Three Webster Churches Together for Lent

Three Webster Groves faith communities have decided to make the Christian spiritual journey of Lent together, this year.

Peace United Church of Christ, the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves (UCC), and the Ecumenical Catholic Community of Saints Clare and Francis will join each other for the five Wednesdays of Lent following Ash Wednesday, for soup suppers at 6pm and studies of the new, innovative, video series, "animate:BIBLE" at 6:45. All the suppers and study sessions will take place at First Church, 10 W. Lockwood Ave. (at Elm).

The public is invited to the suppers, study series, and to worship services on Ash Wednesday (also at First Church, at 7pm) and Maundy Thursday at Peace UCC, 204 E. Lockwood Ave., at 7pm. For the suppers, soup is provided; diners are invited to bring a favorite bread or salad to share.

View the interactive flier about the worship and study series.

The "animate:BIBLE" series will include introductions and discussions moderated by Pastors Dave Denoon of First (March 12), Bob Molsberry of Peace (19), Frank Krebs of Sts. Clare and Francis (26), Al Schon of Peace (April 9), and Student Minister Reina Ueno - a member from First who is Student Minister at Peace (April 2).

"animate:BIBLE" is a curriculum created by Sparkhouse Publishing and features popular church figures

• March 12, the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, Senior Pastor of Countryside Community Church and creator of Darkhouse Brew
• March 19, Dr. Phyllis Tickle, founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly and author of The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why (Baker, 2008)
• March 26, Rachel Held Evans, Christian blogger and author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Hear, and Calling Her Husband "Master" (HarperCollins, 2011)
• also March 26, the Rev. Dr. William Willimon, Pastor of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School, and author of numerous books and articles
• April 2, the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastor of the House for All Sinners and Saints (ELCA), Denver, Colorado, and author of Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint (Jericho, 2013)
• April 9, Jay Bakker, founder of Revolution Church in New York City and son of the evangelical television personalities Jay and Tammy Faye Bakker

Provocative insights and topical discussions will ensue, of course, but the April sessions' tattoos alone are worth the time you'll spend!