Welcome to this virtual Holy Week experience and a journey with Jesus from the table to the tomb. The tradition of the Stations of the Cross which developed in the early church became a way to make pilgrimage and walk the Way of Sorrow with Jesus in those last hours of his life. Pilgrims to Jerusalem around the 4th century would journey and stop where they believed the events happened. Eventually it became difficult for most people to make an actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. These stations, then, in a sanctuary or on church grounds, became a way to make a pilgrimage to an “interior Jerusalem”–to journey to that place Augustine called “more inward than [our] most inward part.” Just as the disciples, and Jesus himself, searched their hearts in that moment of trauma and tragedy, we search our own hearts. Our stations will invite us not only to examine ourselves, but also to intercede on behalf of others. It is a journey of finding Jesus in all the moments of our lives and of our world.

Creating your own experience...

• Consider watching the video in a darkened, candlelit room. Arrange a time when there will be no distractions. Follow along with the Worship Guide if you would like. Make the video view full screen on your computer. You may want a journal beside you for your reflections.

• Eat a simple meal while watching the first part of the service, as a way of remembering the meals that Jesus ate during his ministry with the most unlikely guests.

• Have three unlit candles near you–light the first one as the center table candle is being lit on the video towards the beginning of the service. Light the second one before you go through the stations. Light the third one at Station 13 as you remember a loved one.

Shorter version or longer version

The video link in the header above is a 30-minute version that will take you through the stations with titles, artwork and images but it does not contain the full scriptures and meditations for each station. This is a more "visio divina" (divine seeing) experience. Use the readings on the rest of this page if you would like a more "lectio divina" (divine reading) experience with time for journaling as you encounter the scriptures related to each station and a meditation inviting us to consider what each station means for us today. There is a link below to a longer audio version of "Were You There" to accompany this more extended time of contemplation or turn on your favorite meditative music after you experience the video and proceed to spend more time in prayer and reflection.

This project is part of a collaboration between Dr. Marcia McFee and the Center for Innovation in Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Worship series are being designed related to all twelve affirmations at www.thisweaffirm.org

• Worship design Marcia McFee as part of the "Listen: Hearing that Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own" Lent worship series

www.worshipdesignstudio.com/listen

• “To See the Bound Made Free” written and performed by John Lyzenga. www.johnlyzenga.com

• “Come and Rest” words and music by Marcia McFee, arr. Chuck Bell. Used with permission.

• “Listen” words and music by Thomas Turner.

• “Meet Me Here” words and music by Marcia McFee, arr. Chuck Bell. Used with permission.

• “Were You There” arranged and performed by Carolyn Anderson, Director of Seminary Singers.

• Piano accompaniment for the service,

Dirk Damonte, Director of Music, Los Altos UMC

• Artwork curated and licensed by Dr. Kathy Black for the Claremont and Vanderbilt collections–

soon to be available for church use.

• Photo images for the stations from www.unsplash.com.

• Thanks to the Worship Design and Arts class, the Chapel Assistants, Chaplain Rev. Scott Clark, Director of IT Larry Pickard, Director of Facilities Dean Hanson, Communications Manager Marissa Miller, Videographer John Lyzenga, and Dirk Damonte, Director of Music, Los Altos UMC.

I hope you have found a deeply meaningful experience here. I would love to hear your reflections as you leave this space. E-mail me at [email protected]

If you would like to use this entire Lent series next year live at your church, please visit www.worshipdesignstudio.com/listen

to find out how.

May your suffering be met with God's grace.

May your compassion for other's suffering flow freely.

Peace & Passion,

Dr. Marcia McFee

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The Stations: Scriptures and Meditations

After watching the video, you may want to click HERE for a longer audio of "Were You There" by Carolyn Anderson and read through the stations scriptures and meditations below.