If you cannot join us or have never experienced the Stations of the Cross, pray with us on a virtual walk through the last hours of the earthly life of Jesus.
Participating Churches in Wilmington, Delaware:
*The Episcopal Church of
Saints Andrew and Matthew
*Tabernacle Full Gospel
Baptist Church
*Wilmington Friends Meeting
*Old Asbury Church
*Bethel AME Church
*Ezion Mt. Carmel Church
*First & Central
Presbyterian Church
1st
Station: Jesus is condemned to die
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
How quickly this week has turned from exultation to
murderous rebuke. Let us bear the
slanders and endure the anger, as You have, for those who are so quick to
condemn a human life to death. Give us strength to pray for those who truly do
not understand all that they inflict upon others, as well as for those who do.
Grant us the courage to withhold our own judgment and condemnation and, in all
humility, take this long walk with
You and for You.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
2nd
Station: Jesus takes up his cross
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
You are no more truly human than at this moment, dragging a
massive piece of rough-hewn timber laid across Your body, through the mean
streets, amidst the jeers and tears of bystanders. Fill us with Your acceptance and willingness
to bear any burdens that life gives. Help our understanding that You ask no
more of us than You have done for us.
Let us remember that our load is always lightened by our trust in You.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
3rd
Station: Jesus falls the first time
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
You buckle under the strain of the enormous burden this
world has placed on Your shoulders. For
all that we do that weighs so heavily
on You, we beg Your forgiveness. Grant us the fortitude to face our own
sinfulness and the determination to overcome the weaknesses that turn us away
from Your love. As You rise up in obedience to the call of God, let us follow
Your example to stand again and move forward toward You after every fall and
every stumble.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
4th
Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
O Mother of us all – to meet Your Son in such a plight as
this – our hearts weep for Mother and Son in their mutual sorrow. Change us, Dear Jesus, that we might never
abandon those we love in time of need out of selfishness or inconvenience. Let us see You with a mother’s heart and love
You with a father’s joy and strive to love each other as You love us all even
through the pain and the suffering that we have laid upon You.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
5th
Station: The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
Behold Simon, who is not one of us, pressed into taking Your Cross onto his own shoulders. How often have we let others share our
burdens or offered to share another’s, especially someone different from
ourselves? We bless Simon for helping
You. And we give thanks to You for the example so that we might be Simon for
someone else, without judgment, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, or beliefs. Let us walk
together and share the weight of the cross with You.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
6th
Station: Jesus and the women of Jerusalem
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
Our mourning is often for ourselves and the pain we feel for another’s anguish. These
women mourn for You and You care for them in the midst of all You suffer,
knowing that their lives will not be easier.
Help us to look beyond ourselves and into the faces of others with love
rather than pity, with hope rather than despair, with justice tempered with
mercy, and with true contrition for our own sins of commission and omission.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
7th
Station: The Crucifixion
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
A once living tree now makes the beams of a horrible
death. With Your own agony and the
torment of Your appeals, You show us how to give our lives entirely to God. And as Your life ebbs with excruciating
slowness, Your compassion for us all and one who hangs next to You is
overwhelming. Grant us such compassion
that we might not return injury for insult but rather reflect Your love and peace
in the actions of our lives.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
8th
Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
O Dearest Lord Jesus,
The silence of the Tomb engulfs us. We are still and hear only the beating of our
sorrowful hearts. The night is long and dark and cold. We will be with You. Be
with us, Lord, we are at last awake to hear Your call. Embrace us in the mercy of Your redemption,
and when we have returned our souls to You, take us with You into the Kingdom
of Your Glory.
Oh Jesus, our Savior
Your cross redeems us all.
Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.
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