Church of the Redeemer, Ministerial Association walk stations of the cross
Hundreds of faithful gathered in downtown Sarasota to walk the 14 stations of the cross down Main Street in recognition of Good Friday.
By
Anna Brugmann
| 9:49 a.m. April 14, 2017
Sarasota
Neighbors
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The Good Friday walk down Main Street started in downtown Sarasota in 1996 with 15 Church of the Redeemer faithful.
Twenty-one years later, on April 14, 2017, hundreds of parishioners, Sarasota residents and representatives from the Sarasota Ministerial Association gathered outside Regal Hollywood Stadium 20. Participants walked a one-mile route down Main Street to Five Points Park, then down Pineapple Avenue to the doors of the Church of the Redeemer.
The walk commemorates the 14 events that took place as Jesus carried the cross to the hill where he was crucified.
It’s an early morning for those who make a tradition out of participating in the Good Friday procession. It began at 7:30 a.m., and many people woke up before the sun to arrive on time. But for those who regularly take part, the early morning is worth it.
Jacki Boedecker of Church of the Redeemer doesn’t remember when she first started attending the event, but she has no plans of stopping.
“I would never not do it again,” Boedecker said. “It’s that meaningful.”
Rev. Chris Wood holds the cross as participants mingle outside Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 on Main Street before the beginning of the walk.
Rev. Fred Robinson from Church of the Redeemer welcomed worshippers to the Good Friday walk down Main Street to recognize the stations of the cross.
Participants practice the hymns, which were sung between stations.
The processional started at Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 on Main Street and ended at Church of the Redeemer.
Sarasota Mayor Willie Shaw leads participants through the first stage of the cross at the intersection of Links Avenue and Main Street.
Carolyn Mason leads the processional in a prayer at the first station of the cross at the intersection of Links Avenue and Main Street.
Rev. Chris Wood led the processional down Main Street.
The crowd stopped in front of the SunTrust building to observe the fourth station of the cross.
Shelia Atkins leads participants in song at the steps of FirstSarasota the Downtown Baptist Church.
Chris Wood, Shelia Atkins, Bonnie Williams and Regina Jenkins stand in front of FirstSarasota the Downtown Baptist Church to recognize the sixth station of the cross.
The crowd walked down Main Street toward the Church of the Redeemer.
Joyce Long and Roscoe Long follow along as the crowd recognized the sixth station of the cross.
Lily Spaulding walks down Main Street during the Good Friday walk, which stopped at 14 locations to commemorate the 14 stations of the cross.
Rev. Chris Wood holds the cross during the Good Friday walk down Main Street.
Ben Strom leads the crowd through the ninth station of the cross at the intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue.
Rev. Chris Wood led the processional down Main Street.
Rev. Henry Porter leads the crowd through the 11th station of the cross in front of First United Methodist Church on Pineapple Avenue.
Will Piazzo smiles as Rev. Fred Robinson finishes leading the audience through the 14th and final station of the cross in front of the Church of the Redeemer at 222 S Palm Ave.
