Palm branches.
PALM BRANCHES AND HOSANNAS. For the Christian church, both mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
Small groups participated in 45-minute tours on “Journey to the Cross.”
This morning at the church I attend, Trinity Lutheran in Faribault, Holy Week also began with a “Journey to the Cross” event. I was blessed to be a volunteer in this journey which led attendees through Christ’s final days to his glorious resurrection on Easter.
Participating kids (and some adults) carried passports. At nearly every station, stickers were distributed to place in the passports.
With passports in hand, kids and adults traveled from station to station, listening to performers role-play the parts of towns’ people, a temple worker, soldiers, an angel and others.
Participants had their hands washed by volunteers, following the example of Christ washing his disciples’ feet.
But this was about much more than sharing biblical history. This was about hands-on activities that reinforced the spoken word. This was about engaging the senses and experiencing Holy Week.
Matzo, unleavened bread from Jerusalem, was served as representative of food from Jesus’ time period.
And therein lies the strength of “Journey to the Cross.” Participants received palm branches, felt the weight of the 30 silver coins Judas received for betraying Jesus, heard the crack of the whip against Jesus’ back, pounded nails into wood, tasted vinegar like that offered to Christ suffering on the cross, raised their voices in “He is risen!” at the vacant tomb and more.
A volunteer crafted this crown of thorns similar to the one Christ wore on the cross. Tour participants saw it close up and could touch the crown.
I left with a deeper connection and understanding of what Christ endured. I could hear, see, feel, taste and smell the events of that final week. It was a memorable morning and the perfect contemplative beginning to Holy Week.
THE JOURNEY IN MORE PHOTOS:
Stop #1, Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:
Volunteer Theresa speaks to participants about Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Stop #2, Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver:
Randy, role-playing a temple worker, tells how Judas betrayed Jesus.
Making coin rubbings in passports to remember how Judas betrayed Jesus with 30 pieces of silver.
Stop #3, Before the Passover meal on the Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet:
Actress Diane talks about Jesus gathering with his disciples and washing their feet.
Rather than washing feet, hands were washed.
Stickers were distributed for placement in the passport after the hand washing.
Stop #4, Remembering the Passover meal, Jesus’ last meal with his disciples:
Signs marked each station.
Participants could sample various foods such as horseradish, matzo, grape juice and more.
Grape juice ready to be served.
Stop #5, Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane:
A sign marks the station focusing on prayer.
Stop #6, Jesus was whipped, beaten and teased:
Volunteer Leann talks about the torture Jesus suffered even prior to his crucifixion.
Wayne played perhaps the most memorable role, that of a soldier whipping Jesus.
The whip cracks across the mannequin representing Jesus.
Stop #7, Christ is crucified on the cross:
The stage was set with a cross, hammer and nails. Participants pounded nails into wood to remember how Christ was nailed to the cross.
This artwork and nails were placed at the base of the cross.
Stop #8: As Jesus died on the cross, he said he was thirsty. He was given vinegar to drink. (I don’t have any photos from this station.) Participants could taste vinegar.
A photo of Christ’s face from a stained glass window in Trinity Lutheran, Faribault. This depicts Him after His resurrection.
Stop #9: Jesus’ tomb is found empty on Easter. (I don’t have any photos from this station.) Those on the tour joined the angel and the woman at the gravesite in celebrating Jesus resurrection with these words: He is risen!
Stop #10, The final check-in station allowed participants to talk and write about their experiences:
What a young girl, Jennifer, wrote.
FYI: “Journey to the Cross” is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House. Click here for more information.
It’s described as “an outreach and educational event for your congregation and community. Through activities based on Scripture, participants experience the joy of Palm Sunday, the disappointment of Judas’ betrayal, the devastation of the crucifixion, the jubilation of the resurrection, and so much more. This family program invites children and adults to walk the path that Jesus walked.”
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Wow, what an amazing interactive way to teach little ones and adults
It was. Memorable and meaningful.
A perfect week for this, love the close up photo’s that help explain about the Journey to the Cross. I have been involved in the “Journey to the Cross” several times with our Youth group, it really brings the message home!
I tried to shoot a mix of images detailing “Journey to the Cross.” I failed to note in the story that some of the stations (and I don’t know which) were eliminated to shorten the tour.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful journey
You are most welcome. And thank you for reading and commenting.
Such an important and significant event and one we can never hear too much about. What never fails to shock me is how welcomed Jesus was when he arrived in Jerusalem yet just a few days later, those who welcomed him were calling for his crucifixion. And the other more staggering thought that hits me is, how Jesus, knowing what lay before Him, still went meekly towards the most painful and torturous death knowing one of his disciples would betray Him and how alone he would be while everyone else deserted Him. What a God we serve. And how great was that resurrection! No more significant event in history! xx
Well summarized, Charlie. Thank you.
A beautiful and instructional presentation of the “Passion”. Thank you for sharing it with your readers Audrey.
You are most welcome, Jake.
I know the logistics of washing feet would be difficult but it would have been impressive and far more impactful to do it. We missed attendance this morning due to the freezing rain……with our trek to TX the previous Sundays, this makes 3 Sundays in a row missed!!! Ugh!!! Even with ‘life streaming’ (which is wonderful!), it’s not the same as being there!!!!!
You’re right in that it was the logistics that resulted in handwashing rather than feet washing.
Hopefully you will make it to services next week.
To see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to touch, what a great way to tell a story!
It was.
Enjoy the interactive approach – thanks so much for sharing. Be Blessed My Friend – Happy Week 🙂
Thank you, Renee. Interactive always seems to me a better way to learn than simply just listening.
I applaud your efforts to always to share relevant events in your community. May your Holy Week spiritual journey be enriching and fulfilling.
Thank you, Sue. Journey to the Cross was a great way to start Holy Week. And then Sunday evening, we attended “The Last Supper Drama” at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Wheeling Township.
Thanks Audrey for a great explanation. We were at our daughter’s Palm Sunday pageant and missed Trinity’s.
That’s right. I expect the Palm Sunday pageant was memorable.
“Journey to the Cross” was also memorable and well-received.