Churches prepare
for Lenten season

Members of many Christian congregations will begin the traditional season of Lent with Ash Wednesday services next week.

Foreheads are marked with the sign of the cross, signaling a 40-day period of spiritual reflection and repentance in preparation for Easter, Christianity's holiest day.

But first, there will be pancakes, another tradition of the season. Tuesday is observed as Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," one last experience of excess before a period of fasting.

A pancake supper and Bingo Bash will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Andrew's Cathedral's Davies Hall. Tickets at $5 for adults and $3 for children will be available at the door.

Ash Wednesday events will include:

» Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, Fort Street Mall, noon Mass and imposition of ashes. Ashes will be imposed in services during the day at other Catholic churches.

» St. Andrew's Cathedral, Queen Emma Square, Eucharist and ashes at 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. in Parke Chapel, and 5:30 p.m. in the cathedral. Reservations are required for a 6:30 p.m. monastic meal; call 524-2822.

» First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Beretania St., 7 p.m. family service.

» First Christian Church of Honolulu, 1516 Kewalo St., 7 p.m. service.

» Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1404 University Ave., 7:15 p.m. service.

» Chaminade University Mystical Rose Oratory, 3140 Waialae Ave. The "Moving Prayers" group shares spiritual expression through gesture and movement, 7:30 p.m.

» Waialua United Church of Christ, 67-174 Farrington Highway. A 7 p.m. Lenten Bible study will kick off a six-week series that will continue on Wednesday evenings. The Rev. Don Asman will lead February sessions on "The Heart of Christ: The Sermon on the Mount." The Rev. David Kaupu will lead March sessions on "The Passion of Christ" at Liliuokalani Protestant Church, 66-090 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa. For information, call 637-5934 or 637-9364.

Some congregations will continue the season with weekly prayer suppers, or monastic meals, and other observances.

» Feb. 16 -- Kawaiaha'o Church, 957 Punchbowl St., will open its noontime "Lenten Celebration and All That Jazz, on the Green" with pastor Curtis Kekuna, pianist Betty Loo Taylor and other musicians. The program will continue Wednesdays through March 23.

» Feb. 16 -- Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd., will hold a 9 a.m. Lenten Study Wednesdays through March 16.

» Feb. 16 -- St. John Lutheran Church, 1004 Kailua Road, will hold a 6 p.m. soup supper and devotional service Wednesdays through March 16.

» Feb. 23 -- Keolumana United Methodist Church, 1425 Keolu Drive, will sponsor a Lenten study series at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through March 16. Feb. 13 is the deadline to register; call Pastor Samuel Domingo, 384-8701.