Journey to the Cross
By Faith Bosland

Meditating on the events of Jesus' final days and his resurrection can be profound. The challenge for most of us is shutting out the noise and distractions of everyday life long enough to quiet our souls and listen to the Spirit of God.

Here's how you can set up an inspiring means to interactively meditate on Jesus' Journey to the Cross: create stations for contemplation around your facility. It's perfect if you have side rooms, stairs, pews, choir loft, and a balcony, but you can be creative and adapt to any situation.

You can offer Journey to the Cross any time of the year. Holy Week can be especially effective. Use it during camp, a lock-in, or a midweek gathering. This design has 13 stations, most of which can accommodate approximately three people at a time. Since everyone begins at the first station, you need a plan for staggering the start. Try one of these ideas:

• Gather the group for worship. Participants can leave one or two at a time to begin the Journey and return as they finish. (At some point, everyone may be participating in the Journey.) This option works well if you have a group of 30 or fewer.
  
  
• Have the Journey available between certain hours, say 6 to 10 p.m., on a particular day. People may arrive whenever they prefer.
  
  
• Have the stations set up every evening for a week. People may arrive whenever they prefer. This is a good option if you have a very large group.

Expect people to spend an hour to an hour and a half walking through the entire Journey to the Cross.

Preparation
Allow several days or weeks to gather props and plan the layout. You and a partner will need two or more hours to set up the stations.

Music
Collect several CDs, such as The Wonderful Cross (WorshipTogether.com), and a sound system to play music as people go through the Journey. Choose favorite commercial CDs or make a mix. Songs about the cross and instrumental music are especially effective.

Prayer Journals
At six stations (see below), post large sheets of newsprint for prayer journals. At the top of each sheet write prompts such as "Jesus, I want to tell you—" or simply "Jesus—". Use tape or push pins to secure the newsprint in a variety of positions. You may want to put them low on the wall so individuals will kneel to read them. If you have a firm surface, you can tape some prayer journals to the floor.

Opening Guidelines
Tape a copy of the Opening Guidelines at the entrance. Have someone standing by to usher people in one at a time. The first station is the only one that is best used by one person at a time. This assistant can also collect watches. For security place each watch in a separate envelope with the participant's name written on it and seal it.

Reflections
At each station post a sheet with that station's Scripture and reflections on it (see below). Print them in a large font (18 to 22 points), so they're easy to read.

Helpful Hints

• Space the stations fairly far apart to minimize distractions and to allow room for several people at each station.
  
  
• Clearly mark the way to each station with arrows in masking tape on the floor or signs on the wall so no one is confused or wandering around.
  
  
• Scented oil for Station 3, Mary Anoints Jesus, can be found in the potpourri or air freshener aisles at Target or Walmart.
  
  
• Position several large leafy plants at Station 6, Gethsemane, to give a garden ambience.
  
  
• If possible, locate Station 8, Jesus' Trial, in a balcony or other high point. Place the robe and crown in a lower area where participants can gaze down on them.
  
  
• At Station 9, Jesus' Crucifixion, participants will hammer nails into the cross, so be sure you choose a cross appropriate for that purpose.
  
  
• Locate Station 9, Jesus' Crucifixion, in the main area. It's effective to plan the path from Station 8 to Station 9 so people focus on the cross as they are walking toward it, even if it's not the most direct way between the two stations. For example, arrange Station 9 at the front alter of the sanctuary. Tape directional arrows to the floor beginning at Station 8 that lead participants to the back of the sanctuary, down the main aisle, and toward the front of the sanctuary.
  
  
• Have someone relight the candles at Station 10, Jesus' Death, occasionally so participants will always find a lit candle to extinguish.
  
  
• Set up Station 13, Crossroads, so that when people look into the mirror, they see themselves, the cross behind them, and some of the stations of the Journey.
  
  
• Offer a place where people can continue to listen to the music or interact quietly after they finish the Journey to the Cross. They may want to sit in a pew by themselves or return to the worship area where they began. People often want to hang out for some time after finishing the Journey.

Props

• Station 1, Outer Noise. TV tuned to static.
• Station 2, God in the Flesh. A pair of men's sandals.
• Station 3, Mary Anoints Jesus. Prayer journals, markers, cotton balls, medicine dropper, scented oil.
• Station 4, Judas Betrays Jesus. Coins-exotic or ancient ones if you can get them.
• Station 5, The Last Supper. Pita bread, olive oil in a bowl.
• Station 6, Gethsemane. Prayer journals, markers, pitcher of grape juice, cups, several large plants.
• Station 7, Jesus' Arrest. Prayer journals, markers, rope.
• Station 8, Jesus' Trial. Prayer journals, markers, purple cloth, crown of thorns.
• Station 9, Jesus' Crucifixion. Cross, nails, hammers, paper, pens.
• Station 10, Jesus' Death. Candles, candlesnuffer, matches.
• Station 11, Jesus' Burial. A large rock.
• Station 12, Jesus' Resurrection. Prayer journals, markers, white cloth draped to look like grave clothes.
• Station 13, Crossroads. Prayer journals, markers, mirror.