The annual Lenten Luncheon series involving Washington-area church returns this year, beginning March 12 and ending April 9.

The weekly sessions begin at noon with a worship service about 20 to 25 minutes long and conclude with a soup-and-sandwich lunch prepared by the congregation of the church that’s hosting the event that particular Wednesday. Each session ends at 1 p.m.

The 2014 schedule for the series follows:

• March 12, First United Methodist Church;

• March 19, First Baptist Church;
• March 26, First Presbyterian Church;
• April 2, Grace Lutheran Church;
• April 9, Asbury United Methodist Church (or First United Methodist if Asbury does not participate).

A different minister or layperson leads the worship service at each event.

In recent years, attendance at each event has averaged about 100 people.

Greg Barmer, minister of music at Washington’s First Baptist Church, said the Lenten Luncheon series is proving to be popular with area Christians.

“I think they’ve been incredibly bonding among the churches that would come together for a significant event like Lent, but we come together in worship,” Barmer said.

Barmer, who believes worship is a key element of a Christian’s walk of faith, said the luncheon series serves a specific purpose.

“No. 1, I think coming together reminds us we’re all Christians, not denominations, and we worship the same Christ. Lent helps us understand and experience the reality of Christ suffering on our behalf rather than just celebrating Easter, which we are Easter people, but Lent makes that celebration more significant when we observe it,” Barmer said.

The Lenten season is 40 days (traditionally), not counting Sundays, and a solemn observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations. Different denominations calculate Lent by various methods. Lent leads up to Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is to prepare Christians for Easter through prayer, penance, repentance, self-denial and alms-giving.

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent and concludes Maundy Thursday.