The-Way-of-Light-beyond-the-Cross-stations-booklet


The-Way-of-Light-beyond-the-Cross-stations-booklet

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The Way of Light beyond the
Cross
The 14 stations from Easter to Pentecost
INSTRUCTIONS - At each station:
The event is announced
Short refrain:
L. We adore you O Christ and we praise you;
R. Because by your resurrection you fill us with hope and joy,
Alleluia!
The short scripture passage is read by a leader.
All join in the short prayer at the invitation: Let us pray.
All join the short hymn at the invitation – Let us sing
Introduction: Acts 13:30-33
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and for many days he was seen
by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They
are now witnesses for him to the people of Israel. And we are here to
bring the Good News to you! What God promised our ancestors he
would do, he has now done for us, who are their descendants, by
raising Jesus to life.”
First Station: Jesus is
Risen! The women
discover that the tomb
where Jesus was placed is
empty.
Very early on Sunday
morning, the women went to
the tomb, carrying the spices
they had prepared. They
found the stone rolled away
from the entrance to the
tomb, so they went in; but
they did not find the body.
Suddenly two men in bright
shining clothes stood by
them and said: “Why are you
looking among the dead for
one who is alive? He is not
here; he is risen!” Luke 24:1-
9 (John 20:1-2 / Matthew
28:1-10/ Mark 16:1-8)
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, your resurrection is truly good news! We praise you for
your victory over sin and death! Your resurrection brings us hope,
salvation and the beginning of a new life in you! Help us to keep
growing in the conviction that at the end, our life is not ended, only
changed! Amen.
Let us sing:
Sing Alleluia to the Lord (x2)
Sing Alleluia sing Alleluia.
Sing Alleluia to the Lord!
Jesus is risen from the dead (x2)
Jesus is risen, Jesus is risen.
Jesus is risen from the dead!

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Second Station: Peter and John run to the tomb
Peter and John ran to
the tomb. They went in
and saw the linen cloth
lying there… They saw
and they believed! John
20:3-9 (Luke 24:10-12)
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, as we stand
before your empty tomb,
you invite us to
experience what Peter
and John experienced.
As we reflect on the
mystery of your death
and resurrection, grant
us the grace to
understand more fully
the blood by which we
were redeemed and the
Spirit by which we are
reborn. Amen.
Let us sing:
This is the day! When he rose again!
Let us rejoice! And be glad in it.
+ This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day! This is the day when he rose again!
Third Station: Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala
Mary stood crying
outside the tomb.
She bent over and
saw two angels
sitting where the
body of Jesus had
been. “Woman, why
are you crying?” they
asked her. She
turned around and
saw Jesus standing
there although she
did not recognise
him. Thinking he was
the gardener she
said: “Tell me where
you have put him
and I will go fetch
him!” Jesus said to
her: “Mary!” facing
him she replied:
“Rabboni”, meaning
“master!”
John
20:11-18
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, you provided Mary of Magdala the opportunity to be the
first to witness your risen self, and you commissioned her to go
spread the news. As with Mary, you call us all by our name and you
ask us to share this good news with all whom we meet. Help us to
do so courageously. Amen.
Let us sing:
+ Alleluia Alleluia give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia Alleluia give praise to his name!
Spread the good news over all the earth – Jesus has died
and is risen! +

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Fourth Station: Jesus joins two disciples on the road to
Emmaus.
Jesus said to them:
“What are you talking
about as you walk
along?” They stood
still with sad faces.
One of them replied:
“You must be the only
one in Jerusalem who
doesn’t know the
things that have been
happening
there
these last few days!”
Then Jesus said:
“How foolish you are;
how slow you are to
believe everything the
prophets wrote.” And
he went on to explain
what was said about
himself in all the
scriptures, beginning
from the books of
Moses to the writings
of all the prophets.
Luke 24:13-27
Let us pray: Risen Lord, you joined your two disciples as in their
confusion they tried to walk away from it all. You helped them to understand
the true meaning of the events that had made them so sad. Their invitation:
“Stay with us” has become our prayer. Help us to keep recognising you in
the ones who walk beside us in our times of trouble. Amen.
Let us sing:
Jesus promised life to all!
Walk, walk in the Light!
The dead were wakened by his call!
Walk, walk in the Light!
+ Walk in the Light [x3], walk in the Light of God!
He died in pain on Calvary, Walk…
To save the lost like you and me, Walk… +
Fifth Station: Jesus is recognised in the breaking of bread.
As they reached the
village to which they
were going, Jesus
acted as if he
intended to go on
further, but they held
him back saying:
“Stay with us; the
day is almost over
and it is getting
dark!” So he went in
and sat down to eat
with them. He took
bread, said the
blessing, broke it
and gave it to them.
At that moment their
eyes were opened
and they recognised
him, but he
vanished from their
sight. They said to
each other then:
"Wasn’t it like a fire
burning in us when
he talked to us on
the road explaining
the scriptures?"
Luke 28-35
Let us pray: Risen Lord, as the two disciples recognised you in the
breaking of bread, they recognised themselves also. They were still your
disciples! Your words restored their faith in you. Every time we celebrate
the Eucharist, you invite us to be restored again as your followers, as we
listen to your Word and share in your Body and Blood. Amen.
Let us sing:
Are not our hearts burning within us?
Are not our hearts lighted with fire?
Jesus is with us is risen is with us;
Jesus is risen is with us today!
Jesus is the Lord! Jesus is the Lord!

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Sixth Station: Jesus appears to a group of the apostles
behind closed doors.
As they were eating,
suddenly the Lord himself
stood among them:
“Peace be with you” he
said. But they were
terrified thinking that they
were seeing a ghost. He
said to them: “Why are
you so afraid? Why all
these doubts in your
minds? Look at my hands
and my feet, and see that
it is I. A ghost does not
have flesh and bones as
you can see I have! They
still could not believe,
even though they were
filled with joy and wonder.
He asked them: “Have
you anything to eat? They
gave him a piece of
cooked fish, which he took
and ate in their presence.
Luke 24:36-43
Let us pray: Risen Lord, we still find it hard to believe in your
resurrection and ours. We have no proof! But help us to notice the
signs you provide us with in nature around us; that as the seed
sprouts into life, and as sure as the sun rises again every morning,
so certain can we be that death is not only a tombstone but a
stepping stone into eternal life! Amen.
Let us sing:
+ Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us
and is risen from the dead!
You are our risen Lord; you are joy for all ages!
In you Lord our challenge, in you all our hope!
In you our salvation, in you all our love.
Seventh Station: Jesus empowers his disciples to forgive
sins.
Again Jesus came
and stood among
them as they were
gathered behind
locked doors. “Peace
be with you” he said.
“As the Father sent
me, so I am sending
you!” Then he
breathed on them
and said: “Receive
the Holy Spirit.
Those whose sins
you forgive, will be
forgiven.
Those
whose sins you
retain, they are
retained!”
John
20:21-23
Let us pray: Risen
Lord, you appeared
to the apostles and
breathed the Holy
Spirit upon them; pour out on us your healing Spirit, that we may
continue your mission of bringing forgiveness to our wounded world.
Amen.
Let us sing:
God forgave my sins in Jesus’ name,
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you,
To share his love as he told me to!
He said: “Freely Freely you have received;
Freely Freely give!
Go in my name and because you believe,
Others will know that I live!”

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Eighth Station: Jesus confirms the faith of Thomas.
Thomas was not with
them when Jesus
came, and he
refused to believe
them. Eight days
later the disciples
were in the house
and Thomas was
with them. The doors
were closed but
Jesus came and
stood among them.
He said to Thomas:
“Reach out your hand
and put it into my
side. Look at my
hands! Doubt no
longer, but believe!”
Thomas said: “My
Lord and my God!”
Jesus replied: “You
believe because you
can see me. Blessed
are they who will
believe
without
having seen me.”
John 20:24-29
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, you renewed the faith of Thomas in you as the Risen
one! His faith is the faith of the Church. Preserve the church you built
on the apostles, deepen our faith in your final victory, and help us
find strength in the hope of your coming again. Amen.
Let us sing:
You are Lord, you are Lord,
You are risen from the dead and you are Lord!
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess,
That Jesus you are Lord!
Ninth Station: Jesus appears on the shore of lake Tiberias.
Simon-Peter said to the
other disciples: “I’m
going fishing”. “We’ll
come with you!” they
replied. So they went
out in the boat but
caught nothing all
night. As day broke,
Jesus stood on the
shore, though the
disciples did not realise
it was Jesus. Jesus
called out: Have you
caught
anything
friends?” And when
they answered “No!”,
he said to them:
“Throw the net out to
starboard and you’ll get
something.” They did
so and there were so
many fish that they
could not haul the net
in. The disciple Jesus
loved said: “It is the
Lord!” John 21:1-19
Let us pray: Risen Lord, in the sign of so many fish gathered in the
single unbroken net, you indicate your desire that all people of all
nations be gathered into one holy people. As you directed your
disciples to that great catch of fish, continue to direct us in the way of
unity. Amen.
Let us sing:
Lord you have come to the lakeside;
Seeking neither wealthy nor wise ones.
You only ask Lord, that I should love you.
With love you have looked in my eyes Lord,
Smiling gently you called out my name.
And I left my boat by the lakeside,
Now with you I will seek other shores!

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Tenth Station: Jesus commissions Peter to take care of
his flock, the Church.
Jesus then asked Peter
three times: “Simon, son of
John, do you love me more
than these others do?” He
answered: “Yes Lord, you
know how much I love
you!” Jesus said to him:
“Feed my lambs! Take care
of my sheep!” John 21:15-
18
Let us pray: Risen Lord,
you not only forgave
Peter for denying you
three times, you
appointed him to be the
leader of your followers,
the Shepherd of your
flock.
Having
recommitted himself to
love you to the end, he
assumed the responsibility of leading your people in discovering
healing through your loving forgiveness. May the successor of Peter
continue to preserve your church in the way of truth and life, and
may we too be faithful in fulfilling our mission to spread the good
news of salvation. Amen.
Let us sing:
Colours of day dawn into the mind
The sun has come up the night is behind.
Go down in the city, into the street,
And let’s give the message to the people we meet.
+ So light up the fire and let the flame burn,
Open the door, let Jesus return.
Take seeds of his Spirit, let the fruit grow,
Tell the people of Jesus let his love show.
Go through the park on into the town
The sun still shines on, it never goes down.
The light of the world is risen again,
The people of darkness need the Good News! +
Eleventh Station: Jesus entrusts his disciples with his
mission to the whole world.
Jesus said to them: “Go
throughout the whole world
and preach the gospel to
all mankind. Whoever
believes and is baptised
will be saved. Whoever
does not believe will be
condemned. And believers
will be given the power to
perform miracles. They will
drive out demons in my
name; they will speak in
strange tongues; if they
pick up snakes or drink
poison, they will not be
harmed; they will place
their hands on the sick, and
these will be healed!” Mark
16:15-18
(Matthew 28:16-20 / Acts
1:6-8 / Luke 24:46-47)
Let us pray: Risen Lord, you helped your disciples to understand the
wonderful mystery of your death and resurrection. Then you entrusted them
with the task of being messengers of hope and bearers of the good news of
your victory over sin and death. As we strive to pursue their mission, help
us to manifest your resurrection by our way of life. Amen.
Let us sing:
God’s Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart;
This is what I have to do; what I have to do.
He sent me to bring the good news to the poor;
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more!
Tell blind people that they can see;
And set the downtrodden free!
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of
God has come.
And go tell everyone the news that God’s Kingdom has
come.

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Twelfth Station: Jesus ascends into heaven.
Then he led them out as
far as Bethany, and
blessed them with
uplifted hands; and in the
act of blessing them, he
parted from them. They
still had their eyes fixed
on him when two men
dressed in white
suddenly stood beside
them
and
said:
“Galileans, why are you
standing there looking up
at the sky? This Jesus
who was taken from you
into heaven will come
back in the same way
you saw him go to
heaven!” Luke:24:50-52 /
Acts 1:9-11
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, your promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit and your
promise to be with us always, fills us with joy. Where you, the head
have preceded us in glory, we, the body, hope to follow. Seated at
the right hand of the Father, intercede for us now, as we place all our
trust in you, our eternal priest. Amen.
Let us sing:
Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Saviour, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us,
Blessed Redeemer, living Word!
Thirteenth Station: Mary and the apostles wait for the
coming of the Holy Spirit
The apostles then went
back to the city and to
the room where they
had been staying. They
gathered frequently to
pray as a group,
together with the women
and with Mary the
mother of Jesus. Acts
1:12-14
Let us pray:
Risen Lord, this little
group of your followers
waiting and praying
together in the Upper
Room was the church in
embryonic
form.
Gathered still with the
whole communion of saints, we pray that you will again pour out the
gifts of the Holy Spirit on all people and so fulfil in the hearts of your
faithful what you accomplished when the Gospel was first preached
on earth. Amen.
Let us sing: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me/us (x2)
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me!
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me/us!

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Fourteenth Station: Pentecost – The Holy Spirit descends
upon the apostles in the form of tongues of fire.
When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered
together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky
which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like
tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other
languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak!” Acts 2:1-42
Let us pray:
God our Father, we thank you for sending us your only Son to call us
into your Kingdom. Set us on fire like his first disciples, with the power
of the Holy Spirit. Help us to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk
humbly with you. Help us to become a community serving humanity in
your great plan to renew the face of the earth. We ask this through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us sing:
Sing Alleluia to the Lord (x2)
Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia,
Sing Alleluia to the Lord!
Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts. (x2)
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts!
Father, so great is your love for us that you call us your children. Even
more, you sent Jesus to show us how to live, he who is the Way the
Truth and the Life. Bless us now with the gift of the Holy Spirit that we
might pray with conviction; “Come Lord Jesus!” Help us to know him
better and to share our experience of him with others as we prepare for
and cross the threshold into the third millennium. We make our prayer
through Christ our Lord. Amen.