Great Bend churches will hold Lenten Luncheons every Wednesday from Feb. 25 through April 1.
The Barton County Association of Churches organizes these luncheons each year, on the six weeks leading to Easter. They are intended as a time to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus and are open to everyone.
Members of this year’s luncheon committee, Phyllis Bosley, Jean Peevyhouse and Sister Teresita Huse, note that the luncheons are a time to share and enjoy one another. Praying and eating together is a loving act modeled by Jesus — a time for personal reflection and spiritual growth.
Serving always begins at noon (not earlier) and the meetings end at 1 p.m. A freewill offering is suggested to defray the expenses of the host congregation.
Here is the schedule for this year’s luncheon series:
Feb. 25 — Grace Community Church, 210 McKinley; host pastor Jay Beuoy; speaker, Dr. Joan Harrington, Central Baptist Church.
March 4 — Trinity Lutheran Church, 2701 24th St.; host pastor Mark Galbraith; speaker, Jana Baxter, pastor at Foundry Methodist Church.
March 11 —  First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest Ave.; host pastor, Lennie Maxwell; speaker, Julie Shields, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ.
March 18 — Foundry Methodist Church, 5401 Broadway; host pastors, Kevin and Jana Baxter; speaker, Sister Andre Kravec, O.P., a Dominican Sister ministering in the Catholic churches in Claflin and Odin.
March 25 — First Presbyterian Church, 2400 Washington St.; host pastor, Dr. Scott Solether, with co-host pastors Josh and Amy Foster from First Church of the Nazarene; speaker, Josh Leu, pastor at First Christian Church.
April 1 — Central Baptist Church, 3301 Lakin Ave.; host pastor Dr. Joan Harrington; speaker, Adam Wutka, pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church.