27th Annual Good Friday Walk

2013 photo by Nikki Fox, courtesy of the Daily News-Record

A year ago I again participated in the traditional Good Friday Walk involving scripture readings and prayers at each of ten "stations of the cross" at various locations in downtown Harrisonburg.

It was my privilege to be the reader at the tenth and last station, the outdoor garden area at the St. Stephens United Church of Christ, where we focused on the burial of Jesus. For the closing prayer I borrowed the words of singer/songwriter Steve Bell and a Holy Week selection from the Common Book of Prayer:

In the mighty name of God
In the saving name of Jesus
In the strong name of the Spirit
We come
We cry
We watch
We wait
We look
We long for you

O God,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
delivered us from the power of our enemy:
Grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live
with him in the joy of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 
Amen.
(1979 Book of Common Prayer)

It was a good day for walking, in the mode of what David Augsburger calls "pedi-tation". Since I was taking the day off anyway, I decided to make the 3 mile trek on foot to the Good Friday Walk (took the city bus home :-), then another 1/2 mile walk to spend time with my beloved at VMRC's rehab unit that evening, where she was recovering from her knee replacement surgery a year ago. In all, both body and soul greatly benefited, and I look forward to this Holy Week experience this Friday, starting at noon at the Blessed Sacrament Church.

Jesus sets a good example for us in the walking department. On Good Friday, though, his was a journey like none other, the Via Dolorosa, or "Way of Sorrows".