By Bob Groeneveld/Langley Advance Times
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Five churches, thousands of spectators, and the Wagner Hills Farm Society are collaborating on Good Friday to once again present the Stations of the Cross, to “reflect on and celebrate the story of Jesus, the Cross, and Easter.”
Every year, all of Fort Langley’s churches join in planning the event which will take a life-size cross through a series of “stations” in the community.
“We all get together for the planning, and each church hosts a station or two,” explained Parish of St. George priest Kelly Duncan.
Her church will host Station #3 (Last Supper) and Station #4 (Jesus Prays in the Garden).
The event starts with Station #1 (Jesus Enters Jerusalem) at Fort Langley Community Hall at 10 a.m.
Led by a tailer-stage and tractor provided by Wagner Hills, a local rehabilitation farm that helps men and women who have faced difficulties in life get back on their feet, the procession moves to Lee’s Market for Station #2 (Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet), and continues from there to Duncan’s church.
Additional stations are hosted by Living Waters Church, Fraser Point Church, and United Churches of Langley, concluding around noon with Station #10 (The Empty Tomb) at Fort Langley Evangelical Free Church.
Spectators are invited to help carry a cross from station to station.
“There’s never a shortage of people wanting to carry the cross,” said Duncan, adding, “It’s most moving when small children are being helped by adults.”
“It’s a great experienced to get the community together,” she said.
The Stations of the Cross will take place rain or shine.
Fort Langley will be a veritable hotbed of Easter activity.
Langley Centennial Museum at 9135 King St. is planning “an egg-citing Easter event” on Saturday, with two sessions: 10 a.m.-noon, and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Families are invited for a variety of Easter crafts, activities, and games, including Easter-egg dying, bunny and chick crafts, storytime, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Registration is $10 per family of four through RecExpress.ca.
Fort Langley National Historic Site is celebrating Easter Sunday with an array of activities, including a Scavenger Hunt that will include lots of running and chocolate, as kids complete fun activities for sweet rewards. The hunt is contained within the walls of the fort and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s an egg scramble at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. for children aged five and younger. Bring your own basket. Don’t forget kids now always get into national parks for free.
Just down the road in Glen Valley, Aldor Acres is having an Easter opening, with a petting zoo throughout the long weekend, April 19-22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
In South Langley, Township 7 is having an Easter Festival for all ages at 21152 - 16th Ave., 10-11:30 a.m., noon-2 p.m., and 2:30-4:30 p.m., with a petting zoo and face-painting. Bring your own basket for the egg hunt.
Otter Co-op’s Kids’ Club Easter Party, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., is free and open to kids 12 and younger. There will be games, facepainting, air brush tattoos, and balloon artistry. Fifty-dollar Co-op gift cards will be given to three kids who correctly complete the Easter scavenger hunt.
Christian Life Assembly is holding an Easter Blast on Saturday, 11 a.m. The free two-hour event includes a live presentation, carnival games, bouncy castles, egg hunt, petting zoo, face painting, crafts, popcorn, cotton candy, and more. Contact clachurch.com/kids or call 604-530-7344.