her cheeks.
She has no one to comfort her. (Lam 1:2)
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your loving arms
on the wood of the cross
so that your saving embrace
might reach all people.
Clothe us in your Spirit,
so that we may reach out our hands in love
and bring people to know and love you.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
JESUS DIES
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Luke 23:44-47
He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:8b)
Let us pray.
O God, you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ,
to suffer death on the cross for our redemption,
and to deliver us from the power of the enemy
by his glorious resurrection.
May we die to sin each day,
so that we may live forever with him
who died and rose again for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
JESUS IS BURIED
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Matt 27:57-61
You will not abandon me to the grave,
nor let your Holy One see decay. (Ps 16:10)
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
you rested in the tomb on the Sabbath day,
and so sanctified the grave
to be a bed of hope for your people.
Lead us to sorrow for our sins,
which were the cause of your suffering and death,
and grant that when our bodies lie in the dust
we may live with you.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
|