Journey Through Holy Week
One of our Lent / Easter events that is always popular with everyone is our "Journey Through Holy Week" - This year we have had to put this on hold - in the real world at least. If you would like to recreate this at home (or do something similar) then you may find the following resources useful...
Class 1: Palm Sunday
Station 1: Hopes and
dreams
PAUSE
The Easter Story begins with Palm Sunday. People in Jesus’ land were longing for a leader who would rid them of the Roman soldiers who occupied their land and were convinced that Jesus was this person, the Messiah.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a
donkey with his disciples that day for the annual celebration of
Passover, the crowds went wild, cheering and
throwing palm branches in his path. “Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of
the Lord,” they shouted.
They were full of joyful expectation,
but the religious leaders were angry and suspicious and began to
plot to kill
Jesus.
PONDER
When the religious leaders told Jesus
to silence his followers, Jesus said, ‘If the crowds were silent
the very stones would cry out.’
What do you think Jesus
meant?
PRAY
Take a stone and as you hold it, think
of the dreams and hopes you have for the future. Then place it in
the cairn
beneath the cross at the end of the road
Class 2: Servant King
Station 2: Servant King
PAUSE
Jesus met with his friends to
celebrate the Passover meal. In a hot and dusty land, feet in open
sandals get very dirty. It was the task of the lowest
slave in the household to wash the feet of guests when they
arrived. But it’s Jesus who takes a towel and lovingly
bends down to wash the feet of his
disciples. Then he tells his disciples that they
must follow his example of humble service.
PONDER
Christ has no body now on earth but
yours,
no feet but yours, no
hands but yours.
Yours are the eyes through
which the compassion
of Christ is to look out
on a hurting world.
Yours are the feet with
which he is to go about the world.
Yours are the hands with
which he is to bless all now.
Christ has no body now on
earth but yours.
PRAY
Dip your fingers in the water and make
a sign of the cross on your hands as a sign of your desire to
serve others
in this way.
Class 3: Remember Me
Station 3: Remember Me
PAUSE
During Jesus’ ministry, he often shared meals
with outcasts – ‘tax-collectors and sinners’. He ate with
his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus;
he provided wine at the wedding in Cana; he saw to it that the
hungry crowds were fed. Tonight he shares
the Passover meal with his closest friends and disciples in full
knowledge that Judas will betray him and the
rest will desert him in fear. Yet he wants them to remember this
night.
As he
breaks bread and gives it to them, he says:
“Take, eat, this is my body which is given for
you. Do this to remember me.”
Again, when he offers them the cup of wine, he
says:
“This is my blood poured out for you. Drink this
as sign of God’s faithfulness and his forgiveness of your
sins.”
Christians continue to break bread and drink wine together in the service of Holy Communion. By doing so they recall God’s action in sending Jesus and encounter this gift of love as a reality today.
PONDER
A
particular phrase, certain objects, places, music, even smells
bring back memories of people we have loved.
How do you remember those people who have been
important to you in your life?
PRAY
Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.
Class 4: Alone
Station 4: Alone
PAUSE
After the meal was over, Jesus went
out with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount
of Olives. He
wanted to pray to his Father as he knew that he would soon be
arrested and sentenced to death.
He asked his friends to keep watch with him, but they were very tired and fell asleep. In the darkness, Jesus felt very alone as he struggled to accept what was to befall him.
PONDER
Think of the times in your life when
you have felt alone or afraid and uncertain of what the morning
will bring.
If you find it helpful, take a stone
and hold it tightly.
PRAY
Hold the stone in your cupped hands
(or bring the situation to mind) and hear these words of
Jesus:
"Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and
do not be afraid."
Leave your stone in the garden.
Class 5: Sharing Our Sorrows
Station 5: Sharing Our Sorrows
PAUSE
Jesus was condemned to death by the authorities
and soldiers led Jesus outside the walls of Jerusalem
to Golgotha which means ‘the place of
the skull’. A crown of thorns was placed on his head. They nailed
him to the cross and fastened a notice to
it that read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ While they
waited for Jesus to die, the soldiers cast
dice to see which one of them could have Jesus’ robe for
themselves.
When Jesus became thirsty, they offered him a sponge soaked in vinegar. At three o’clock that day Jesus died. Because Jesus suffered and died as one of us, but rose again, the cross is a sign of hope for anyone who is suffering.
PONDER
Use the words on one of the crosses or think of
situations of pain and suffering known to you. Reflect on
how the cross of Christ might be a
sign of hope for those people.
PRAY
Spend some time before the cross.
"We
adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; by your holy cross you have
redeemed the world."