Downtown Lent services begin Tuesday

Shelley Swoyer plays the choir chimes during the Lenten Communion Service at the First Presbyterian Church.
Shelley Swoyer plays the choir chimes during the Lenten Communion Service at the First Presbyterian Church.

Jefferson City's downtown churches again will host weekly Community Lenten Worship Services.

Six events will be noon-12:30 p.m. each Tuesday through April 11 at First Presbyterian Church, 324 Madison St.

Lunch will follow.

The theme is "Lord, when was it that we saw you," drawing from Matthew 25:35-36.

Each week will focus on one of the groups Jesus identifies in scripture as being among "the least of these" - the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

New this year, an offering will be collected to support a local social service organization supporting that week's specific group.

"In this way, the worship will be both glorifying to God and also a response to the need we see around us," said the Rev. Beau Underwood, pastor at First Christian Church.

Matthew 25:35-36 reads: "I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me."

The first service Tuesday will be hosted jointly by leaders from First Presbyterian and the Salvation Army, focusing on hunger.

First Baptist Church and Familia Cristiana Internacional will host March 14, First Christian March 21, First United Methodist March 28, Second Baptist April 4 and Central United Church of Christ April 11.

"Lent is often a time when Christians only look inward," Underwood said. "It is a call for reflection but it is also a call to repentance, and we show repentance by changing our behavior.

"What is neat about this year's services is that even as we come together for worship and reflection, we are also working to serve the vulnerable people Jesus mentioned in Matthew 25. We're literally putting our money where our mouths are."