The Last 24: Gethsemane to the Grave ... Station 1

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethesemane

(Mark 14:32-42)

((Directions for use

* Indicates a change of reader.

Bold indicates said together.

Bold Italic indicates said one after another.))

* Lord, you brought along your

closest friends to a place of prayer …

"My soul

is overwhelmed

with sorrow

to the point of death,"

"Stay here.

Keep watch."

* In agony

Before the One who sent you,

Your life,

Your source,

Your only help,

Your father,

and ours.

"Abba, Father,

everything is possible for you.

Take this cup from me.

Yet not what I will,

but what you will."

* We know not fully your agony.

Knowing the father’s love,

Knowing his power,

Knowing that everything is possible,

Yet even as you say “not my will,”

In the silence …

((Long pause, for silent prayer))

* In all that we have experienced

Few have sweat great tears of blood.

Yet, at times, we have sensed

Messengers of heaven strengthening.

They strengthen you now

For this lonely way

Of our salvation.

”Simon, are you asleep?

Could you not keep watch for one hour?

Watch and pray

so that you will not

fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing,

but the body is weak."

* We like Simon are

But shifting sand.

We desire to be strong

But we are weak.

We desire to be alert

But we slumber.

* Awaken us

To the pain around us.

Awaken us

To the call of angels.

Awaken us

With strength to answer

When you call.

((After a pause for silent prayer. Then one by one pray.))

Your will be done.

* Rise we must.

* Wake us from our slumber.

* Call us to action.

* The hour has come.

Prayer Trail - The Last 24: Gethsemane to the Grave

Common Heart has created a prayer garden and trail at The Commonplace. When folks are on mission together they need a quiet place to recharge and renew. That is why this space exists. It can be used for private prayer anytime and other times groups will be invited to come together. For this season of Easter we have posted 14 pieces of art and wrote 14 meditative prayers along the trail. If you would like to join us on Good Friday a group of us will pray together at 6pm. But feel free to come anytime after 3pm and walk the trail on your own.

Details:

Friday, April 2, 2010
6:00pm - 7:30pm

Location: The Commonplace
225 Garmon Rd
Indian Trail, NC

You are invited to come and experience with us a time of prayer and meditation based around the events of the last 24 hours of Christ's life this Good Friday (April 2). We will gather at the cross and then walk a wooded trail guided by a series of pictures, meditations and prayers.

The Scriptural Way of the Cross is the focus of this first trail ...

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,
Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested,
Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin,
Jesus is denied by Peter,
Jesus is judged by Pilate,
Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns,
Jesus takes up His cross,
Jesus is helped by Simon to carry His cross,
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem,
Jesus is crucified,
Jesus promises His kingdom to the repentant thief,
Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other,
Jesus dies on the cross,
Jesus is laid in the tomb

On Easter Sunday at 7:05 am you are invited also to a sunrise gathering of brothers and sisters on mission together celebrating the Lord's resurrection.

Way of the Cross

Last year on Good Friday was the first time I meditated on "The Stations of the Cross." It was at St Michael's Anglican Church in Charlotte. My mom, Bene' (my son) and I went and it was a good experience. They also had outdoor "Stations" set up so I went on my own on a couple other occasions last year. When I prayed those outdoor stations I used a less traditional form I found in Celtic Daily Prayer. I really found it to be a sobering and encouraging spiritual experience.

I have always wanted to weave spiritual formation opportunities in with the missional activities we promote through Common Heart. Last month we began planning and working on a prayer garden and prayer trail at The Commonplace. The first theme for the wooded trail is a "Scriptural Way of the Cross".

Several people have volunteered create artwork to focus our attention on 14 separate events startin with Gethsemane and ending with Jesus' burial. I have begun to work on the meditations for the trail. These meditations will be put together in a booklet and can be done as a private meditation or in a group. We would love to have others involved in these creative aspects of the project. There are also opportunities to help reclaim the space for the prayer garden and prepare the trail. If you would like to help in any way contact me.

As we get closer to Palm Sunday and Passion Week on March 28th, watch for a post with times to join in and walk the trail with us.