BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. — Conversation and worship fill the air inside Canton Church of Christ on North Minnequa Avenue while people enjoy the first Lenten lunch of the season.
"The churches get together, and each church takes one week, and they supply a very light lunch, and then there is a speaker, and the speaker can be somebody about Lent, or faith, or whatever the case may be," said Nancy Beahm, pastor of Canton Church of Christ.
Pastor Nancy Beahm says this has been going on for so long that no one really knows when it started, but anyone is welcome to come get a hot meal at the church every Tuesday during Lent. Church leaders ask those who come to make a $1 donation. That money goes toward the Canton Area Network of Ministers.
"We give a $1,000 a year scholarship to a high school student, so the money this year and last year is going towards that. In the past, we've also supported local ministries like the foodbank and whomever else needed it," said Beahm.
For many church members, the lunches allow them to share their faith as well as socialize.
"As you can see, the people and the camaraderie and the community and all of the joyous sounds that you hear from the people sharing with each other, it's really, really good," said Ted Bown of Canton.
"I get a lot of hugs, which is always great because you know everybody needs them, and like I said, it's a nice fellowship. It's a nice place to just relax, have a little food, and see people you haven't seen," said Andrea Sutton of Canton.
The next Lenten Lunch will be at Canton Church of Christ next Tuesday, February 27, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.