worship trick 81: stations of the resurrection

i came across the book stations of the resurrection the other week. i hadn't seen it before. in the intro the author makes the point that the church has got very good at lent - lots of energy and focus and things that have become part of the life of worshipping communities. i know this is true for us in grace... but he says that often it seems like the season of easter is over by easter tuesday when in fact it goes on for several weeks. this book offers a suggestion for a way of focusing on the resurrection narratives as a series of stations. the book has pictures and meditations - they are not quite to my taste but the themes/ideas are great. anyway here is the list:

stations of the resurrection
station i - the discovery of the empty tomb john 20:1-10
station ii - the angel speaks to the women luke 24:4-8
station iii - christ appears to the virgin mary
station iv - christ appears to mary magdalene john 20:11-18
station v - the denial of the resurrection matthew 28:11-15
station vi - the road to emmaus luke 24:13-35
station vii - christ appears to the disciples john 20:19-21a
station viii - christ appears to thomas john 20:24-29
station ix - the appearance on the shore of galilee john 21:1-14
station x - the questions to peter john 21:15-19
station xi - the appearance on the mountain matthew 28:16-20
station xii - the revelation to st paul acts 9:3-9
station xiii - the ascension acts 1:6-11
station xiv - pentecost acts 2:1-11

there's no scripture given for station iii - instead andrew walker has a quote from igantius of loyola - here is is how after christ had risen body and soul from the sepulchre, he appeared to his blessed mother. she had brought him to birth, raised him, and had stood by him throughout the passion. now he wants to share with her the joy of his resurrection.

knowing how popular stations of the cross have become (darren has some links to stations - see the comments, and here is grace's last year's stations of the cross service), this could easily become a very good addition to the liturgical repertoire. andrew walker is the director of the london centre for spirituality (or was when he wrote the book).

maybe we'll try this out for our next grace service?.....

Comments

[Dave]

Hi Jonny - our Cookham Stations of the Cross (http://www.goodfriday.org) included stations going right through to the Ascension. The stations were created by young people and are on display in public spaces for two weeks over Easter around the village of Cookham, in Berkshire west of London.

[Dave]

Sorry - the link didn't work - http://www.goodfriday.org/

[jonny]

cool - thanks dave. you told me about this before but i forgot or lost the url or something!! sounds fab what you are doing...

[rebecca greenwood]

hi jonny,
great to finally read your blog, after hearing lots about it!
i took part in this worship experience at church.co.uk and it had a huge impact on me and my relationship with God. it's a shame that some christians breeze through easter like they know the score already when there's so much more to explore beneath the surface. taking the time to 'journey to the cross' as Christ did, brings out whole new ways of loving Jesus and connecting with God and serving others. i will not soon forget this service and do fully recommend that churches allow their congretion to participate in it at any time of year.
Blessings,
Becca

[jonny]

thanks guys! great to hear about that rebecca. it is amazing how stations of the cross seems to have taken off in lots of places - i blame mark pierson myself!!!!

[J R Hendricks]

The source of the art unfortunately is listed at the front of the book rather than with the stations.
As our class comes to Station X, I discover I am unable to match any of the art listings with the photo of Simon Peter on his knees before Jesus while others work on the boat.
Does anyone know who the artist is?

[jonny]

i assume it is the calling of st peter by philippe de champaigne?