Five churches in Shawano will be participating in a one-hour ecumenical Gospel-sharing called “Soup & Substance” during Lent, which begins next week on Ash Wednesday.
The idea came from clergy in Marinette who have worked together on a similar program.
“The format of each church hosting one of the weekly lunches and also leading the scriptural discussion seemed balanced between the churches and interesting,” said the Rev. Luke Ferris, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church who brought the idea to Shawano.
The first program will be held at noon Thursday at Shawano United Methodist Church, 100 Engel Drive. Pastor Allen Christensen will lead the discussion of the Gospel for the coming Sunday.
“The discussion will depend on the direction of the local pastor,” Ferris said.
Most of the pastors plan to have a presentation of the Gospel and then ask questions to draw various responses from the audience.
“It’s amazing how much can be learned from scripture,” Ferris said.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 302 S. Main St., will host the Feb. 26 program.
Pastor Susan Phillips of First Presbyterian Church, 100 Presbyterian St., will host the March 5 program.
“It’s a faithful thing where we gather our cross-denominational lines,” Phillips said.
Phillips said an interpreter who was with her during a mission in Colombia last year, Sarah Hencken, will be a guest.
Peace United Church of Christ, 208 E. Maurer St., and Pastor Marty Black will host the program on March 12.
“Too often we isolate ourselves and this is something we can do together,” Black said. “It’s a palpable way of saying we’re all in this together and that we all worship the same God.”
On March 19, the program will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 141 S. Smalley St., with Pastor Mary Trainor.
Each church will provide the soup. Everyone is welcome.
“The message behind this series is that we all share the gift that we have received in the Gospel and we want to learn from God and each other,” Ferris said.
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