Today's Resources
Read Mark 15:16-32 (choose your own version using this link).
We get the word “excruciating” from the word “crucifixion”. Violence is an act of physical force that causes or is intended to cause harm. The damage inflicted by violence may be physical, psychological, or both. As the hymn says, “we may not know, we cannot tell, what pains he had to bear.” Jesus was treated brutally at his trial and then when his sentence was carried out.
Draw the outline of a cross on a piece of paper and fill it with the names of people and places that you know about who are in trouble, in pain, under threat.
Can you find a hammer and nails to put in your Easter Window?
Prayers For Holy Week
For the message about the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
For God’s foolishness
is wiser than human wisdom,
and God’s weakness
is stronger than human strength.
By your agony and trial;
by your cross and passion;
and by your precious death and burial,
good Lord, deliver us.
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
As we behold your Son, enthroned on the cross,
stir up in us the fire of your love,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and walk with you in newness of life
singing the praise of him who died
for us and our salvation.
Amen.
By the nails through your hands and feet,
give comfort to the suffering.
By the crown of thorns upon your head,
give hope to the despairing.
By the spear that pierced your side,
give courage to the broken-hearted.
By your being scorned and rejected of men,
give love to the lonely.
By your time of desolation,
lift up all who are down.
By your death on the cross,
give us life which is eternal.
Hear us, Lord Christ!
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.