In the Community of St. Anselm, we end up designing a lot of prayer stations — we made a big effort for the House of Bishops and an Ash Wednesday Retreat, especially — but for the first time, this Holy Week, some of us actually asked to set up a round of prayer stations.
Before …everything changed… we were supposed to be “on mission” with the Archbishop in one of the Deaneries of the Canterbury Diocese and then celebrate Easter at Canterbury Cathedral. The Cathedral is an important space in my journey, as a Christian and to the Community, so I was really counting on having a big emotional and liturgical crescendo in the middle of our Spring semester.
Instead, we learned a few weeks ago that we would be in London and at Lambeth for Holy Week, and last Friday, we signed up to help design services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Some members also volunteered to work on Easter Brunch, other celebrations, and something focused on intercessory prayer for the first half of Holy Week. Anna, from the UK, and I took the later (in addition to me leading the team for Thursday and her leading Friday.) We decided to find ways to bth add an element of intercession and inhabit the new, secular space that would become our makeshift chapel.
Between Friday and Tuesday morning, we designed four prayer stations and a “Home Altar,” and collected materials from around the palace (which is surprisingly short on props.) Each had a performative aspect — walking around a table or following a path — and a visual aspect — branches I wove into a cross or some of our Dean’s collection of coffee table books — to help people like me, who find a list of prayer points difficult to follow.
One focused specifically on Covid 19 — the Stations of the Cross I put together when I self-quarantined for a week, with what turned out to be my usual spring allergies — but the rest encouraged the Community to remember the bigger, deeper movements of life around us. At the end of this Holy Week, these suggestions of prayer might do the same for you. If nothing else, I wanted to share how one little religious community is trying to keep our spirit and vocation alive.
In the middle of this most interesting of Paschal Triduums, Peace. – JFL
Supplies like Psalters, rugs, and kneelers 
Additional images for meditation 
Our “Home Altar”
Since the Church of England is not meeting in its church-houses or even private chapels, we moved out of the Palace’s Chapel and Crypt and into the Guard Room. Anna and I turned the massive, charge buffet tables into an altar, similar to those that so many Christians are creating on tables, desks, and the tops of bookcases.
We incorporated special items from around the Palace, like the crucifix and wooden labyrinth, symbols of Holy Week, like the chalice and foot-washing materials, and prints that I’ve collected in London and Jerusalem. We also included a runner that we made as a part of the House of Bishops’ prayer stations and even some gold pots from the garden shed. For a bunch of random items, they came together into a beautiful tableau and focal point for our prayers.
I have a feeling that, even as the Church is back in it’s usual buildings, we will still appreciate cultivating a small sacred space in our homes. If you have not already, find items that are lovely, poignant, and inspirational to you.
Looking Outward
In this station, you can begin by praying for those close to yourself, and then moving out in concentric circles, widen the scope of your prayers. While we began with CoSA and the Lambeth Palace, you might begin with your family at home and then pray for those who live near you.
Community members could walk around a table set up with concentric circles, made of branches and copper wire, and follow the widening spiral of prayers.
Circle 1:
Please pray for The Community of St Anselm:
• Immersive members
• Integrated members
• The leadership team
• Alumni
• Applicants
• Trustees and those who financially support the community
• Teachers and sharers
Please pray for the Lambeth Palace household:
• Archbishop Justin, Caroline and their family
• All Lambeth Palace residents
• The Lambeth Department Heads and their staff
• Staff in the Archbishop’s private office
• The communications, correspondence, events, and chaplaincy teams
• Those who work in the Gatehouse and Garden, and the cleaners
• Library staff
Circle 2:
Please pray for the Church of England:
• The parishes and communities which we know and to which we belong
• The Archbishops of Canterbury and York
• All clergy – Bishops, priests and deacons
• Lay leaders
• Parishes and congregations that are now dispersed
• Schools, missions and ministries
Please pray for the Church around the world:
• Leaders and members of different denominations
• Disappointment concerning the postponement of the Lambeth Conference
• Chemin Neuf and other religious communities around the world, particularly those we have visited or were supposed to visit this year
• Christian unity
• Those who do not feel welcome in the Church
Please pray for other faiths:
• Rabbis, Imams and other religious leaders
• Members and practitioners of other faiths
• Those who have no faith
• Harmony and generosity between different faith communities
• Jewish families as they celebrate Passover
• Muslim families as they prepare to celebrate Ramadan
• Hospital and hospice chaplains
Circle 3:
Please pray for humanity at this time:
• The dying
• Those who are ill and those who are healthy
• Any with mental health concerns
• Patients in hospital
• Those expecting, giving birth and being born
• The grieving and those who are far from the loved ones they have lost
• Any who are scared, anxious, lonely or isolated
• Families, friends and communities now dispersed
• College and university students, whose studies have been disrupted
• Any people refusing to take measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19
Please pray for homes and dwellings:
• Families trying to navigate work and school
• Those whose home-life is stressful at this time
• Those who are house-bound and in need of in-home care
• Those experiencing homelessness
• Those for whom home is not a safe or welcoming space
• Those who are far from home
• Nursing homes, retirement communities and hospices
• Detention centers and refugee camps
• Prisons and jails
Please pray for workers and those without jobs:
• Those who are working remotely
• Those who are unemployed
• Those who have been laid off recently
• Those who are worried that they may lose their jobs
• Essential workers, especially those who are underpaid or undervalued
• Healthcare professionals, those who work in hospitals and their families
• Carers and their families
• Public transport and delivery drivers
• Volunteers serving their communities
• Artists, actors and musicians who are now without work and income
Circle 4:
Please pray for governments around the world:
• The Queen and her family
• Politicians and leaders of countries
• Departments and ministries charged with protecting and serving citizens, especially agriculture, education, healthcare and public health, housing and social care, child protective services etc
• Government employees and contractors
• Those who feel unrepresented
• Elections that will be postponed, cancelled or held remotely
Please pray for societies and systems around the world:
• Those who suffer under oppressive systems and those who oppress
• Racism, xenophobia and prejudice
• War, violence and hatred
• The vulnerable in society, especially those made vulnerable by society
• The marginalized
• Overcrowding, food shortages and income disparity
Please pray for God’s creation and our effect upon the world:
• Climate change and global warming
• The ongoing climate crisis
• Biomes and ecosystems that are under threat
• Pollution and misuse of resources
• The natural world’s complexity, fragility and beauty
• Our covenant with God’s creation
In the Garden of Olive Trees
Before the Gardeners left the Palace, they brought in a flat of new olive trees. These prove impressively easy to move, so Anna had the fantastic idea of replacing a “candle tree” with an actual tree.
Community members could write down their prayers and tie them to a branch. Today, for Good Friday, the tree was re-used for a tableau of Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb, and I love the idea of our prayers going with Christ on his journey from death into life.
…and to the Ends of the Earth
At this station, you may meditate on landscapes from the world-over and pray for current and ongoing concerns in each continent.
Community members could add prayer requests, for their homelands or a place they know and love.
Europe
• Countries, like Italy, where hospitals are past capacity and elderly populations are succumbing quickly to the coronavirus.
• Concerns around Brexit, xenophobia, and extreme nationalism.
• Economic concerns caused by the Covid 19 outbreak and financial support for the most vulnerable.
• The refugee crisis and how best Europe can respond to the need of displaced people seeking refuge.
• Harmonious relationships between countries within and outside of Europe.
• An end to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Asia
• China, as it emerges from severe isolation.
• India and other countries where social distancing is not a viable option.
• Places of conflict, particularly Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.
• Those suffering oppression and human rights abuses, especially those held unjustly in North Korea and China.
• Rising social unrest in India, around citizenship laws, and those Muslims who are anxious and afraid.
• Gender equality and an end to violence against women.
Australia and Oceania
• Protection and respect for Indigenous Peoples throughout the region.
• Climate change and rising sea levels, which particularly threaten island populations and which exacerbated the recent cyclone in Vanuatu.
• Australia, in its recovery after recent forest fires; for those who have lost their homes and are trying to rebuild their lives
• Increasing rates of drug abuse: for those suffering from addiction, for law enforcement, and those who work in addiction services.
• Those who live below the poverty line, especially those without access to clean water and sanitation.
• Environmental issues in New Zealand, including reduced biodiversity, soil degradation, and overfishing.
Africa
• Countries with poor health systems, which may struggle to cope with the full brunt of the Covid 19 pandemic.
• Areas of conflict, particularly Somalia, Libya, Nigeria, Congo and Uganda.
• Kenya and other areas affected by severe drought and famine.
• The ongoing locust invasion in the Horn of Africa, which is leading to economic issues and food shortages in the area.
• The continuing Ebola outbreak in DRC; for those affected and those health professionals trying to manage the situation amidst ongoing attacks on health facilities.
• Corruption and poor governance in many countries and churches.
North America
• In the midst of both Covid 19 and the opioid crisis, insufficient healthcare and issues of access to health insurance in the United States.
• Safety and security for Indigenous peoples in Canada and the US, especially those who live on Reservations.
• Political division and disenfranchisement.
• Ongoing issues around race and rising concerns of nationalism and white supremacy.
• Communities that are being forced apart along the US/Mexico border, many of whom have lived in harmony for centuries.
• Pollution and misuse of natural resources in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
South America
• Civil unrest, cartels, and political oppression that cause citizens to flee, immigrate, or seek refuge in other countries.
• The ongoing dengue fever crisis across 12 countries in Central and Latin America.
• Environmental issues, including mass deforestation and destruction of ecosystems, especially in the Amazon River Basin.
• Vast inequality in income, resources, and political representation in the Caribbean.
• Indigenous populations, particularly with concerns over how Covid-19 could affect them, their traditions, and their way of life.
• Poverty and inequality across the continent, which leads to addiction, violence, and death.
Stations of the Cross, in the Midst of Isolation
As with many of the events of this Holy Week, necessity led to something quite meaningful. First, my abject boredom when I was stuck in my room in mid-March led me to create this version of the Via Dolorosa. I incorporated materials from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, artwork from Sr. Mary Grace Thul, OP & James Colbert Reid, and my own concerns about Covid 19. Second, when we were setting up the Guard Room, I kept running out of room for all the Stations and images I wanted to include. So, our Dean and I collected every bench and side table we could, and they turned into this great series of steps that led towards the wooden cross at the end. If you knelt to follow the Stations, you had a real feeling of movement as you prayed — a perfect solution for a dozen young people stuck inside.
Beginning Meditation
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps.
God of power and mercy,
in love you sent your Son
that we might be cleansed of sin
and live with you forever.
Bless us as we gather to reflect
on his suffering and sacrifice
that we may learn from his example
the way we should go.
We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Matthew 26:36-41)
Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom,
that we may seek to follow your will in all things.
Prayer suggestion: for teachers and professors who are now leading remotely; for parents who are now teaching at home; for students who are disappointed, dispersed, or unsafe away from their campuses; for schools that are still meeting.
Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested
Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.
(Mark 14: 43-46)
Lord, grant us the courage of our convictions that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.
Prayer suggestion: for ministers, lay leaders, and other faith leaders who are working to find ways to keep congregations connected and hopeful; for members of our Community and other communities of faith who are in isolation, are afraid, or are lonely.
Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”
(Luke 22: 66-71)
Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness that we may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.
Prayer suggestion: for those will lose their jobs or income; for those without health insurance or access to healthcare; for those without a home or without necessary resources, like food, water, cleaning supplies, or medication — and for those who have the ability to share their resources or to care for the most vulnerable.
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.
(Matthew 26: 69-75)
Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.
Prayer suggestion: for those who speak truth in the midst of panic; for health professionals, journalists, politicians, and for those who hold them accountable; for those who fear because of misinformation or an overabundance of news.
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed…. Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas… [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.
(Mark 15: 1-5, 15)
Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.
Prayer suggestion: for those suffering from racism, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, and discrimination because of their abilities and resources — and for those who turn to such discrimination out of fear or hate.
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.
(John 19: 1-3)
Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
Prayer suggestion: for those who are now caregivers in unexpected ways; for those working remotely; for those joining their communities of faith remotely; for those unable to complete even the most basic of tasks because they cannot use public transport or because they are in self-isolation or quarantine — for all those suddenly in need of patience.
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” … They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
(John 19: 6, 15-17)
Lord, grant us strength of purpose that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.
Prayer suggestion: for our Integrated members, our Immersive members, our leadership team, our alumni, and any members in isolation. May we find ways to help carry one another’s crosses and be bold in asking for help and in offering a hand.
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian
to Carry the Cross
They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
(Mark 15: 21)
Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.
Prayer suggestion: for volunteers who are staffing food banks, emergency shelters, and other institutions that care for our neighbors beyond these walls; for their health, rest, access to resources, and mental and emotional wellbeing as they attempt to tame an oncoming tide.
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time, people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”
(Luke 23: 27-31)
Lord, grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.
Prayer suggestion: for those who have already lost loved ones and those who fear for their parent, partner, neighbor, or friend; for health professionals in other countries who must make extreme, difficult decisions and for those who are left to mourn alone; for those whose normalcy will never return. For pregnant mothers, in need of isolation and protection, but also comfort and support.
Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]
(Luke 23: 33-34)
Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Prayer suggestion: for our sins; for our impatience, greed, hate, and harshness; for those who cannot seek forgiveness or offer reconciliation because of their separation; for the reconciliation we let go by, because of how different life now seems to be; for those still working to bring healing to a world that was broken long before this sickness set in.
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23: 39-43)
Lord, grant us perseverance that we may never stop seeking you.
Prayer suggestion: for Archbishop Justin, Isabelle, Simon, Shannon, Asia, Berengere, M’Kenna, Andrea, Ula, the Fourniers, the Lambeth Ten, and all those working to keep the Community safe, healthy, fed, connected, encouraged, and ever seeking God.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
John 19: 25-27
Lord, grant us constancy that we may be willing to stand by those in need.
Prayer suggestion: for those once deemed “unskilled workers,” who are providing essential goods and services — grocery store clerks, cleaning crews, delivery drivers; for caregivers and for those who rely on outside, regular, or full-time care.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
(Luke 23: 44-46)
Lord, grant us trust in you that when our time on earth in ended our spirits may come to you without delay.
Prayer suggestion: for all those who have died from the novel coronavirus, neglect, or loneliness; for those for whom isolation and social distancing will negatively affect their mental health; for those whose age, underlying health conditions, or overwhelmed hospitals could prevent them receiving sufficient care.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it [in] clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.
(Matthew 27: 57-60)
Lord, grant us your compassion that we may always provide for those in need.
Prayer suggestion: for those in need; for those able to answer needs; for those who do not know how to be helpful; for those who feel helpless or hopeless; for those for whom even prayer seems impossible. For hope.
Two Possible Closing Meditations
Lord Jesus Christ, your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to you. May we follow in your steps and come to share your glory in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, may we, who have here followed your steps of passion and sacrifice, remember that our hope does not lie, dead, in a tomb, but lives in brilliance and love. Amen.
