Good Friday: Environmental Stations of the Cross at Lake Merritt

Join us for a contemplative walk around Lake Merritt on Good Friday, which also happens to be Earth Day. We will follow nine Stations of the Cross, focusing on environmental and social justice themes. The walk begins promptly at 3:30 p.m. at the bridge on Lake Merritt across from the Oakland Veteran’s Building (at Grand and Harrison). The walk is entirely flat, approximately 3 miles.

OAKLAND, CA – This year, the Christian commemoration of Jesus’ death, Good Friday, falls on the same date as International Earth Day. Considering the damage humanity has done to the Earth, especially in recent years, a group from Bay Area Episcopal churches will be holding a special offering to honor this occasion.

On Friday, April 22, the group invites people to gather at the bridge on Lake Merritt across from the Oakland Veteran’s Building (at Grand and Harrison), and the walk will begin promptly at 3:30 pm. Those gathered will be led around the lake, along ten different Stations of the Cross, focusing on Jesus’ last hours before he was executed and relevant environmental and social justice themes of our day. The walk is entirely flat, approximately three miles, and will end by 5:30pm. “Just as Jesus was abused, we will call attention to abuse that continues. Just as Jesus’ body was scourged, we will draw attention to the continued scourging of the Earth—God’s precious Creation,” explains Justin R. Cannon, founder of Worship in the Wilderness, a church group sponsoring this event (http://www.witw.info).

“For the Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. We know that the whole Creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the Creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” These words from the ancient Christian letter of Paul to the early Christian church in Rome captures this group’s belief that Christians are called to be keepers of the earth as God’s holy gift.

This event is fully inclusive, open to all people both Christians and non-Christians. For more information contact Justin Cannon jcannon [at] episcopalcharities.org.