The Stations of the Cross

The Church of England Guild of Vergers The Stations of the Cross Leading the way since 1932 Presidents: The Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Station One:- Jesus is condemned to death. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Mark 15 vv. 1, 12 15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate spoke to them, Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews? They shouted back, Crucify him! Pilate asked them, Why, what evil has he done? But they shouted all the more, Crucify him! So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Short homily.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. HYMN. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble; Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Words Negro Spiritual Tune WERE YOU THERE? American Spiritual Melody

Station Two:- Jesus receives his Cross We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING John 19 vv. 16 17 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. Short homily. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

HYMN Take up thy cross, the Saviour said, If thou wouldst my disciple be; Deny thyself, the world forsake, And humbly follow after me. Take up thy cross; let not its weight Fill thy weak spirit with alarm; His strength shall bear thy spirit up, And brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm. Words Charles Everest Tune BRESLAU (1814 1877) Melody from As Hymnodus Sacer Leipzig 1625

Station Three:- Jesus falls the First time We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Isaiah 53 vv. 4 7 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Short homily. O God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things, and am heartily sorry that I have offended you. May I never offend you anymore, and make it my delight to do in all things your most holy will. HYMN Be thou my guardian and my guide, And hear me when I call; Let not my slippery footsteps slide, And hold me lest I fall. The world, the flesh, and Satan dwell Around the path I tread; O save me from the snares of hell, Thou quickener of the dead. And if I tempted am to sin, And outward things are strong, Do thou, O Lord, keep watch within, And save my soul from wrong. Still let me ever watch and pray, And feel that I am frail; That if the tempter cross my way, Yet he may not prevail. Words Isaac Williams Tune ABRIDGE (1802 1865) Isaac Smith (1734 1805)

Station Four:- Jesus meets his Mother We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING John 19 vv. 25 27 Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, Woman, here is your son. Then he said to the disciple, Here is your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. Short homily.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. HYMN Sing we of the blessèd Mother Who received the angel s word, And obedient to his summons Bore in love the infant Lord; Sing we of the joys of Mary At whose breast that child was fed Who is Son of God eternal And the everlasting Bread. Sing we, too, of Mary s sorrows, Of the sword that pierced her through, When beneath the cross of Jesus She his weight of suffering knew, Looked upon her Son and Saviour Reigning high on Calvary's tree, Saw the price of man's redemption Paid to set the sinner free. Words George Boorne Timms Tune ABBOT S LEIGH (1910 1997) Cyril Taylor (1907 1991)

Station Five:- Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Mark 15 v. 21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Short homily.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. HYMN My song is love unknown, My Saviour s love to me, Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O, who am I, That for my sake My Lord should take Frail flesh, and die? Words Samuel Crossman Tune LOVE UNKNOWN (1624 1683) John Ireland (1879 1962)

Station Six:- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Matthew 25 v. 40 The king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Short homily. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

HYMN Sometimes they strew his way, And his sweet praises sing; Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King. Then Crucify! Is all their breath, And for his death They thirst and cry. Words Samuel Crossman Tune LOVE UNKNOWN (1624 1683) John Ireland (1879 1962)

Station Seven:- Jesus falls the second time. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Isaiah 63 v. 9 It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Short homily.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. HYMN Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame, Nor let thy foolish pride rebel; Thy Lord for thee the cross endured, To save thy soul from death and hell. Take up thy cross then in his strength, And calmly every danger brave, 'Twill guide thee to a better home, And lead to victory o'er the grave. Words Charles Everest Tune BRESLAU (1814 1877) Melody from As Hymnodus Sacer Leipzig 1625

Station Eight:- Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Luke 23 vv. 27 29 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Short homily. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

HYMN There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified Who died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there. Words Cecil Francis Alexander Tune HORSLEY (1818 1895) William Horsley (1774 1858)

Station Nine:- Jesus falls for the third time. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Luke 22 vv. 28 32 Jesus said to his disciples, You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Short homily.

O God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things, and am heartily sorry that I have offended you. May I never offend you anymore, and make it my delight to do in all things your most holy will. HYMN Take up thy cross, and follow Christ, Nor think till death to lay it down; For only he who bear the cross May hope to wear the glorious crown. Words Charles Everest Tune BRESLAU (1814 1877) Melody from As Hymnodus Sacer Leipzig 1625

Station Ten:- Jesus is stripped of his clothing. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING John 19 vv. 23 25 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it. This was to fulfil what the scripture says, They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. And that is what the soldiers did. Short homily.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen. HYMN He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good, That we might go at last to heaven, Saved by his precious blood. There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate Of heaven, and let us in. Words Cecil Francis Alexander Tune HORSLEY (1818 1895) William Horsley (1774 1858)

Station Eleven:- Jesus is nailed to the cross. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Luke 23 vv. 33 41 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one! The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! There was also an inscription over him, This is the King of the Jews.

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us! But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Short homily. O God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things, and am heartily sorry that I have offended you. May I never offend you anymore, and make it my delight to do in all things your most holy will. HYMN Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Words Negro Spiritual Tune WERE YOU THERE? American Spiritual Melody

Station Twelve:- Jesus dies on the cross. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING John 19 vv. 28 34 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), I am thirsty. A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

Short homily. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. HYMN 1. When I survey the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. 2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ my God; the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. 4. His dying crimson like a robe, Spreads o er his body on the Tree; Then am I dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. 5. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. 3. See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Words Isaac Watts Tune ROCKINGHAM (1674 1748) Edward Miller (1731 1807)

Station Thirteen:- Jesus is taken down from the cross. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING John 19 vv. 38 40 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Short homily.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen. HYMN O, dearly, dearly has he loved, And we must love him too, And trust in his redeeming blood, And try his works to do. Words Cecil Francis Alexander Tune HORSLEY (1818 1895) William Horsley (1774 1858)

Station Fourteen:- Jesus is laid in the tomb. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. READING Mark 15 vv. 46 47 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. Short homily. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

HYMN Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Words Negro Spiritual Tune WERE YOU THERE? American Spiritual Melody

The Station of the resurrection. eluia, Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed, eluia. We adore you O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

READING John 20 vv. 1 10 Hear the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John. Glory to you, O Lord. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Lord Jesus, by your dying you have destroyed death. By your rising you have restored us to eternal life.

HYMN Thine be the glory, risen, conqu ring Son, Endless is the vict ry thou o'er death hast won; Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, Kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay. Thine be the glory, risen conqu ring Son, Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom; Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, For her Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; Life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife. Make us more than conqu rors, through thy deathless love; Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Words Edmond Budry Tune MACCABAEUS (1854 1932) George Frideric Handel Tr. Richard Hoyle (1685 1759) (1875 1939) PRAYER The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said peace be with you the peace of the risen Christ be with you all. And also with you. Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS The Traditional Stations Jesus is condemned to death Jesus carries his cross Jesus falls the first time Jesus meets his mother Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross Veronica wipes the face of Jesus Jesus falls the second time Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem Jesus falls the third time Jesus' clothes are taken away Jesus is nailed to the cross Jesus dies on the cross Jesus is taken down from the cross Jesus is laid in the tomb The Biblical Stations Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26 vv. 36 41) Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested (Mark 14 vv. 43 46) Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22 vv. 66 71) Jesus is denied by Peter (Matthew 26 vv. 69 75) Jesus is judged by Pilate (Mark 15 vv. 1 5, 15) Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (John 19 vv. 1 3) Jesus takes up his cross (John 19 vv. 6, 15 17) Jesus is helped by Simon to carry his cross (Mark 15 v. 21) Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23 vv. 27 31) Jesus is crucified (Luke 23 vv. 33 34) Jesus promises his kingdom to the repentant thief (Luke 23 vv. 39 43) Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other (John 19 vv. 25 27) Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23 vv. 44 46) Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matthew 27 vv. 57 60) Pictures 1-14 The Stations at St John on Bethnal Green, used with permission. Picture 15. The Resurrection of Christ and the women at the Tomb, Fra Angelico, 1440.