Prayer Celebration Directions

GATHERING SONG
GATHERING PRAYER
Leader		Jesus, we come before you to walk the stations of your passion and death. As we follow these stations, help us to recognize you in all our brothers and sisters, no matter who they are. Help us to love them as you love us.
THE STATIONS (The reader parts can be read by one or several readers.)
Reader		The first station: Jesus was brought before Pilate, innocent of any crime. He accepted this injustice.
All		Help me to care about those who suffer injustice.
Reader		The second station: Jesus took up his cross even though it meant pain and death.
All		Jesus, give me courage and strength to speak up for others.
Reader		The third station: Jesus fell under the heavy weight of his cross, but he got up and kept on going.
All		Jesus, I can be weak at times. Help me to be strong.
Reader		The fourth station: Jesus looked up and saw his mother. Mary knew his pain, and it pierced her heart.
All		Jesus, help me to remember how much the important people in my life care about me.
Reader		The fifth station: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross.
All		Jesus, teach how to help those who need me.
Reader		The sixth station: Veronica ran to Jesus and wiped his face.
All		Jesus, help me to forget my pride when someone else is in need.
Reader		The seventh station: Again Jesus falls under the weight of the cross. He was badly bruised and beaten.
All		Jesus, give me the courage to start over when I fail.
Reader		The eighth station: Jesus stopped to comfort the women and children, telling them to pray always.
All		Jesus, remind me to think of others first, to be a peacemaker.
Reader		The ninth station: Once again Jesus falls. The pain must have been unbearable, yet Jesus got up.
All		Jesus, give me the strength to try again, just as you did.
Reader		The tenth station: Jesus reached the top of Calvary. The soldiers stripped him of his clothes. Jesus was humiliated.
All		Jesus, help me not to strip others of their dignity by gossip or mean words.
Reader		The eleventh station: The soldiers drove nails through the hands and feet of Jesus.
All		Jesus, teach me to accept suffering in my own life.
Reader		The twelfth station: Jesus died on the cross for all of us and took away the sins of the world.
All		Jesus, help me to give myself as completely as you did.
Reader		The thirteenth station: His friends took Jesus’ body down from the cross.
All		Jesus, show me ways to be supportive of my friends.
Reader		The fourteenth station: Jesus was laid in a tomb offered by Joseph of Arimathea.
All		Jesus, teach me kindness and generosity, to share my possessions with others.
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader		Jesus, we show our love for you because you loved us first. You rose from the dead to give us eternal life in heaven. We thank you.
All		Amen.
CLOSING SONG