DARIEN, Conn. The flocks of several Darien churches joined together for a day to celebrate an old holiday tradition. A small crowd gathered at the First Congregational Church on a sunny Good Friday morning to carry a large wooden cross across town to St. Luke's Parish, where an afternoon prayer session was held.
Along their journey through the streets of Darien, the group stopped at several locations and said prayers for members of the community. Members of the group took turns carrying the cross.
"It was heavy. It's a real cross it's supposed to be heavy. If it wasn't I'd be disappointed," said the Rev. Dale Rosenberger of the First Congregational Church.
This is the first year Rosenberger has participated in the annual tradition, which goes back farther than many can remember. As he and several other clergy members spoke with each other before the procession began, none was quite sure how long the event has been part of Darien's yearly Easter celebrations.
Peg Weeks said she has taken part in the march for more than 20 years. Her husband, Ken, built the cross the worshippers carried. Ken is no longer able to walk, so this is the first year the couple has not joined in the procession, but they did meet the crowd as they stopped at the Spring Grove Cemetery to say a prayer for those who have passed.
"I think it's great, Peg Weeks said. I love it. I love all the stops along the way and how all the different places get a very special blessing."
The group said a prayer for travelers at the Darien train station and at the intersection with I-95, a prayer for artists at the Darien playhouse, and prayers at the Darien Fire Department and Police Department. They also said blessings for businesses, for readers at the library and for plants and animals at Nielsen's.
Rosenberger said he enjoyed the solidarity of all the different churches coming together for the event.
"We're like a family, but we don't often get a chance to be together," he said.
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