For Good Friday: Stations of the Cross Service

As I help to plan the first Good Friday service at The Plant I wrote
four different services, each unique in their own way and highly
adaptable to many different traditions and needs.

The other two services are available for download here (Seven Words A) and here (Seven Words B).

I have attached a copy of the service as a pdf.  The full text of the service is after the jump

Stations of the Cross Service

Summary: The stations of the cross would need to be amended for time, so this would not    be a strict following of the Stations of the Cross as much as a motif of the journey toward the crucifixion.  The stations could be grouped together like this:

First Station:   (1) Christ condemned to death–(2) the cross is laid upon him

Meditation: Christ has died for our sins.

Second Station:  (3) His first fall–(4) He meets His Blessed Mother–(5) Simon of Cyrene is     made to bear the cross–(6) Christ’s face is wiped by Veronica

Meditation: Others bear the burdens of Christ
 
Third Station: (7) His second fall–(8)He meets the women of Jerusalem

Meditation: We are called to be his witnesses, in both hardship and joy
 
Fourth Station: (9)His third fall–(10) He is stripped of His garments–(11) His      crucifixion–(12) His death on the cross

Meditation: Christ has died for our sins

At this point communion would be served.  (If your tradition does not celebrate communion, the elements should be taken out of the sancuatry during the benediction)

Fifth Station:  (13) His body is taken down from the cross–(14) laid in the tomb.

Benediction: The final two stations would be the benediction as people are dismissed     in quiet: “Christ has been taken down from the cross, he has been laid in     the tomb.  He said he would rise in three days…”

Setting: The candles would be extinguished throughout the service until all is dark.