Holy Week

Thank you so much fourormoe for this interpretation of the Stations and again to you Anniebach for starting this thread and The Words thread - so comforting when our cross seems impossibly heavy. May I also say that it is wonderful to see so many heartening posts from other GNs in both these threads. It definitely restores the soul.

I use to attend every day in Holy Week, couldn't this year .

so moving grannyactivist

Went to evening service tonight at my church with stations of the cross interpreted with readings, prayers and music. Hymns sung by attendees and beautiful pieces of music sung by the choir and soloists. Very moving and finished with a Eucharist . There is a service every day or evening for the whole week although I am not able to go to them all. On Maundy Thursday our female vicar chooses people from the service and mimics Christ washing and drying their feet and silent contemplation at the end before you leave.

I know this is usually played at Christmas, but it's a song I always listen to at this time of year when we think about the anguish of Mary. The song takes the viewpoint of Mary as she watches Jesus grow from babe to man; I find it incredibly moving.
Thorns in the Straw by Graham Kendrick:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv9sJ1s8Sik

Amen

I'm so inspired by these insightful interpretations of each Station and have shared them with family.The younger ones ,too,can relate to their
situations. Thank you fourormore

Tonight's two Stations ....

5th Station: Simon helps carry the cross

Lord, Simon was not afraid to step out of the crowd on seeing you in need. You were in need of help and accepted Simon's assistance.
Help us to recognise those in need and to willingly offer any assistance we can give, especially to those considered 'difficult' or 'not deserving'
Help us also to be gracious in accepting or declining any help offered to us.

6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Like Simon, Veronica recognised your pain and her simple act gave you comfort. She would have known that she was
unable to help in a big way.
Help us Lord to recognise that even little acts of kindness can be of immense comfort to those in need, even when we feel helpless at the enormity of the problems they face.

Amen

Thanks again Annie and MiceElf - this is really a fascinating thread. It is so piognant too how the feelings of Mary, as a mother, have been discussed - see my 4th Station!

Today's two Stations ...

3rd Station: Jesus falls for the first time

Having been born in a humble stable and becoming man, Lord, you showed us your humanity in your first fall. However, you picked yourself up and continued your journey without complaint.
We fall in life but we often give up, or, at the very least, we moan and seek sympathy from others.
Help us to recognise our limitations and when we fall to quietly accept our lot, stand up and try harder.

4th Station: Jesus meets his mother, Mary

Mary, was forced to witness her precious child, suffering in such a cruel way.
In life we sometimes have to watch our children suffer through disability, sickness or being lead astray by the pressures of modern day life.
Lord, help us to protect our children and teach them your way.

Thank you for this thread Anniebach, so many of us enjoying it.

annie=when things are dark,sometimes we need a tiny reminder how much beauty we are given,nature,voices,and for you, your love of god and jesus.have a blessed week.

ps this singer is one of my favorites he also does hymns alot is on youtube/sadly he has passed away.some of the videos are of his memorial service-i watch it when i miss my husband-he loved the water and was buried at sea.

mimiro, a rainbow, sea, laughter, beautiful country, God given ?

Thank you MiceElf. Most interesting. What is never referred to is the fact Christians met in secret following the death of Christ, this is why the symbol Icthus is still so important in the faith, it was used as a secret symbol , rather as the Freemasons have a secret handshake

Thank you MiceElf.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

annie this is for your rainbow

The Eight days of Holy Week literally consecrates the year 2018 by taking us again into the heart of Christ’s Passion. The purpose of Christian liturgy is to bring the past to life and transport us into the living reality of these actual events. Thus, the old hymn will ask us one more time: “Were you there when they crucified the Lord?” The ceremonies in which we participate are very ancient and are no mere ritual. They were not contrived by some council of old clergy sitting round a table discussing doctrine but were born out of the actual events in Jerusalem. Jerusalem
was destroyed by the Romans, first in AD70 and th completely obliterated in AD132.
The ancient sites relating to the life of Our Lord were erased for nearly two hundred years; but people in the middle east have long memories... It was only after the Emperor Constantine became a Christian himself in 318AD that Jerusalem began to be restored both for Christians and Jews. From that time Christian sites throughout the Holy Land were re-established and began to recover their dignity as places of devotion. The great St Cyril of Jerusalem 313–386AD established the ceremonies at Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre, Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives, just as we keep them today. An intrepid Christian Nun from Egypt travelled throughout Palestine and Syria in the early 4th century. Her name was Egeria. Her writings have only come to light fairly recently and you can read them easily on the internet. She describes being in Jerusalem and participating in the ceremonies just as we keep them today but with firelit processions and vigils and baptisms in the darkness taking all night! Very quickly the same ceremonies were seen not only in Jerusalem but in churches throughout the world, because as the opening prayer for Holy Saturday proclaims:
Christ is yesterday and today,
The Beginning and the End,
The Alpha and the Omega,
All time belongs to him and all the ages.
To him be glory
and power through every age and forever.

Thank you Annie

NanKate , both threads are for all , X

I would like to join the Easter group too Annie

Although I am not a regular churchgoer I ‘m definitely spiritual. I have found myself sitting in the local RC church a lot during this last difficult year for my family and I have found it very comforting.

fourormore, the thread is for sharing , ? x

Marydoll, why not enjoy, just as we can enjoy a sunrise or seeing a rainbow or a piece of music or a poem X

Cabbie21, Pope Francis was certaintly right wasn't he x

I am finding this thread peaceful and uplifting.

I am enjoying (probably not the right word) this thread.

“Holy Week is a privileged time when we are called to draw near to Jesus”. ( Pope Francis”.)

May the “week that changed the world “ continue to change our lives.

Anniebach what a lovely thread you started!
I am really enjoying reading both this and the other thread that is running simultaneously.
Several years ago I wrote my own version of the Stations of the Cross and if you agree I would like to post two Stations a day - starting with tonight - which would bring us nicely to Easter.
At the time I wrote these I was feeling very low and although I have a very strong commitment to my faith, nothing that was preached every Sunday seemed relevant to my circumstances at the time.
Since then, I have used them each Lent and perhaps they may be of some help to the many Gransnetters who are suffering in so many different ways?
Please say though if I am encroaching on your thread - I will not be offended! I thought of starting another separate thread but felt mine tied in with yours, but please say if you feel mine would be better separately!

At the start of each station I tell the Lord how I am feeling and specify what is 'wrong' in my life in relation to that particular station (He must be bored of hearing it by now!) then add ....

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death

Lord, you were an innocent man sentenced to death, yet you accepted everything that came to you.
At birth we are 'condemned' to the unknown challenges that will occur during our lives but we claim injustice and complain about our lot.
Help us Lord when we ask 'Why me?' to ask ourselves 'Why not me?' in the knowledge that we are not innocent but have sinned in thought, word and deed.

2nd Station: Jesus takes up his cross

You took up your cross with no complaint and walked the way of the cross.
Help us to accept the crosses that we are given to carry in life, trusting that you will be with us on our journey and will never place on our shoulders more than you know we can cope with.

Wonderful poem isn’t it?
G.K was great writer.