Revised Collects for the Stations of the Cross with Children
In 2021, I arrived at Our Redeemer, Lexington, right before Holy Week. I loved their Stations of the Cross service that they walked around the nave with children and young people, but I found the collects (the lovely, traditional ones found in The Book of Occasional Services) to be perhaps a little too complicated for the youngest to parse.
Since the bulk of the service remains just as it is in Occasional Services, and since the collects carry the burden of interpreting the readings, I thought it would be especially appropriate to revise them. I have attempted to capture an essential part of the original collect, as well as the Scripture, in my revisions. (These children are also always in church on Sundays for the entire service, so they are consistently getting the full and typical liturgy.)
So below you will find them, along with the originals in italics; they are also available at the bottom to download.
Collects for the Way of the Cross
Opening Collect
Dear God, help us now as we walk your steps to the cross in our words, our hearts, and our imaginations. Help us as we contemplate these mighty acts, with which you have given us life and eternal life. Amen.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
Loving God, before your Child went up to joy, he suffered pain; before he entered into glory, he was crucified. In your mercy, grant that as we pick up our crosses and follow him, we will find this way is actually the way of life, and the way of peace. Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross
Jesus, you chose to take this cross and suffering upon you, and as you did you redeemed all creation. Give us courage to take up our crosses and follow you, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Third Station: The Cross is Laid on Simon of Cyrene
Holy God, you sent your Word to serve others: Bless everyone who serves others, and give them wisdom, patience, and courage, so that they can do their work in Your name to serve the suffering, the friendless, and all in need. We ask this for the love of Jesus. Amen.
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Teach all of us in your Church, O Lord, to know when we have sinned, and then to turn away from that sin and turn our backs on it. If you will give us your grace, we can walk away and protect our children and our children’s children from our own mistakes, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Teach your Church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them; that, by your pardoning grace, the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children’s children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
Holy God, you do not wish for anyone to suffer; but when suffering comes, you are with us in the midst of it. When we cannot escape cruel words and harmful acts, we know you are there with us. Help us remember Jesus, and bring something good out of evil. In your Holy Name we pray, Amen.
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sixth Station: Jesus is Nailed the Cross
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
Seventh Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
O God, in Jesus’ death and resurrection, you delivered us from the power of our enemy. Help us to shed off all our sins like broken chains, that we may forever live with Jesus in the joy of his resurrection, the One who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.
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; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen
Eighth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Arms of His Mother
Sweet Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of Death. Help us to follow in faith where you have led the way, so that in the end we can fall asleep peacefully in you, and wake up in your likeness, for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.
Ninth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
O God, your blessed Child was laid in a tomb in a garden. Since we have been buried with him in the waters of baptism, may we find our perfect rest in Your eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
