Living "Stations of the Cross" at Trinity Church Boston Debuts

BOSTON - March 10, 2016 - PRLog -- In an arresting display of creative street theater and public art, Trinity Church Boston is presenting “Gospel Without Words”—living “Stations of the Cross”—at 3:30 p.m. on Fri., March 25, 2016, in Copley Square. Bus stops and crosswalks, as well as the Square’s half-price theatre ticket booth and the Boston Marathon pavement medallion will serve as the setting for the retelling of the suffering and death of Jesus. The one-hour enactment, portrayed by six central actors, will make correlations between Jesus’ suffering and death—a story traditionally depicted in devotional artwork called “Stations of the Cross”—to the suffering and death of people in contemporary Boston.

“It’s a really different experience to watch the story unfold in the public square,” said the Rev. Rita Powell, Associate Rector for Liturgy at Trinity Church Boston and the writer, director, and producer of the performance along with New York actor Tony LoPresti. “It is theology-in-action, something we hope will introduce some people to Christianity’s central story of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, while at the same time helping others re-imagine their faith in a real-world context.”

The performance will begin on the exterior steps of Trinity Church Boston facing Copley Square, with the scene in which Jesus is condemned to die. The actors, accompanied by tambourine, drum, and violin, will then process to other corners of the Square to enact the unfolding key elements (or “Stations”) of the story as the appropriate section of Scripture is read aloud. The actors will remain silent throughout. In the final scene of the performance, the crucifixion will be portrayed in the middle of the Square’s fountain area.

“In the production, when Jesus falls across the Marathon medallion, it couldn’t be more obvious,” said Powell. “He is injured, hurting, on the ground—embodied in his humanity. Bombs, guns, or unjust power structures—people suffer every day at the hands of destructive forces, just like Jesus did. ‘Gospel Without Words’ takes our ancient, sacred Christian story and overlays it on the reality of the present, causing our hearts to be moved in grief and compassion for Jesus as well as for others of our time.”

Within the life of the Christian Church, the Passion of Jesus is followed by the Resurrection story on the Great Vigil of Easter, celebrated this year on Saturday night, March 26, and Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016. For information about Trinity Church Boston’s special Palm Sunday and Easter worship services as well as Holy Week events between the two Sundays, visit www.trinitychurchboston.org.

Trinity Church in the City of Boston is a dynamic Christian community of 3,000 households, a member of the Episcopal Church, and open to all.  Each year, more than 150,000 people from around Greater Boston and the world come to this National Historic Landmark, considered one of the “10 significant buildings in America,” for prayer, cultural and community events. For those looking for a deeper connection to God and a caring community, opportunities to grow in faith abound through worship, music, pastoral care, social justice, and Christian education for all ages.  For more information about Trinity Church, its ministries and programs, please visit http://www.trinitychurchboston.org or call 617-536-0944.