Some of you have asked for the words Fr Jim provided for the Bishop in the blessing of our Stations of the Cross. Here they are:
Blessed are you Lord God of all Creation.
As an artist gives of herself in a painting,
So you created us in your own image,
and gave us gifts to give joy to one another and give you glory.
So bless these paintings that images of your suffering may become icons for our healing.
We ask this through our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
We owe an enormous debt of thanks to Fr Jim whose idea it was to invite members of the congregation to paint these pictures, and who oversaw and encouraged the whole project, and also to all those who have contributed such an absorbing diversity of meditations on each of the fourteen moments on the Way of the Cross, from the judgement before Pilate to the pregnant darkness of the tomb. May I encourage you to come to the Friday midday prayers before the different pictures or to take time at the weekend to ponder what each one has to say to us.
Prayer for Stations of the Cross