Journey through the Stations of the Cross
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Linda Jones, who has been attending the First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d'Alene for 20 years, sings a hymn on Thursday at the church's Stations of the Cross gathering in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Karen Yates is comforted and offered words of prayer by First Presbyterian Church pastor Craig Sumy on Thursday during the church's Stations of the Cross gathering in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Karen Yates reflects on Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d'Alene's Stations of the Cross ceremony on the events of Jesus Christ's last week before his crucifixion.</p>
<p>Kay Mills of Coeur d'Alene gazes up at the stained glass windows at the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d'Alene while reflecting during the church's Stations of the Cross ceremony on Thursday.</p>
COEUR D'ALENE — Karen Yates walked to each station, placed her hand on the image in front of her and bowed her head as she quietly prayed.
Tears filled her eyes as she took in each Station of the Cross Thursday, which hung from the walls within the sanctuary of Coeur d'Alene's First Presbyterian Church.
"It's just, he has given up so much for us, yet we still can't find peace," Yates said as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
The 14 powerful images, which drew tears from many of those who attended Thursday's special service, depict the journey of Jesus Christ along the Via Doloroso, the "Way of Sorrow" or "Road of Sorrow," from the moment he was condemned to die until he was laid in the tomb.
"This is Holy Week," said Craig Sumey, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church. "This is when we remember Jesus' last week leading up to the pivotal moments, his sacrifice on the cross, the crucifixion and victory over death, and the resurrection. And all of the pieces of that week play a big part in the story, particularly Thursday and Friday is the last time he spends with his disciples, and then his journey to the cross."
About 15 people gathered for the service, but Sumey said it was the first time the church had held the Stations of the Cross on Maundy Thursday. It has typically been a Good Friday service but this year the church is holding it both days. He said there are many different ways and different traditions in which people have gathered to remember those pivotal moments of Jesus' last week, and the Stations of the Cross originally began with the Catholic Church.
Worshipers had the option of walking around the room to look, touch and pray at each station or to remain seated and watch the progression of the images as they appeared on the projector screen. Each visitor received a "worship guide" that contained a prayer and reflection along with a description for each station. Before departing the sanctuary in silence, each participant had the option of prayer and being anointed with oil.
Before the worshipers began their journey of reflection on Jesus' last week, Sumey told a story of those who had begun a pilgrimage back to Jerusalem and recreated an actual route for pilgrims to follow the Via Doloroso.
"Over time, those stories were centralized into locations along that route where they could remember the Bible story, remember what Jesus did, and make that stop on their prayer journey," Sumey said. "As churches were being built, they made it so you didn't have to go to Jerusalem anymore."
He said the churches were originally built with 15 Stations of the Cross that any worshiper at any time could visit as part of their personal reflection, as they wanted to know what Jesus went through and experience it for themselves.
The first station, titled "Jesus is Condemned to Die," depicts Jesus standing "strong in His silence," condemned to die for a crime he did not commit. He accepted punishment without protest.
The other stations were: "Jesus Carries His Cross," "Jesus Falls the First Time," "Jesus Meets His Mother," "Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross," "Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus," "Jesus Falls the Second Time," "Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem," "Jesus Falls the Third Time," "Jesus is Stripped," "Jesus is Nailed to the Cross," "Jesus Dies on the Cross," "Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross," and "Jesus is Laid in the Tomb."
Steve Balas, director of communication at the church, said he had been working and had not actually planned to participate, but as the service commenced he had walked around the stations, reflecting on each one.
"I was very moved and it just kind of grabbed me," Balas said. "I found it an incredibly moving experience getting in touch with the historical Jesus, the real events that took place and walking through them. Thinking about each step of the way and what it really meant as a progression and why it had to happen. The idea that Jesus was willing to go through that for me, for all of us ... it's a little bit of an awakening or a glimpse into what that is all about."
Another chance to view and reflect on the Stations of the Cross is noon today. First Presbyterian Church is located at 521 E. Lakeside Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.