A weekly blog of Creative Ideas for Leading Worship
The Cross We Carry
Naming our struggles, affirming our hopes
Uniting at the foot of the cross in a shared act of faith.
Bearing the Cross
Jesus calls his followers to “take up their cross” (Mark 8:34). This image has often been associated with suffering, sacrifice, and the weight of discipleship. Yet the cross is also a sign of hope – the place where pain is transformed into resurrection life.
This activity gives people a tangible way to name both the burdens they carry and the hopes they hold, offering them up to God in a communal act of worship.
Preparation
- Gather enough small card crosses for each person. Cross shapes can easily be cut from thin or bought in bulk from craft suppliers.
Click this link to download an A4 PDF template with 5 cross outlines to print/copy:
https://tinyurl.com/3tbrmj6v
- Provide pens, markers, or coloured pencils for decoration.
- Have a basket, tray, or table with a plain cloth spread on it ready to receive the crosses. Alternatively, prepare a large wooden cross at the front for people to attach theirs to.
During the Service
Introduction
After a reading or reflection on discipleship, you might say:
“Each of us carries things that weigh us down – worries, griefs, responsibilities, or regrets. Yet each of us also carries hope – for healing, change, renewal, and joy. Today we will name those things honestly, and offer them to God, as a sign that we do not carry them alone.”
Action
- Distribute the small crosses to everyone.
- Invite people to spend a few quiet minutes writing or drawing on their cross. One side might represent struggles or burdens: the other side hopes, dreams, or prayers.
- Encourage honesty – the words can be as simple as “loneliness” or “gratitude,” or a short phrase, image, or symbol.
- When they are ready, invite people to bring their crosses forward and place them in the basket, tray or on the table.
As the pile or display grows, the visual effect will be powerful: many individual burdens and hopes joining together at the foot of the cross.
Optional Variations
- Attach to a Central Cross: Provide pins, Blu-Tack, or string so people can affix their small crosses onto a large wooden cross. This makes a striking visual focus for the remainder of the service.
- Children’s Version: Children could decorate their crosses with colours or stickers symbolising things that make them sad or happy.
- Take Home: Invite people to collect their cross at the end of the service to take home as a reminder of God’s presence in their struggles and hopes.
- Silent or Spoken: Keep the action silent or add a brief prayer of dedication once all the crosses are gathered.
Closing Reflection
Conclude with words such as:
“At the foot of the cross, our struggles are seen, our hopes are honoured, and our lives are held in God’s love. Let’s remember that we do not walk this journey alone – Christ carries our burdens with us and leads us into resurrection hope.”
Ngā mihi
Philip