Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

A 14-part adult ecumenical, education resource, illuminating the stations of the cross in Jerusalem through stories of the Palestinian people. 

Partner with us as we re-introduce and connect an ancient act of Christian devotion with contemporary stories of the Palestinian people in a new DVD educational resource that will support the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, Augusta Victoria Hospital and the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem.

The Stations of the Cross trace the route taken by Jesus of Nazareth from the Garden of Gethsemane through the old city of Jerusalem to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the tomb and the traditional site of the resurrection.

Christians in North America tend to think of the crucifixion as an historical event. While this is true, the Stations of the Cross also show us how God is at work in the world today and how God calls us to active witness and service.

In this 14-part adult educational DVD and on-line resource, Pastor Eric C. Shafer will help audiences new to the stations understand and appreciate the story and how each fits into the Biblical and traditional narrative.

The program will also link the ancient story with living narratives drawn from Palestinian communities served by Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Augusta Victoria Hospital and the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem.

Christians now make up less than 5% of the population in the Middle East, down from 20% in the early 20th century.  This educational resource will help Christians in the West understand their own story while connecting them with and calling them to support their Christian brothers and sisters in Middle East.  By supporting our campaign, you will also help us produce new interpretation and communication video content for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem web sites.

Our Team

The Rev. Eric C. Shafer is the Senior Pastor at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California.  He is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio and Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA.  Shafer has extensive international expertise including time teaching in South Africa and Madagascar and multiple trips to Jerusalem and the West Bank. He may be best known for his work as Executive Director of the Department for Communication in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American and his efforts to revive the popular 1960’s stop-motion animation children’s program, “Davey and Goliath.”

Shafer also served as Senior Vice President for Philanthropy and Faith Community Relations for Odyssey Networks, where he led efforts to open membership to faith groups beyond Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Shafer served as Senior Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansdale, PA, the 9th largest congregation in the ELCA. Other positions held by Pastor Shafer include: Director for Communication for the ELCA; Assistant to the Bishop of the ELCA’s Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod; and pastor of Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church in Catasauqua, PA.

The resource will be produced by Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in cooperation with Tim Frakes Productions Inc., the Lutheran World Federation Department for World Service, Jerusalem and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

Tim Frakes is an award winning videographer, video producer, script writer and editor. A 1984 graduate of Harding University his videos are broadcast on major television networks and distributed world wide through DVD. From 1993 to 2007 Mr. Frakes served as the principal videographer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

What We Need & What You Get

The total budget for this project is estimated to be $5,000.00.  These funds will cover basic costs associated with filming on location in Jerusalem in January, 2016.  The finished project is anticipated in mid 2016.

Your support is essential!

• All donors will receive progress updates.
• Donors at the $25+ level will be named in the film credits.
• Donors at the $50+ level will be named in the film credits and receive a DVD upon completion of the project in the summer of 2016.
• Donors at the $100+ level may select the option to receive a DVD gift package from Tim Frakes Productions, which includes a DVD copy of “Seminex: Memories of a Church Divided.
• Donors at the $500+ level may select the option to have one of the script writers come to your location (within Illinois, Wisconsin, Northern Indiana or Southern California) and give a lecture on the Stations of the Cross and this film project to your congregation or school group.
• Donors at the $1000+ level may select the option to have Eric Shafer or Tim Frakes come to your location (within the U.S.) and give a lecture on Stations of the Cross and this film project to your congregation or school group.

Notes:

• Completing the on-location lectures will require long-range planning of up to 2 years following the completion of the project, and will be limited to the speaker’s availability.  Some extremely remote locations may not be possible.
• Any remaining funds in excess of expenditures will be used for post-production costs and distribution of this film.
• If for some reason we are not able to meet our fundraising goals or complete this project, any unused funds will benefit the work of the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.