Holy Week Prayer Stations
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HOLY WEEK PRAYER STATIONS For Holy Week this year, we’ve created a resource for you to be able to move your way through the different stations of the cross, whilst we are all based in our homes. It is entirely up to you how you use it. There are three sections: 1. Eight prayer stations: Garden of Gethsemane through to Jesus Laid in a Tomb. We suggest you spread it out over a few days from Monday leading up to Good Friday. 2. Maundy Thursday: we would like to encourage you to read the Bible passage(s) as you eat your evening meal and consider Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. 3. Easter Sunday: One final station to do on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Every station includes: Some passages of scripture to read; A short prayer or poem to say and reflect on; A simple activity with suggestions on what you can think about in silence. The Bible passages are taken from the New International Version (2011). For language better suited to children, try the International Children’s Bible (ICB) available at www.biblegateway.com We created this with every age in mind and for any size household to use, so get the whole family involved. If you live alone, perhaps you could agree with a friend to do it at the same time from your homes, starting and ending with prayer together on the phone. Below is a list of things you will need to do the prayer activates. You’ll be prompted when to find and use them. • A pretty plant to look at • A piece of paper (per person) • 30 coins (or as many as you can find) • 3 nails, screws, or drawing pins • Blindfold • A heavy object • Metal kitchen scrubber and/or prickly • Blanket thorns • Tape/masking tape/blue tac We’ve also curated a playlist of instrumental music you might find helpful, but feel free to use your own worship music or embrace the silence. Spotify: stbarnabascambridge - Holy Week 2020 YouTube: St Barnabas Church - Holy Week 2020 We hope that at this challenging time in the life of our nation, you will be able to turn your eyes and behold the wonder of the cross. 1 STATIONS OF THE CROSS 1. THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE MATTHEW 26:36-41 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” HEBREWS 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. PRAYER Lord Jesus, you entered the garden of fear and faced the agony of your impending death: be with those who share that agony and face death unwillingly this day. You shared our fear and knew the weakness of our humanity: give strength and hope to the dispirited and despairing. To you, Jesus, who sweated blood, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. 2 ACTIVITY AND REFLECTION Either; find a pretty flower from your garden or home, look at your garden from your window or look at this picture of a garden below. Spend some time thinking about the verses you’ve read above as you look at and/or hold the flower you’ve got. Consider the times recently that you have given into temptation. For Children, it might be helpful to read this one verse from the International Children’s Bible over a few times while they look/hold the flower and consider when they have given in to temptation. “My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want” Matthew 26:39 (ICB) Garden of Gethsemane. Photo by Stacey Franco (Unsplash) 3 2. BETRAYED AND DENIED (TRUST BROKEN AND LET DOWN) MARK 14:10-11, 43-46, 72 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over… 43 Just as Jesus was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him… 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept. PSALM 41:9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. PRAYER Lord Jesus, you were betrayed by the kiss of a friend: be with those who are betrayed and slandered and falsely accused. You knew the experience of having your love thrown back in your face for mere silver: be with families which are torn apart by mistrust or temptation. To you, Jesus, who offered your face to your betrayer, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. ACTIVITY AND REFLECTION Find 30 coins in your house (or as many as you can find). As you count them into a new pile consider the times in your life that you have betrayed and broken the trust of Jesus as well as the time you have also denied and let Jesus down. 4 3. CONDEMNED AND JUDGED (BLAMED AND CRITICISED) MARK 14:55-65 AND 15:1, 9-15 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him… 1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate… 9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.