Lent begins Wednesday, and many Christians will participate in an Ash Wednesday service signifying the start of the religious season, which lasts until Easter.
During this time, many will observe a period of fasting and repentance while also practicing self-denial and spiritual discipline.
In observance of this time of preparation before the celebrations of Easter, the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal in Vicksburg and St. Alban’s Episcopal in Bovina will both offer Lenten series that will include a meal and musical programs.
“For a lot of people this has become a tradition, something they look forward to,” Beth Palmer, the rector of Holy Trinity said about their annual Lenten program.
For more than 20 years, the church has been offering a gumbo lunch and musical performances on Fridays leading up to Easter.
“Every Friday we get a brief concert and share some food with friends,” Palmer said of the five-week program.
She said that the Lenten series is also a time visitors can come and participate at Holy Trinity.
“This is an opportunity to welcome our neighbors into our midst and show fellowship. And we find a lot of people will hang out after the lunch to talk and visit with friends,” Palmer said.
The Lenten series is also an opportunity to invite someone to participate at Holy Trinity who is looking for a church home.
Sometimes when we talk about evangelism it is hard for some to say ‘do you want to come with me to church on Sunday,’ ” Palmer said, but inviting someone to a half hour lunch and a musical program can be easier.
The Lenten Art Programs at St. Alban’s are held on Wednesday nights and in addition to the musical programs a soup dinner is served.
Billie Abraham, the rector at the church compared a Lenten program to the sacrament of the Eucharist.
“The heart of the Episcopal Church is our communal worship that takes place in the Celebration of the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is an expression of art — it fills our senses,” Abraham said.
“So because the arts are gifted to us by our Creator — because our Creator called to us be co-creators — because the arts speak a unique language that opens us to the presence of God,” Abraham said, it seems fitting to offer a series of art programs for Lent.
For those interested in participating in the Lenten programs offered by the churches the schedules are:
Holy Trinity’s Lenten Fine Arts Series
March 10 — Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet; Richard Hudson, conductor
March 17 — Tara; Celtic trio, “Echoes of Ireland”
March 24 — Alcorn University Men’s Choir; Charles Wesley, conductor
March 31 —One Voice; women’s a cappella group from Bovina Baptist Church
April 7 — Vicksburg High School Madrigal singers; Angela Chapin, conductor
The noontime events will include a musical program followed by a gumbo lunch. The concerts are free and the lunch is $10. For more information, call 601-636-0542.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Lenten Arts Programs
March 8 — Patrick Smith & Band, Blues, soul, jazz and gospel music
March 15 — John Paul; harpsichordist, J. S. Bach concert
March 22 — Full Circle; Nicholas Blake, Julia Blake and Joanne Ryan, bluegrass and spirituals
March 29 — Mandy Spivak; soprano, performing songs celebrating “Mary the Mother of Jesus”
April 5 — Vicksburg High School Madrigal singers; Angela Chapin, conductor
The evening events begin at 6 p.m. with Holy Eucharist and a Healing Service.
The free soup dinner will offered at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Lenten Arts Program. For more information, call 601-636-6687.