programs for lent At churches in the Mahoning Valley

These are among Lenten programs and services planned at area churches.

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

The Ambassadors for Christ are a group of churches on the East Side of Youngstown that organized in 2000. Its mission is to promote the good and welfare of our church congregations, as well as our neighborhood, by enriching lives in relationship to Christ. Ecumenical services, from 7 to 9 p.m. are all in Youngstown unless otherwise noted, will be:

Ash Wednesday at St. Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church, 854 Wilson Ave., with the Rev. Louise Jackson. Distribution of ashes will take place.

Feb. 24: St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, 97 W. Washington St., Struthers, with the Rev. George Wilkins.

March 3: Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 328 S. Forest Ave., with the Rev. Nicholas Mancini.

March 10: St. James Church of God in Christ, 75 S. Prospect St., with the Rev. Jack Pettis.

March 17: We Walk by Faith Bible Church, 1636 Himrod Ave., with the Rev. George Moore.

March 24: Mount Zion Baptist Church, 827 Wilson AVe., with the Rev. Roney Tucker.

BOARDMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Study: Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market St., Boardman, will sponsor a Lent-Easter study at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 24 through March 31. The Rev. Adam Hamilton will guide participants through the Last Supper to Gethsemane to the crucifixion. Call the church at (330) 758-4527 to register.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MINERAL RIDGE

Noon service: First Presbyterian Church, 3654 Main St., Mineral Ridge, will offer a brief service of prayer, Scripture, and communion at noon Wednesdays during Lent. These 30-minute worship services will be an opportunity for renewal and worship in the midst of a busy week.

Wednesday evening dinners and worship services will continue through Lent. Dinner will be served from 6 to 6:45 p.m. After the meal, there will be a time of worship that will include a brief dramatic monologue presented by a member of the congregation. This year, we will “hear” from various individuals who encountered Jesus on his way to the cross: Simon, the Brother of Jesus, Pontius Pilate, the Crippled Woman, Zaccheaus, and Two Blind Men. Child care will not be provided.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN

Bible study: First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown, will offer a Lenten Bible study beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the church parlor. There will be handouts for each week study conducted by the Rev. Nick Mager.

GIRARD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Bible study: Girard United Methodist Church, 22 N. Market St., Girard, plans a Lenten Bible study on Tuesday, “Discipleship: The Design of the Cross-Shaped Life;” Feb. 23, ”Servanthood: A Peculiar Way to Greatness;” March 2, ”Surrender: Nothing Short of Eveything;” March 9, “Love: The Radical Center;” March 23, “Reconciliation: Something That Doesn’t Love a Wall;” and March 30, ”Sacrifice: It’s Nothing If It Costs Something.” All sessions are at 7 p.m.

GOOD HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Soup suppers: Good Hope Lutheran Church, 98 Homestead Drive, Boardman, will have Lenten soup suppers starting Feb. 24. The supper starts at 6 p.m. and Lenten midweek worship at 7.

LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Hymn study: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield, will sponsor a Lenten hymn study at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 and 28 and March 7, 14 and 21 and at 5 p.m. Feb. 23, March 2, 9, 16 and 23. Pastor Rebecca Richie will lead the study.

Soup suppers: The church also will host soup suppers on Tuesdays, Feb. 23, March 2, 9, 16 and 23. Supper will be at 6 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7.

MAHONING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Bible study: Mahoning United Methodist Church, 2214 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, will have a Lenten Bible study starting at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the parlor and concluding on March 31. Diane Redern will lead the study.

MARTIN LUTHER LUTHERAN CHURCH

Series: Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive, Youngstown, has scheduled “Here I Am Lord: Reflections on an Imperfect Life,” a Lenten series. The Ash Wednesday program will be at noon and 7 p.m. and all others at noon with a light lunch of soup. Programs planned are:

Ash Wednesday: “A Real Downer of a Day” - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-11 at noon with pasta faglioli lunch and 7 p.m.

Feb. 24: “Am I Left Out Again” - John 11:32-44 and wedding soup lunch.

March 3: “Just Give Me a Sign of Hope”- Numbers 21:4-9 and ham and bean soup lunch.

March 10: “Do I Look Like a Fool?’ - 1Corinthians 1:18-25 and chicken noodle soup lunch.

March 17: “I Didn’t Sign up for This” - Mark 8:27-38 and vegetable beef soup lunch.

March 24: “The Devil Made Me Do It” - Mark 1:9-15 and potato soup lunch.

ST. EDWARD CHURCH

Reflections: A parish mission, “Practicing Our Faith,” is planned at 7 p.m. Feb. 21-23 at St. Edward Church, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown. Jim Merhaut, through music, drama, storytelling and humor, will help participants explore the presence of God in the creases and folds of our daily routines. He will offer practical suggestions for simple things we can do each day to release the power of God’s joy in our lives and in our relationships. A social will follow each evening’s reflection. For information, call the church at (330) 743-2308 or visit the Web site at saintedwardparish@gmail.com

Speaker series: St. Edward also plans a Lenten Tuesday evening speaker series. Each evening will begin with Mass at 5:30 p.m., a simple supper at 6, followed by a speaker and refreshments at 6:45. The focus is “Connecting the Parish Church and the Domestic Church.” Speakers and topics include:

March 2: “Keeping the Sabbath” with the Rev. Kevin Peters, who will explore the daily practice of keeping the Sabbath.

March 9: “Living the Word” with the Rev. James Walker, who will discuss the daily practice of reading the Bible.

March 16: “Serving our Neighbors” with the Rev. Nicholas Shori, who will help participants explore the daily practice of serving our neighbors.

March 23: “Participating in Community” with Deacon Mike Kocjancic, who will discuss the daily practice of participating in community.

March 30: Communal celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation.

ST. ELIZABETH CHURCH

Stations: St. Elizabeth Church, 124 Keystone St., Campbell, will conduct Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, March 5 and 19.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH

Stations: St. John the Baptist Church, 159 Reed Ave., Campbell, will offer Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent.

ST. JOSEPH THE PROVIDER

Stations and study: St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave., Campbell, will conduct Stations of the Cross at 1 p.m. Feb. 19 and 7 p.m. Feb. 26, 1 p.m. March 5, 1 and 7 p.m. March 12, 1 p.m. March 19 and 1 and 7 p.m. March 26. A study of the “History of the Church” will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 24, March 3, 10 and 17 at St. Joseph.

ST. LUCY AND ST. ROSE OF LIMA CHURCHES

Stations: St. Lucy and St. Rose of Lima, 394 Tenney Ave., Campbell, will celebrate Stations of the Cross at 5 p.m. Fridays in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish.

URSULINE CENTER

Retreat: The Ursuline Center, a ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, 4280 Shields Road, Canfield, plans “A Lenten Retreat in Daily Life.” Participants should take a Bible to the March 2 session. Times are from 10 to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then participants may meet with a facilitator from March 9-April 13 at the time of their choice. The cost is $75 and includes materials. Call Eileen W. Novotny, spiritual director, at (330) 533-3831 or send e-mail to ewalshnovotny@zoominternet.

“Awaken Your Prayer Life This Lent” is the theme of a retreat that will focus on the rich forms and varieties of prayer that are part of Christian tradition. The retreat also will include information on saints and biblical figures as prayer companions. The session will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13 with registration at 9:30 in Prato Meeting Hall at the center. Presenters will be Ginger Kubala and Novotny, Ursuline associates. Advance registration, $16 that includes lunch, is required by March 10. Contact Sister Janet Frantz at (330) 799-4941 or send e-mail to theursulinecenter@yahoo.org

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Study: Zion Lutheran Church, 10857 Main St., New Middletown, is involved in the Lenten study for adults, “By His Stripes; Healing Wounded Relationships: A Book of Daily Prayer for Lent.” The schedule will be: Ash Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Church in Petersburg; Feb. 24, Old Springfield United Church of Christ in New Middletown; March 3, Petersburg Presbyterian in Petersburg; March 10, Zion Lutheran; March 17, Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Springfield; and March 24, Petersburg Presbyterian.