Prayer Trail

Here is a prayer-trail to go with the art installations if you wish to make more of a spiritual journey of prayer around them. These will also be available as A4 photocopies in some of the city centre churches. (probably St Helens, St Martins, Holy Trinity and St Michael le Belfrey).




1 - Christ Enters the City - St Bede's Centre, Blossom St.
As Christ mounted a donkey and walked into the city he was telling the world that he was the promised Messiah-king who would come and save the people of Israel. Yet He was also saying that he was down-to-earth enough to ride a donkey and engage with people at their level, not far above their heads on a horse. As you walk towards Micklegate Bar imagine yourself watching Christ process through the Bar and enter the city in triumph. What things would you like Him to change in our city? What or who needs saving or healing? Pray for those people and things now. Next, walk along Micklegate until you see the ancient church of Holy Trinity on your right. It has a set of stocks in the churchyard.

2 - The Betrayal - Holy Trinity Churchyard, Micklegate.
Imagine living really closely with someone; travelling with them, eating with them, sharing dreams and journeys. Then imagine that person, the person you trusted with your community cash, betraying you for 30 pieces of silver. This is what happened to Jesus. Pray now for the heartbroken and betrayed, those ruined by the credit crunch and for those who are so desperate for money that they resort to desperate measures to get hold of cash. Now cross the street and continue down Micklegate until you reach the Oxfam shop window on the left hand side.

3 - The Last Supper - Oxfam shop window, Micklegate.
On the night before he died Jesus took bread and wine and declared “This is my body, this is my blood”. Thank God for feeding us spiritually as we share communion and for giving us sacraments to help us on our journey.
Finally, remember those who have difficulty obtaining bread, and those who struggle with their addictions when they see a bottle of wine. (We are grateful fro this footage which was produced by One Small Barking Dog in Birmingham). Next, continue to the traffic lights at the bottom of the street, and take a left turn around the corner into George Hudson Street. 20 George Hudson Street is on the right hand side of the road not very far from the corner. The images will be in three televisions situated in the window.

4 - Agony in the Garden - window of 20 George Hudson Street.
After his last meal Christ went to a garden to pray and said "Take this cup of suffering away from me". He didn't want to die, and sweated blood making the decision to allow himself to be killed rather than escape or fight. Pray for those today who are faced with agonising decisions, or who are about to face grave danger. Remember too, those who are dying, especially those who are afraid of death. After this, continue to the end of the road and turn right, crossing Lendal Bridge. Opposite the entrance to the museum gardens is a pedestrian island. Cross the road here and look into the garden through the railings. You will see the next piece projected upon a cube within the garden.

5 - The Arrest - entrance to the Museum Gardens
Judas led the soldiers to the garden to arrest Christ who reminded them that if
they continued to walk the way of violence it would destroy them too. Pray for those who fear others so much that they feel they have to carry weapons. Pray for the victims of those weapons, and pray for peace and the coming of the day when we will all turn our swords into ploughshares. Now cross the road once again and walk towards the Minster, try not to look left as you walk up Duncombe Place. Walk between the church of St Michael le Belfrey and the Minster, but once again, do not look at the other footage yet, instead focus on the Roman column ahead of you, opposite the statue of Constantine.

6 - Whipped at the Pillar- The Roman Column, Minster Yard.
On Friday morning, at his trial, Pilate had Jesus whipped, perhaps to try and appease a bloodthirsty crowd and save his life. Jesus received 39 lashes. Touch the pillar now, which is a real Roman pillar, and remember that moment. Remember the cruelty of these Roman methods of punishment (Roman whippings were so brutal that sometimes people died) and pray for victims of torture and those living under oppressive regimes today. When you have finished looking at the pillar, take a U turn and follow the road back to St Wilfrid’s Church in Duncombe Place. You will see the next piece projected onto the side wall of the church.

7 - Crowned with thorns - St Wilfrid's Church, Duncombe Place.
After Jesus had been whipped the soldiers mocked him. They decided to crown him king, but with a crown of thorns rather than gold. The irony of the situation was that Christ really was king, but the reason the soldiers mocked him was because they could not see this fact. Have a think of some of the figures of authority in your life. The people that make the important decisions you rely on. Some of them you choose. Some of them were chosen for you. Pray for them and pay for everyone who has influence in your life, including those you love and care for. Now go to the traffic lights and turn left down Blake Street. The next piece will be projected onto a window of St Helen's Church.

8 - Condemned - St Helen's Church, St Helenʼs Square.
Faced with a crowd on the verge of rioting, Pilate was finally forced to
condemn Jesus to death. Yet, rather than bearing the responsibility himself, he washed his hands of the problem. What modern problems would you rather not think about? Pray for some of those situations now, say sorry to God if you need to for not helping someone, but also be reassured. We can help some of these situations but not all of them, however we can remember them in our prayers. Now walk towards the mansion house and turn left into Coney Street. Head for the ornate clock. The next piece of footage will be visible within the garden of the ruined church, St Martin Le Grand.

9 - Christ carries the cross - St Martin-Le-Grand, Coney Street.
Christ is forced to carry a heavy cross to his place of execution. It seems likely that he stumbled and fell under the weight at least once as he required help from Simon of Cyrene. The journey to the place of execution was very public, but also a very normal sight in Roman times, probably passing many local shops and businesses. Here we see the “sale” and “clearance” signs in the background. Does your life feel in need of a bit of “clearance”? Talk to God about whatever comes to mind when you read that word now. take the next turn left into New Street, and then take the next right. Cross St Sampson’s Square and you will see the next piece upon the televisions visible within the windows of Richer Sounds.

10 - Simon lends a hand - Richer Sounds, St Sampson's Square.
Three of the gospels in the bible tell that the soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene, a man from North Africa, to help Christ carry his cross, the fourth says that Christ carried the cross himself, which is why we presume he had difficulty doing so. Some say that this “press gang” was a racist act. Pray for the victims of racism today. Then thank God for those who turn violence into love and forgiveness. Those who transcend the barriers and build bridges with others who are different from them. Those who offer others a hand filled with love. When you have finished viewing this video, walk towards the Roman Bath pub. You will see the next set of footage on the wall opposite VJs art bar.

11 - The weeping women - VJs Art Bar, Finkle Street.
As Christ walked to his place of execution, he saw the women of Jerusalem weeping for him. He said to them " Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children". Pray now for the women of Jerusalem who often live in fear and still mourn those they have lost, whether they be Jewish, Arab, Western, Christian or Muslim. 
Then pray for peace within that city and within the Middle East. Go up the alley into Little Stonegate then into Stonegate itself, which is a cobbled street. Turn right and keep a close look out on the left hand side of the street. You will see a little open doorway with a sign above it mentioning a 12th Century house.

12 - Jesus is Stripped - The Norman Courtyard, off Stonegate.
When Jesus reached the place of execution all his clothing was removed, given away, and soldiers played dice to win his underclothes. Nakedness is still shocking in our culture, which is why a carefully placed (fictional) loincloth is often added to pictures of the cross to spare our blushes. While we in the West often spend time collecting more and more things, Christ lost everything he possessed, even his clothing. Pray for those now who have too much, and feel stifled by it, pray for those who have too little, and long for new clothes to wear, then pray for those who made the clothes you are wearing now. When you are finished, walk to the Minster end of Stonegate, cross Petergate and continue almost to the end of the road. The Minster will be ahead of you. Look at the wall on the right hand side.

13 - Nailed to the Cross - Minster Gates.
Finally Christ is nailed, rather than tied, to the cross by the wrists and feet. He is fixed to an instrument of torture and cannot move. Pray now for those who are trapped and cannot move, the very ill, the severely disabled, and those who are trapped by their circumstances or by other people. Pray that Christ will set them free. Now turn left around the corner and focus on the left hand side of the street, look at the back corner of St Michael le Belfrey, where you will find the crucifixion image constructed out of lights and hanging by the wall.

14 - Christ dies on the cross - St Michael le Belfrey.
Once Christ had been nailed to the cross, he cried for his enemies to be forgiven "For they do not know what they are doing". Finally he died. Is there anything you need forgiveness for? Is there anything you need to forgive others? It’s not an easy thing to do - sometimes it seems impossible - but perhaps as you look up at the figure on the cross, you can ask God to help you be willing to start that process.

15 - Jesus rises from the dead - York Minster.
In order to look at the image of the resurrection, you have to turn around from the crucifixion and look the other way. Otherwise the image is invisible. Turn to the image of the crucifixion and think of some tragedies, failures, or losses in your life, then turn around and look at the resurrection. As you do so, ask God to bring the joy and hope of the resurrection into those situations and to help you view them in a different sort of way, knowing that God can bring new life even out of death.
(These images were shot in York Minster, by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter.)
Via Luminosa - A Prayer Trail to use with the images.