Local churches unite during Lent

Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of the Lent season in Christian tradition. Lent marks the 40 days leading to the death of Jesus, with many churches adding Lent services to their weekly services.

Here in Union County, a group churches have come together to celebrate this season, forming the Union County Ministerial Alliance. According to First Presbyterian Church’s Pastor Cyndy Ripperger, the Ministerial Alliance has been around for a long time.

“The Ministerial Alliance has been going on for years,” Ripperger said. “As long as there have been churches, I think there’s been the Ministerial Alliance.”

During Lent, the churches in the Ministerial Alliance unite each Sunday night for a service. They trade preachers, meaning a church will have a different church’s pastor preaching in the service. Members of all the congregations will join for each service.

“We come together to foster unity and togetherness,” Holy Spirit Catholic Church’s Father Patrick Amedeka said. “It is very important because we are all on the same journey, a journey of faith, we all have one source, and that source is God. It is important to come together on this journey so that we learn to listen to each other, to support each other until we reach our heavenly home.”

First Christian Church’s Pastor Tony Thurston agrees with this sentiment, saying Lent is a time for congregants to be together.

“One thing I’ve found the last couple of years is we don’t need to be alone at lent,” Thurston said. “We need to be with people, we need to be relating to people, and that’s where some of this comes in.”

Lent services are held at 5 p.m. every Sunday from Feb. 26 to April 2, along with a Good Friday service at noon on April 7. A meal is served afterward by the hosting church. Ripperger said this is another motivator for community members to attend the service.

“A lot of the people in town, they come for the suppers too,” Ripperger said. “It’s not just God’s word, it’s a way for them to get some type of a hot meal on a Sunday evening. It brings different classes of people together.”

Each year, the Lent services have a different theme. This year, they will be following the different symbols of Lent, such as the cross with purple cloth, the fish and the palm fronds.

“They’re just going to talk about what is the meaning, what do the symbols represent, what are my feelings about the symbols, how can I better explain and epitomize those symbols in my life,” said Thurston.

Ripperger also said that this is a fun way for preachers to get to know the other churches in the area.

“It makes me a little nervous going to a different church, but once I’m in that pulpit, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be,” Ripperger said. “My first year back in Creston, I got the Good Friday service [at Holy Spirit Catholic Church]. That was very nerve-wracking, because that church is huge. It was scary, but I loved it and would do it again in a second.”

The first service will be 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Jerusalem United Methodist Church, presided over by Ripperger. She will be talking a look at the symbol of the cross with purple cloth via Matthew 4:17.

The Ministerial Alliance invites all people from the community to join them for these services.

“We hope people can come and join us,” Thurston said. “We’re all brothers and sisters in Christ, so we all get together no matter what church we’re from or where ourl ives are taking us.”

Amedeka agreed with this sentiment.

“I want all the people in this community, in Union County, to know that the religious ministers in this community care about them,” Amedeka said. “We love them, we support them, we always pray for them and we wish them that all will go well for their good. They can always trust on us that we are praying for them.”

Union County Ministerial Alliance Ecumenical lenten services have been scheduled to start on Feb. 26.

5 p.m. Feb. 26: Jerusalem United Methodist Church with guest speaker Pastor Cyndy Ripperger; symbol: Cross with purple cloth; scripture: Luke 24:46-48 or Matthew 4:17

5 p.m. March 5: First Christian Church with guest speaker Fr. Patrick Amedeka; symbol: fish; scripture: Matthew 4:19 or Matthew 15:34

5 p.m. March 12: First United Methodist Church with guest speaker Sheila Sutton or Pastor Jim McIntosh; symbol: bread and wine; scripture: Matthew 26:26-28

5 p.m. March 19: Cromwell Congregational UCC Church with guest speaker Pastor Evan McVann; symbol: water jug; scripture: John 13:5

5 p.m. March 26: Salem Lutheran Church with guest speaker Pastor Tony Thurston; symbol: praying hands; scripture: Matthew 26:36

5 p.m. April 2: First Presbyterian Church with guest speaker Jodi Rushing; symbol: Palm Fronds; scripture: John 12:13

Noon April 7: Holy Spirit Catholic Church with guest speaker Pastor Mary O’Riley; symbol: Crown of Thorns; scripture: Matthew 27-29