Monday 30 March 2015

Stations of the Cross - Do WHAT?

If you come from a non-Church background like me, or are perhaps an evangelical or pentecostal type who finds the whole 'stations of the Cross' thing to be a bit of an issue then I have some great news for you: You can cease the distrust and have a think about embracing this amazing piece of liturgy for yourself as I can confirm that it is a safe practice.

Now my dear old Dad used to tell me that the stations of the cross were

like the stations on my Monopoly board and that this was what the religious people used to remember the way things happened when it came to the crucifixion.
That said, he was a bit of a wicked old worst and so he taught me that the first four stations were those surrounding this text - the Eleanor Crosses - marking the twelve places where Queen Eleanor's coffin rested on its thirteenth century journey from Lincoln to London.


 Of course I now know that Charing Cross and Waltham Cross are the only two legitimate crosses of the Eleanor kind and have also discovered that the church type 'stations of the Cross' and legitimate too.

And this is where I have to encourage you to seek out, and try, the experience of journeying from the comfort of your seat or knees (or whatever it is you find yourself on) with Jesus on His journey to the Cross and His sacrifice made there for all.

Those who live near me are most welcome to join us as we join Jesus as He is condemned to die and then follow Him as He takes up His cross and falls and is helped by Simon of Cyrene to come to the place of execution and from there to reflect upon that death.

When: Monday 30th March 2015  @  7:30pm

What: A gentle, reflective service.

Why: Because without the Cross there can be no Easter Sunday,
          Without the Cross there can be no sacrifice made for us
          Without the Cross the victory we claim is hollow, clean and lacking in so much.

If you can't join us - find somewhere this week - Holy Week - and make the journey with Jesus, the Christ, and remember that it was all for You!

Pax

2 comments:

UKViewer said...

We're doing the Stations on Friday with our local Baptist Church for the 2nd year in succession.

Somehow the liturgy involved draws people in, particularly as we process from the Baptist church with someone carrying a cross to All Saints for the balance of the liturgy. This is followed by three readers and Good Friday liturgy.

For the past three years I have attended these services and haven't failed to be moved by them.

Off course, being raised a Catholic, means that familiarity with the Stations that go with it. But even as an Anglican I have been used to the Stations being said and followed by going for a quiet day to Aylesford Priory, a Carmalite Friary in Kent.

UKViewer said...

We're doing the Stations on Friday with our local Baptist Church for the 2nd year in succession.

Somehow the liturgy involved draws people in, particularly as we process from the Baptist church with someone carrying a cross to All Saints for the balance of the liturgy. This is followed by three readers and Good Friday liturgy.

For the past three years I have attended these services and haven't failed to be moved by them.

Off course, being raised a Catholic, means that familiarity with the Stations that go with it. But even as an Anglican I have been used to the Stations being said and followed by going for a quiet day to Aylesford Priory, a Carmalite Friary in Kent.