Lent is observed in a variety of ways

How to go

For upcoming appearances of the Jubilee Singers, see www.jubilee-singers.org

The Men’s Lenten Breakfasts are from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday mornings at Fairmont Presbyterian Church, 3705 Far Hills Ave., Kettering. For a schedule of speakers, see www.fairmontchurch.org.

The University of Dayton campus ministry’s day of prayer and fasting is slated for March 26.

It may be a religiously-oriented musical presentation, a four-day mission, a 24-hour silent retreat, or a soup and bread supper. Those are just a few of the ways that the solemn season of Lent is being observed at area churches.

For Catholics and many other Christian denominations, the 40-day period of prayer and sacrifice that recalls Jesus’ fast in the wilderness begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at sundown on Holy Thursday before Easter.

For at least 10 churches in our area, this year’s Lenten season will include an original presentation by The Jubilee Singers. The local choir is composed of 23 singers from 11 churches.

“One way to pray is to meditate on the Way of the Cross (also known as Stations of the Cross),” explains musical director Paula Kern Price.

“While many of us know the way that Jesus took to the cross, praying the Way of the Cross enables us to engage more of our senses to better understand what Jesus did for us all.”

Her group’s presentations weave spoken reflections on each station with musical selections and dance. “All of us have trials in our lives, but we are not alone,” says Price. “Jesus has already walked this way and by praying the Way of the Cross, he is walking with us as we walk our own path.”

At Fairmont Presbyterian Church, the Men’s Lenten Breakfast Series has been a popular tradition for almost 40 years. In addition to looking forward to the Eggs Benedict and pancakes, participants also enjoy hearing a variety of speakers.

“Lent is a wonderful time to add fellowship and study opportunities as we prepare to celebrate Holy Week services and Easter,” says Bob Wade, senior pastor at the church. “The speakers often focus on an aspect of their personal journey to help those in attendance ponder their own faith and relationship with God.”

Although the series has traditionally been for men, women occasionally attend as well.

The Rev. John Larson of Steubenville says missions are an ancient tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. Larson was in Dayton recently to conduct the four-day Emmanuel Lenten Mission that began on Feb. 20.

He says the idea is to provide a “spiritual boost.”

“The mission focused on the mercy of God, and looked at the writings of Saint Faustina,” says Larsen, a priest from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception of Stockbridge, Mass., who lives and works in Steubenville.

Larson says Lent is also a time to try and detach from material things that may be over-emphasized in our lives.

“It can be anything from a particular snack or kind of food we really enjoy to some technological gadget like an iPod or cell phone,” he explains.

“There are people who change their profile picture on Facebook to say they’re not going to be on Facebook for Lent because they’re spending a lot of time on Facebook and know it’s not that important.”

“If we’re overly attached to something, we call it a disordered attachment,” Larson explains. “That means we should be more focused on the love of God or love of others.”

At the University of Dayton, world hunger will be the theme of this year’s Lenten season. A campuswide day of prayer and fasting is scheduled for March 26.

Fasting, which allows individuals to be in solidarity with those who have no food or limited food, typically means eating only one full meal and two smaller meals with no snacking between meals, according to Emily Strand, campus minister for liturgies. She says it also means abstaining from eating meat.

UD’s campus ministry will also promote Operation Rice Bowl, a Catholic Relief services Lenten program, which incorporates prayer, fasting, learning and giving to those in need. Participants receive a little cardboard bowl where they can put their Lenten donation based on a skipped or simple meal. They also receive recipes for meals such as those eaten by people in Third World nations.

Paula Kern Price says Lent and many of the programs that surround it offer a wonderful way to slow down, settle ourselves and be ministered to.

“I think we all need that in our lives,” she says.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.