Lenten Services

Beginning Wednesday, March 8, there will be more than prayer, Bible study, and communion at the Word-up Wednesday service at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton St., Marlborough. The 6:30 pm weekly gathering will include a “Simple Soup Supper.” 
    On March 8, a brief service at 6:30 will precede the meal, which will start at about 7:00 pm. Because the pastor will be away that week, worship will be led by parishioners, and will not include communion. For all other Lenten services, March 15 through April 5, the 6:30 service will be led by pastor Joseph Graumann, will include communion, and the soup meal will be incorporated into the service. 
    Wednesday worship provides “an opportunity for people who can’t get to church on Sundays to come and experience Jesus,” says Pastor Graumann, as well as something less formal than a traditional Sunday service for people who might want two weekly options during Lent. It more resembles gatherings in the first century church where “early Christians sang songs you didn’t need a hymn book for, shared stories of their ancestors, talked about God at work in the world, and shared communion,” he added. At St. Stephen, everyone who wishes to share the bread and wine is welcome at communion.
     For more information about the church, visit saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org)  The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, and Bolton. In addition to Wednesday services, worship takes place each Sunday at 9:30 a.m., followed by coffee and fellowship.


​The photo above is from the February 22 event to burn last year’s palms, so the ashes could be used in the March 1 Ash Wednesday services at noon and 6:30 p.m.