Stations of the Cross

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Cor 1. 18

The First Station              Jesus is condemned to death

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Pilate asked Jesus, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.
For this I was born, and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”                                        John 18. 37 – 38

Jesus conquers by the convincing evidence of truth;
he rules by the commanding power of truth.
The people of his kingdom are those that are of the truth.

Encourage us, Lord, to stand for truth, lead us in your truth.  Amen.

The Second Station        Jesus receives the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them,
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me.                        Mark 8. 34

Crosses come in different disguises. We each have a cross to carry.
The Cross of Jesus is a symbol of love and gentleness.

Lord, help us to bear whatever cross is ours
with patience and humility. Amen.

The Third Station        Jesus falls for the first time

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

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

Jesus feels the weight of the cross and endures the pain.
We are often weighed down with care and anxiety.

Lord, we place those struggling with mental health problems
into your strong hands. Motivate us to support them and raise them up. Amen.

The Fourth Station       Jesus meets his mother

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
He has lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things.”
Luke 1. 46 – 48, 53

Like Mary, we cannot take on the sufferings of our Lord, but we can follow in his way.

Inspire us, Lord, to lift up the lowly, to feed the hungry and to be merciful. Amen.

The Fifth Station          Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country,
to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Mark 15. 21

Simon was a stranger.
He did not know Jesus but he helped him to bear the burden.

Make us, Lord, more aware of the needs of the lonely,
of refugees and of all who feel excluded.
Encourage us to offer them friendship, comfort and hope. Amen.

The Sixth Station      Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

We entreat God in the words of the psalmist:
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me.
Psalm 27. 8, 9

Boldly Veronica steps out of the crowd and wipes the face of Jesus.
She is compassionate and fearless.
Embolden us, Lord, to follow our consciences
and to do what is right despite opposition. Amen

The Seventh Station    Jesus falls the second time

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Matt 11. 28

The body of Jesus is wracked with pain.
In the news we regularly hear of those who are the victims
of ill-treatment, exploitation and violence.
They do not know how to endure their suffering.

Give us, Lord, compassionate and non-judgemental hearts
but give us also alertness to notice where there may be injustice or abuse
and the courage to act to address such situations. Amen.

The Eighth Station     Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Women 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.           Luke 23.27, 28

We see the disorder of human life all around us. In particular we are aware of war,
violence and oppression in many areas of the world. We know that it is often the women,
children and the elderly who are at most risk.

Lord, assist us as we try, through prayer and action,
to bring peace and reconciliation to these distressing situations. Amen.

The Ninth Station     Jesus falls the third time

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

With the psalmist we affirm the steadfast love of God:
Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way;
though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds us by the hand.                                Psalm 37. 23, 24

The Cross weighs heavily on Jesus’ body.
We are aware of the many problems facing our world,
and we feel the weight of these responsibilities,
especially those of damage to the environment:
this world, the gift God has given us.
When these worries weigh heavily on our hearts,
we are reassured that, however many times we fail or fall,
God always offers opportunities to make reparation.

Lord, you are ready to forgive us repeatedly, whenever we stumble.
Keep from us the desire for revenge or reprisal,
and from the temptation to blame others.
Spur us to repentance and action. Amen.

The Tenth Station   Jesus is stripped of his clothes

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

They divided his clothes among them,
casting lots to decide what each should take.          Mark 15. 24
Jesus is stripped not just of his clothes
but also of his dignity.

Lord, help us to understand the damage done to people
by the removal of their basic human rights.
Keep to the fore of our prayers those who work to transform society
and to create a safer, more just world. Amen.

The Eleventh Station   Jesus is nailed to the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10.11

Jesus is the Shepherd who fulfils every aspect of pastoral care:
of guidance, support, and self-sacrifice
in order to protect and save the sheep.
That a shepherd would risk his own life
has its complete realisation in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
The shepherd’s staff is the fit emblem of the Bishop’s work.

Protect, Lord, our bishops, guardians of the faith,
as they lead God’s people in the way of holiness.
Hold in your embrace Simon our Bishop
and also Bishop Jonathan in this time of transition.
May all Christian leaders remain faithful to their calling
as they watch over their flocks and shepherd the Church of God. Amen.

The Twelfth Station   Jesus dies on the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.
Phil 2. 6 – 8

Death comes to all of us, whether from old age, disease or trauma.
We are reminded of this in the symbols on gravestones:
the skull, the pick and shovel, the hourglass.

Be with those, Lord, who are at the point of death
and with those contemplating ending their lives.
Foster in us hope and trust in your promises
as we place ourselves and those we love into your hands. Amen

The Thirteenth Station The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.                             Rev 21. 4

We encounter human suffering, distress and disappointment every day.

Give us true compassion, Lord, compassion which is born from love
and acts in love to comfort all in sorrow after the death of a loved one
or in pain from the heart-ache caused
by witnessing a life being wasted. Amen.

The Fourteenth Station  Jesus is laid in the tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

With the psalmist we affirm:
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.                                                Psalm 16. 9

This might have been the end of Jesus and his message
but we pause – in faith – confident that God will fulfil his promises.

Help us, O Lord, never to lose heart,
to understand that change must involve cost
and to be patient as we await what you have prepared for us. Amen.

One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
John Donne Death be not proud
O Saviour of the world,
by your Cross and precious Blood
you have redeemed us;
Save us and help us we humbly beseech you, O Lord.

May Christ who bore our sins on the Cross
set us free to serve him. Amen.