About 50 people from several local churches took to the streets for the 21st Annual Cross Walk on Good Friday, March 29. The walk began at the First Lutheran Community Church on Mitchell Road SE.

Pastor Sarah Roemer of the Spirit of Liberty Lutheran Church led this year’s event.

“This is a time of prayer and during the time of active prayer, and during the walk do that in a stance that is mediated,” she instructed the group. “While we are thinking and praying each step to bring God into our community.”

She announced the staff of the Park Vista Retirement Center made 190 cookies for the participants.

“We will have a chance to soak up their hospitality and also intake a lot of God’s grace,” said Roemer.

Tina Holmes said she was participating in the walk for the seventh year.

“This is such a wonderful thing,’ said Holmes.

The wooden cross, constructed by First Lutheran Pastor George Larson, was carried by at least two individuals at a time. Larson said the walk is based on the ancient discipline called “The Stations of the Cross” with added prayers for specific needs to the community.

Larson, who became pastor of Spirit of Liberty in 1991, brought the tradition with him from churches in Puyallup.

For those carrying the front part of the cross, a towel was placed on their shoulders to protect them from the heavy wooden structure.

The walk stopped at 14 “Stations of the Cross” for those to better understand the walk of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion nearly 2,000 years ago. The group marched down Mitchell Road to Bay Street. Because of construction at the Port Orchard Marina, the walk ended at The Gallery School of Music and Dance Studio on Bay Street. The walk ended with prayer and song.

Sponsoring this year’s event along with First Lutheran, Elim Lutheran Community Church, Spirit of Liberty Lutheran and St. Bede Episcopal Church.