STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Station 14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Location: In the Karlen Garden at Grace Church

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-61)

A Prayer for Resurrection

Eternal God, rock and refuge:
With roots grown old in the earth,
river beds run dry,
and flowers withered in the fields,
we wait for revival, release, rebirth.
Abide with us until we come alive in the sunrise of your glory. Amen.

As we hold in remembrance these events in a city long ago,
we pray for our city.
For those who administer justice.
For those in prison, rightly or wrongly.
For the stranger and the alien among us.
For those who bear heavy burdens.
For parents who grieve lost children.
For children lost to violence, addiction, or despair.
For those who fall, again, and again, and again.
For those who feel constrained to participate in unjust systems.
For those who stand by, feeling helpless in the face of suffering.

May the courage of Christ on the cross
strengthen us to shine the light of God’s love
on heartless systems and hopeless people.

For Madison, for Dane County, for our leaders, and our people, we pray:
Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.