Stations of the Cross and Seven Last Words Resources for All Ages

Two frequent liturgical traditions that church buildings of varied denominations follow in Lent and Holy Week are “Stations of the Cross” and “Seven Final Phrases.” Each contain revisiting the story of Jesus’s ultimate hours and execution. Stations of the Cross highlights a sequence of occasions from Jesus’s prayers in Gethsemane to his loss of life and burial as portrayed within the gospel ardour narratives and Christian custom (relying on the model), whereas Seven Final Phrases options Jesus’s ultimate utterances throughout his crucifixion as portrayed within the gospels.

These worship practices is usually a highly effective and formative a part of Lent and Holy Week for Christians. As a result of they concentrate on the doubtless triggering story of Jesus’s violent and unjust loss of life, nonetheless, these practices additionally warrant cautious therapy in order that they might be life-giving to all individuals and to individuals of all ages.

In case your neighborhood is all in favour of one or each of those practices, this text gives a compilation of 8 completely different assets for creating a Stations of the Cross or Seven Final Phrases liturgy in your context. The assets embody free and purchasable supplies, choices for all ages, a Spanish and English bilingual liturgy, a option to take the follow into your neighborhood or atmosphere, and a liturgy that facilities LGBTQIA+ experiences.

Word: We’ve got listed advisable age teams for every useful resource based mostly upon the content material in addition to on the supply suggestions. We use “congregational” to indicate a useful resource supposed for church-wide use that might not be as appropriate or accessible for youngsters or youth. We use “intergenerational” to indicate a useful resource that can be utilized with youngsters, youth, and adults. As all the time, we encourage you to train your personal discretion and judgment as you discern what assets are most applicable and fruitful to your neighborhood and context.

Stations of the Cross

1. “The Method of the Cross” and “A Scriptural Method of the Cross”

2. “The Way of the Cross / El Vía Crucis” Bilingual Liturgy

Supply: by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Seattle, WA, from “The E book of Occasional Providers” (2003) and “Ritual para Ocasiones Especiales” (Church Publishing, 2003)
Age(s): adults, congregational
Value: free

3. “Finding the Way of the Cross in Nature“

4. “Stations of the Cross Devotional Guide“

Supply: Illustrated Ministry (unbiased)
Age(s): youngsters, youth, younger adults, intergenerational
Value: $9.99 for private use; $34.99 – $69.99 for church buildings (sliding scale by church measurement); extra assets are additionally obtainable for buy

5. “Stations of the Cross: An LGBTQIA+ Lenten Journey“

6. “Stations of the Cross with Children“

Supply: by Emily J. García at A Good and Joyful Thing, tailored from “The E book of Occasional Providers” (2022)
Age(s): youngsters, intergenerational
Value: free

Seven Final Phrases

1. “Seven Last Words Devotional Guide“

Supply: Illustrated Ministry (unbiased)
Age(s): youngsters, youth, younger adults, intergenerational
Value: $9.99 for private use; $34.99 – $69.99 for church buildings (sliding scale by church measurement); extra assets are additionally obtainable for buy