Join a worldwide prayer vigil on Good Friday 2012
Editors note: Last year on Good Friday Christians from around the world prayed together using our Stations of the Cross Prayer Guide. A few of the locations from which people prayed include: Malaysia; Sanabu, Egypt; Heilegenkreuz, Austria; Aberfoyle, ON Canada; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Madagascar; Pretoria, South Africa; Auckland, New Zealand; Hong Kong; Philippines; Suffolk, England; Taiwan; Sydney, Australia; and people from every region of the United States.
Keeping Vigil
Ruth Haley Barton
“Who can stay awake in this night of God? Who will not be as if paralyzed by it? Christ’s struggle was with God. This was his real agony. He overcame it through his self-surrender. That was his victory, and our hope.” –Jurgen Moltmann
It is a custom of the Christian church to keep vigil with Christ at different times and in different ways throughout the three holiest days of the Church year–Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. During these days, we surrender ourselves completely to being with Christ in the depths of his passion on our behalf.
One of the places from which we draw this custom is Jesus’ request to the disciples to be near him and keep watch while he prayed and agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also know that there were those few–including Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and John–who stayed near the cross and kept watch as Jesus suffered and died. Despite the horror of what was taking place, they kept company with him until the very end.
As a part of our Holy Week observance, we are inviting you to join us as we keep vigil with Christ on Good Friday by praying between the hours of 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. If you let us know when you will be praying, we will send you via email our 5-page Stations of the Cross Prayer Guide in pdf format (see directions below).
You may want to go to a church, a chapel or a garden that depicts the Stations of the Cross or in some other way helps you to meditate on Christ’s last hours. You might also choose to fast through lunch as a way of joining with Christ in his suffering.
***
Let us walk prayerfully into these holiest of days, watching and waiting with Christ through the darkness of his death and burial so that together we can celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. We pray together…
Amen.
Book of Common Prayer
If you live nearby, please join us for our Good Friday Stations of the Cross Prayer Service at the Lorretto Center Chapel in Wheaton.
Here’s how to participate:
- Leave a comment below with the time slot you will be praying and the state or country you will be praying in. It is a strength for all of us to know that we are praying with others around the world. Please note your comment may not show up right away.
- Sign up here to receive your 5-page stations of the Cross Prayer Guide by Ruth Haley Barton. Your pdf will arrive via email on on Wednesday of Holy Week. If you would like our full color 32-page Stations of the Cross Prayer Book, click here before March 27
- Use the share buttons below to encourage others to join us in keeping vigil on Good Friday.
Time slots:
12:00 – 1:00
1:00 – 2:00
2:00 – 3:00
The purpose of the Beyond Words blog is to offer helpful and hopeful content and conversation that strengthens the souls of leaders and the congregations and communities they serve. All comments are monitored and the TC reserves the right to delete those that are not consistent with this goal and purpose. Access our comments policy.
Join thousands of pastors and spiritual leaders
Receive Beyond Words®, reflections on the soul of leadership. Written by Ruth Haley Barton, each reflection provides spiritual guidance and encouragement for those seeking to be in God for the world.
I am thankful for this opportunity and will be praying, and in my small way participating with Christ on His journey to the cross, on Good Friday. I plan to pray between 2 to 3 from Florida.
It is such a privilege to pray with so many of God’s faithful ones today. Thank you for joining us in walking with Christ on his journey to the cross. May we all hear and respond to what he has to teach us on the way. In the love of Christ…
I will be praying at 2 pm, Libertyville, IL
my name is jenny rallos hodgson berore anything else i apologized this things happen to me that i’ve missed signing up with you this 1202 Good Friday. Let me hope i will do so next time , Nevertheless, I am in uk and wll want to join in prayer somewhere in the church here in the uk hopefully,, Peace be with you all.God Bless all..with love jenny
I’ll be praying as a I walk a labyrith between 1 and 2 PM in Cincinnati, Ohio. Blessings to all.
I am from Uganda, East Africa ! I have missed signing up with you this 2012 Good Friday. Let me hope I will do so next year. Nevertheless, I am in Paris and will join the Chemin de Croix at Sacré Coeur starting from 12h30 and will pray with you even though you have not noted my name on the list. Peace be with you all. With love, Sarah
i will be praying here for our lord death. i’m from phil. but i’m living here now in malaysia.
I plan to pray from 2 – 3 in Crystal Lake, Illinois
I will be praying from 12-1 in Virginia.
I will be praying from 12 to 1 pm.
I will be praying from Missouri from 12:30-1:15
Thank you for the invitation. Praying 7-8 a.m. Good Friday (PST)
Thank you for the invitation. I will be praying from 2-3, [but also in the other slots]. I live in England
Will be praying from 2-3 in North Carolina!
My husband, Van, and I will be praying the stations of the cross between noon and 1pm. Thank you for the opportunity to engage in Christ’s passion and be apart of the flow of prayer to our Jesus.
I will pray between 2 and 3pm from Crystal Lake, il.
I will be praying between 12- 1pm in Sydney Australia
Between 2:00 and 3:00 pm
I will be praying from 12-1, west coast time.
I’ll be praying from 12-3 in Virginia.
Will be praying from 12 noon to 1 pm. Thank you for the invitation to remember.
I will be praying at 2 pm MST (AZ)
I will be praying from 12-1 pm on Friday in NE.
Praying with you on Friday beginning at noon in Oregon
I will be praying from 9am to 1pm in Portland, OR.
Praying between 2-3 in Seattle.
Praying from 2-3 Eastern Time in North Carolina.
Will be vacationing in Peoria, AZ and praying between 12 and 1pm.
praying from 12-1 Salem, Oregon
I will be praying from 12-1 in Chicago, IL.
Praying from 12 – 1 p.m. in Toledo OH.
I will be praying from 12-1 Johannesburg, South Africa
I will be praying between 1-2 EDT
I will be praying 12-1 in Bozeman, Montana
I will be praying between 2-3pm EST in Abington, PA.
I’ll pray between 12:00-1:00.
I will pray from 1-2 in Calgary, AB, Canada.
12-1pm PDT
I will be praying from 2-3 in Austin TX
I will join the prayer from 12-2pm PDT, in Puyalluo, WA.
Apart from pastoring a church, I’ve been serving as Church Counsel in bringing charges against another clergy at a trial which concluded last week–a difficult and painful thing, but necessary as a Covenant Community. This additional role brings fresh perspective to this Walk to the Cross. I’ll be praying from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM here in Southern California. Blessings to you all.
Such a difficult thing…praying with you and for you.
I’m pleased to join everyone on this special day and will be praying from 2 – 3 pm in Sarnia, ON Canada
2-3 North Carolina
I will be praying 12-1PM in South Pasadena, CA
12-1 Cedar Park, TX
I will pray be praying 12:00 noon – 1:00pm, New Westminster BC
1-2 Ann Arbor, Michigan
I will be praying between 2:00PM and 3:00PM on Friday in Pasco, Washington
I will pray from 2:00 to 3:00. Thanks for encouraging us.
Jude again, that is in CA
I will be praying from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.