Stations of the Cross - Did You Know?
Did you know?
Stations of the Cross has a history in the Holy Week tradition here at Church of the Redeemer. You may have seen wooden crosses around the church with numbers on them and wondered what they were or how they got there. Inspired by pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the fourteen scenes we know as the Stations of the Cross describe Jesus as he carries the cross through the city to his crucifixion. This journey is often depicted with visual art, like renderings of the moments along Jesus' path. It is common Christian practice to follow and walk the stations during Holy Week in remembrance that Christ died for us and to honor God's love and sacrifice.
In 2021, our community was facing a second Easter Sunday at a distance and we understood we could not gather safely for worship indoors in the sanctuary. As the Redeemer staff prepared for Holy Week and Easter Sunday, we looked for creative ways we could use the outdoor space on the property to invite people into prayer. Quickly the Stations of the Cross formed as a project of family ministry. Combining a scavenger hunt with the classic stations, we brought together resources and created some new ones to make an all-ages activity all across Redeemer's yard. With the faithful leadership of Keenan Beauchamp and Kristopher Woolf in 2022 about a dozen families spent time after worship on a Sunday to install wooden crosses where the little flags once flew. Each cross was planted in the ground, decorated with chalk, and topped off with a number.
This past Sunday, March 26, 2023, our Middle CoR members spruced up those same crosses for the third Holy Week on the property. Each number has a corresponding QR code which directs to Redeemer’s website to navigate sojourners through the stations with accompanying reflections, meditations, and activities: stopping at Redeemer Preschool drop off to wonder how Jesus felt seeing his Mother Mary, resting on a bench to recall the wiping of Jesus' brow, imagining how different it is to do hard things alone than together remembering how Simon helped Jesus carry the cross. All these and more are available right now to complement sacred Holy Week practices here at Redeemer, including a track for families and one for adults. Visit our website when you’re ready to start your journey with the Stations of the Cross for Holy Week, Easter Sunday, and all year round.
Tags: Notices
