That evening a man named Joseph came. He was a rich man from Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus. He came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission to take it. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, … [Read more...]
Like so many things this year, our Stations of the Cross (also known as The Way of the Cross or Way of Sorrows) will be online rather than in our church building. Our stations come from the imaginations of several DPC members, each work based on a passage from one of the four gospels. They are designed to be encountered in their narrative sequence, but how long you spend with each is up to you. Many are interactive; all offer an invitation to pause, meditate, and pray.
Over the next 40 days, we will be posting the Stations on our Instagram account. We encourage you to follow @dpcnashville on Instagram and Facebook and join in the conversation using #dpcstations2021 or #dpcstations.
Walking the Stations is a pilgrimage that invites us to contemplate the Passion of Jesus. If you would prefer to “walk the stations” this year, you can progress through all 14 of the stations online at your own pace. We invite you to imagine yourself moving through the sanctuary and other parts of our church building as you journey through the Stations of the Cross.
Station #13 – Jesus Dies on the Cross
It was now about noon, and darkness covered the whole earth until about three o’clock, while the sun stopped shining. Then the curtain in the sanctuary tore down the middle. Crying out in a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my life.” After he said this, … [Read more...]
Station #12 – Jesus Speaks to Mother & Beloved Disciple
Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your … [Read more...]
Station #11 – Jesus Promises His Kingdom
One of the criminals hanging next to Jesus insulted him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Responding, the other criminal spoke harshly to him, “Don’t you fear God, seeing that you’ve also been sentenced to die? We are rightly condemned, for we are receiving the … [Read more...]
Station #10 – Jesus is Crucified
When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing. ~ Luke … [Read more...]
Station #9 – Meets Women of Jerusalem
A huge crowd of people followed Jesus, including women, who were mourning and wailing for him. Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Rather, cry for yourselves and your children. The time will come when they will say, ‘Happy are those who … [Read more...]
Station #8 – Helped by Simon of Cyrene
Simon, a man from Cyrene, Alexander and Rufus’ father, was coming in from the countryside. They forced him to carry his cross. ~ Mark 15:21 Particularly throughout this past year and the pandemic, we have found ourselves relying on one another in new and deeper … [Read more...]
Station #7 – Jesus Condemned by Crowd to Bear Cross
Audio by Eric Near When the chief priests and their deputies saw him, they shouted out, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate told them, “You take him and crucify him. I don’t find any grounds for a charge against him.” The Jewish leaders cried out, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify … [Read more...]
Station #6 – Scourged & Mocked
Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. Over and over they went up to him and said, “Greetings, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. ~ John 19:1-3 Where … [Read more...]
Station #5 – Judged by Pilate
At daybreak, the chief priests – with the elders, legal experts, and the whole Sanhedrin – formed a plan. They bound Jesus, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” The chief … [Read more...]
Station #4- Denied by Peter
But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” ~ Matthew 26:70 In 2013, Rep. John Lewis visited DPC and correctly noted that he would not have been welcomed in our church in the 60s. In November of 2020, Nashville's … [Read more...]
Station #3 – Jesus is Condemned by the Religious Council
As morning came, the elders of the people, both chief priests and legal experts, came together, and Jesus was brought before their council. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us!” He answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. … [Read more...]
Station #2 – Jesus is Betrayed & Arrested
Suddenly, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came with a mob carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests, legal experts, and elders. His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss, and take him away under guard.” As … [Read more...]
Station #1 – Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay … [Read more...]
