Around Des Moines

(Des Moines, IA, March 21, 2008) The annual Way of the Cross Procession was organized by The Bridge, a cooperative effort of four downtown churches: First United Methodist Church, St. Ambrose Cathedral, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. About 30 people were gathered outside of First United Methodist at 10th and Pleasant Streets by 1:30 p.m. Greetings to new arrivals concerned the change of weather from a sunny morning to an overcast, breezy, and chilly afternoon. Someone reported that the Drake Bulldogs men’s basketball team was down by 10 points with a few minutes left in the game. The woman giving the update said there was still time and there was, slightly too much time. The Bulldogs ended up being eliminated in the first round of NCAA March madness by 2 points when a Kentucky Hilltopper made a 3-point shot just before the buzzer.

Eight locations served as stops for the 15 stations of the cross in this re-enactment of the last days of Jesus’ life and his resurrection three days later. Pastor Kevin LaGree of First United Methodist Church read from Luke 22, Chapter 39 and Mathew 26 for the first two stations, representing Jesus praying at the Garden of Olives and his betrayal by Judas. The cross was said to be heavy even with a wheel to help move it. Several men took pride in carrying it during the 105 minutes of the procession. The third and fourth stations, outside of the IHYC Street Outreach Program for Youth in the 700 block of Grand, covered Sanhedrin condemning Jesus to death and Peter’s denial of Jesus.

The procession grew to just under 60 participants as it moved on to the Catholic Pastoral Center at 6th and Grand. John Martin of St. Ambrose Catholic Cathedral read about Pilate’s judging of Jesus and then the flogging and crowning with thorns. Stations Seven and Eight were held beneath Elsie Manor and near the First Baptist Church Annex at 5th and Grand. Deacon Muffy Harmon of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral read of Jesus’ carrying his cross and being helped by Simone of Cyrene. At Nollen Plaza, 3rd and Locust, the story and interpretation for modern life was presented by Provost Cathleen Bascom of St. Paul’s. Station Nine is when Jesus encounters the women of Jerusalem and Station Ten is the crucifixion. Bascom asked, “What does Good Friday have to do with us?” She asked what it means for soccer moms concerned about security and the worker concerned about stretching a dollar. The answer she provided was that “anything we have to go through [we are helped] because of what happened on this day….”

Outside of the Polk County Jail on 6th and Cherry, Pastor Tim Diebel of First Christian Church presented Stations Eleven and Twelve. These are when Jesus is on the cross and promises to share his reign with the good thief and Jesus’ mother and disciple are beneath the cross. Diebel spoke of the need to be remembered, that at least a person’s name should be known after he has died. Stations Thirteen and Fourteen were outside of Principal Financial on High Street, Pastor Rachel Mithelman and Harry Hinrichs of St. John’s Lutheran Church told of Jesus’ death on the cross and his being placed in the tomb. The resurrection was represented at Station Fifteen with a presentation by Robin Kline of St. Paul’s. Kline said, “with every day, with every breath, we do the best we can.”

Reported by M.R. Field for AroundDesMoines.com.