Welcome to the website for Centennial Covenant Church’s podcast Centered. This podcast was created by Karl Helvig, David Dillon, and Kaley Rodda, with the help of many other wonderful people. The content below is a guide for the prayer practice known as The Stations of the Cross, and this website was designed particularly with our friends in the D/HH community in mind. You can use it on its own without the audio podcast, or you can use the website while listening to the podcast to create a more immersive experience. The content here is exactly the same as that on the audio podcast. In other words, this website and the podcast can function either independently or together.
“Christ Is Risen”
“He is risen indeed!”
Welcome back to our series on the Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross is an ancient spiritual practice in which people pray through a series of moments from the last day of the life of Jesus. Today is the culmination of our journey together, Station 15 - Jesus is resurrected.
This final Station of the Cross also concludes Season Two of Centered. Season Three will be coming out sometime in the next couple of months, and though we have some thoughts of where to go next, we would love to hear your ideas. Is there a spiritual practice that you would like to learn more about? You can send an email to us using the Contact link on this website, and we would love to hear your feedback.
As we move into our time of reflection, as always, we like to center our bodies before we engage with scripture.
So let’s just take a couple of deep breaths, to remind ourselves of that very natural breath that is given to us by God.
The first of our two scriptures today is from 1 Corinthians 15:4:
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
And our second scripture, from Philippians 2:5-11:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And now you are invited to take a look at the artwork. Take a look at where your eyes are drawn. Is there a specific shape? A color, maybe? Or even a whole scene?
Now consider why your eyes and your mind are being drawn there. Is there a story behind it? Is there an emotion being brought to mind? What is grabbing your attention, and why?
Now zoom your focus out to the full scope of the picture. How is the story of the resurrection being conveyed? Are you seeing it for the first time, in a new way perhaps? What does that make you feel?
Today’s written reflection is by the 19th Century British pastor, Frederick William Pitt.
The Maker of the universe
As Man, for man was made a curse.
The claims of Law which He had made,
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow;
The nails that pierced His hand were mined,
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest from whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung;
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o'er His head,
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him its face,
By His decree was poised in space.
The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years;
But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow.
As always, we are so grateful for the opportunity to journey with you. May God’s peace go with you. We look forward to Season Three together!