Below you will find the text for the 2024 Easter Sunday prayers stations at The Corner UC.
Scroll down the page to find the different stations.
THE TOMB PRAYER STATION
Read John 20: 1-18
On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus’ favourite disciple and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him.”
Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.
When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus’ face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. So the two of them went back to the other disciples.
Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?”
She answered, “They have taken away my Lord’s body! I don’t know where they have put him.”
As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.”
Jesus told her, “Don’t hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.” Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.
Reflect and Act
As you enter the tomb see how it has been transformed. The flowers we placed on the tomb on Good Friday have grown and the space now overflowers with life.
Take time to look at all the flowers. How many can you name? How many different types can you see?
The hope and new life of Easter Sunday isn’t only experienced in one way. There are differences in how we see and respond to this sometimes unexpected hope.
Think about the different ways Simon Peter and Mary Magdalene responded to Jesus’ resurrection.
How do you imagine you would have responded to the empty tomb?
DISPLAY OF CROSSES PRAYER STATION
Read Luke 24: 1-12
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, ‘The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.’ ” Then they remembered what Jesus had said.
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women were the ones who had gone to the tomb. When they returned, they told the eleven apostles and the others what had happened. The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.
But Peter ran to the tomb. And when he stooped down and looked in, he saw only the burial clothes. Then he returned, wondering what had happened.
Reflect and Act
Think about how we might view the symbol of the cross differently on Good Friday than on Easter Sunday.
On Good Friday we might only be able to see death, violence, hate and darkness.
But on Easter Sunday we are reminded that Jesus has been raised from death. That the cross has become a symbol that could represent
life after death,
peace after violence,
love after hate
and light after darkness.
Help us add new life to the symbol of the cross. See the vines that have been drawn across the paper crosses. Take some crayons and add leaves and flowers to the vine as a symbol of the cross being transformed by the experience of Easter Sunday.
Note how the original words of Good Friday are not covered up, but continue to inform our understanding and experience of the cross.
ROCKS PRAYER STATION
Read John 21: 1-2, 12-17 (Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection)
Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples.
Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Peter son of John, do you love me more than the others do?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.
Jesus asked a second time, “Peter son of John, do you love me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.
Jesus asked a third time, “Peter son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.”
Reflect and Act
Above we read of Peter’s first encounter with Jesus after his denial. We can imagine that how heavy his guilt, regret and shame would have been when he saw Jesus.
But Jesus’ reaction to Peter is one of love and restoration. Jesus not only appears to Peter and cooks for him, he also gives Peter an opportunity to assert his love for Jesus regardless of his past actions. He also shows that he still trusts Peter by asking him to care of his sheep (the world).
Overcoming the weight of our guilt, regret and shame does not happen on our own. But we can move through it remembering the unconditional love of Jesus. We see this love through the story above, but also through Jesus actions and sacrifice on the cross at Easter.
Pick up a rock, not your own, and wash away the words on it.
As you do this reflect on the ways Jesus offers each of us love and restoration. Also reflect on the ways our communities can help lighten the weight of our guilt, regret and shame. That through the act of sharing these feelings with others the weight is shared and lightened.
LAST SUPPER PRAYER STATION
Read Luke 24 :13-35 and John 21: 1-14
Reflect and Act
While it is called ‘The Last Supper’, it was not the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples. After his resurrection we read of two more meals they shared together.
There are printed copies of these on the table. Take some time to read through them.
Consider how the disciples would have felt at seeing Jesus again.
They thought his death was the ending, while it was actually a new beginning.
Sit at the table and imagine you were one of the disciples who got to share another meal with Jesus.
What questions would you want to ask him?
What would you want to tell him?
Share them with the people around you, or write them on the brown paper on the table.
EASTER INSPIRATION PRAYER STATION
Reflect and Act
Reflect on all you have heard, seen and experienced this Easter Sunday.
Use the art materials on the table to draw or write your reflections of Easter Sunday.
You can draw on the brown paper on the table, or the plain paper, or the colouring sheets.
You will see there are still the creations from Good Friday. You might choose to add to images or create new ones.
Notice the extra colours and art materials provided on the table. Reflect on how this can help inspire your Easter Sunday creations.
For Extra Inspiration:
Visit the prayer stations across the church
Listen to the lyrics of the songs and words of the prayers
Reflect on the Easter Sunday story – one version can be found in John 20: 1-18
EASTER SYMBOLS PRAYER STATION
Reflect and Act
On the table you will find many different items that reflect parts of the Easter Sunday story.
You will notice the items from Good Friday are still there as well.
Take time to read the description beside each item.
You may also want to carefully feel or smell the items.
Reflect on how seeing these items in person changes or enhances how you understand the Easter story.