By EMILY ENFINGER | Selma Times-Journal

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be hosting a women’s pre-Lenten luncheon and service with Cornerstone Presbyterian Church on Monday, Feb 1.

The luncheon begins with registration at 10:30 a.m. followed by service at 11 a.m. and lunch immediately after in Parker Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Seating for lunch is limited and costs $9 per person. The deadline to reserve seats is Jan. 25.

“It’s a service to prepare us for the season of Lent,” Rev. Jack Alvey, rector at St. Paul Episcopal Church.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until Easter, which will be Feb. 10 through March 27 this year.

“Lent, as to what one of our prayers says, is a time to put away our old life of sin and to receive the new life of Christ,” Alvey said.

Alvey said the pre-Lenten luncheon and service is a good way to fellowship with other churches.

“It’s a good way to get people who don’t normally go to church together, together to pray and to eat. I think the health and the life of each individual church is dependent on the health and the life of other churches … together we are a more powerful witness to God’s love,” Alvey said.

Alvey said St. Paul’s has been partnering with Cornerstone to host the pre-Lenten luncheon and service for more than 25 years.

He said every year the two churches alternate different roles for the service. This year St. Paul’s will be hosting the luncheon while Cornerstone will be responsible for the service itself.

Pastor Steve Burton of Cornerstone will be giving the sermon.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact St. Paul’s office administrator Joyce Dawson at (334) 874-8421.