CHURCHES TO JOIN 'WAY OF THE CROSS' JOURNEY

Regardless of their denomination or church affiliation, Christians can gather around the cross, and plan to do just that for a community service Friday.

The "Way of the Cross" is a devotional journey through the downtown area on Good Friday. It begins at noon at Old St. Vincent's Church and makes 14 stops along its route.

The event is organized by the Downtown Council of Churches, a group of ministers and lay leaders in churches bounded by the Old Town Cape parameters.

"We keep it simple with prayer and Scripture but want to be clear that we can gather around the cross of Jesus," said the Rev. Bob Towner, who is helping organize the service.

For the people who participate, the service can be very exhilarating and moving, Towner said.

He helped organize a similar service in Mason City, Iowa, while serving as a minister there. The group there didn't know how many people to expect the first year but had a crowd of 200.

"People are excited about it," said Harry Rediger, a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, who will read Scripture along the route.

The service will be informal and allow people to join at any site along the route and continue for as long as they are able. The entire route will be about two miles.

"It's an opportunity to show the city that we are dedicated to making it a good city and even a holy city," Towner said. "We are calling on the churches and God to help do that." Having the Downtown Council sponsor the service announces its commitment to Cape Girardeau.

The "Way of the Cross" is an adaptation of the pilgrimage made in Jerusalem, which offers prayers at a series of places associated with Christ and his life and death. Participants locally will carry a large, wooden cross along the route.

The 14 sites chosen in Cape Girardeau are sites that have a great impact on the community, Towner said.

"It's an opportunity for the council to recognize them for sharing our goal to make a healthier and safer community," he said.

Among the stops are the police and fire department headquarters, the Civic Center, Indian Park and the River Campus.

"We consciously chose Indian Park because we want to bring blessing to where there has been hurt," Towner said.