02/07/2024 0 Comments
From the Associate Vicar: Stations of the Cross
From the Associate Vicar: Stations of the Cross
# From The... - Letters to the Congregation
From the Associate Vicar: Stations of the Cross
Dear Ones of St. C's,
Believe it or not we only have one more week of Lent before we enter into the mystery of Holy Week together. I wanted to let you know that we will be offering the Stations of the Cross for the second time in a row this year. This year we will have a service on Good Friday at noon along with our traditional Good Friday Service at 7pm.
The Stations of the Cross will go up next week. Each station will have a piece of art that reflects different moments for Jesus on the way to the cross. These works will be hung around the Nave with a pamphlet that will have scripture and words to pray to go with each station.
All are welcome to walk the Way of the Cross on their own after church on Palm Sunday (April 10th) and on Holy Wednesday (April 13th) from 10-Noon. If you would like to walk the way of the cross with others join us at noon on Good Friday (April 15th).
The Stations of the Cross is an ancient practice that originated in Jerusalem. Very early on in Christianity people went around the city and marked the places that they believed Jesus had actually walked on his way to the cross, this became the Stations of the Cross. One legend has it that Mary, the mother of Jesus, originally made the markings around the city herself as a way to grieve and remember her son. Christians have been making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for centuries to walk the Stations of the Cross and follow Jesus’ foot steps. This became a practice that Christians re-created around the world for those who could not make the trip to the Holy Land. Lacy Ellman of “A Sacred Journey,” says there are three essential parts of being a pilgrim - a journey, connection with your self, and an encounter with God.
Pilgrimages are seen as spiritually significant and valued in almost all religious traditions. If you have never had an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage before I wonder what it would be like for you to take this opportunity to attempt this mini pilgrimage. This pilgrimage, that the earliest of Christians have participated in, is meant to assist us as we attempt to grasp the significance of Jesus walking towards the cross and dying so that the world could be redeemed. I hope you will come journey over to experience these stations, open to connecting with yourself and with God.
with care,
Meghan
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