By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church kicked off a Lenten lunch and lecture series on Wednesday with a guest speaker from Birmingham.

“It’s a way for us to mark our journey through the Lenten Season, the 40 days of Lent,” said Jack Alvey, St. Paul’s rector. “This year our speakers will be reflecting on what we’re calling the four letter words of lent.”

The church is hosting a five-week lunch and lecture series, Lent’s Four Letter Words, in observance of the Lent season.

Each week the guest speaker will focus on a different four letter word: read, pray, give, fast and turn.

“These are all derived from our Ash Wednesday liturgy when we are invited to observe Holy Lent,” Alvey said. “The Lenten lunch is a tradition that St. Paul’s has observed quite some time.”

Lunch is from noon – 1 p.m. in Parker Hall each Wednesday and will feature a new speaker and soup every week.

Wednesday’s guest speaker was the Rev. Anna Russell Friedman, All Saints’ associate rector in Birmingham. Her Lent four-letter word was “read.” Chicken and sausage gumbo was served with bread and sweet tea.

“She’s going to be talking about what it means to read and mediate on God’s Holy Word and how that draws us closer to the heart of God and God’s love for us,” Alvey said.

Alvey said the lunch is a great way for the church to reach out to the community because anyone and everyone is invited to come.

“Eat some food with us and hear a talk that will hopefully nourish you during this season of Lent,” he said.

Future luncheons include the Rev. John David Barnes, Trinity Demopolis, on Feb. 24; the Rev. Richmond Webster, St. Luke’s in Birmingham, on March 2; the Rev. Huey Gardner, Mary’s-on-the-Highlands in Birmingham, on March 9; and the Rev. Canon Deborah Leighton, Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, on March 16.