You may or may not have celebrated it, but Tuesday (March 1st) was Mardi Gras. For anyone who doesn't know, that's French for 'fat Tuesday.' It marks the end of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday.
Some churches observed Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday, with a traditional pancake supper.
On Wednesday, the first day of Lent, leading up to Easter, which this year is April 17th, some churches will observe Ash Wednesday, traditionally a day of prayer and fasting.
Before the pandemic, pastors from churches in the Lincolnton area joined together for a special Wednesday lunch at First United Methodist Church. Pastors took turns speaking at the Wednesday gatherings, which ran through the Wednesday preceding Good Friday and Easter.
With the pandemic diminishing but still present, the pastors opted for a different kind of observance this year. Rev. Dr. Tim Roberts, the pastor of First United Methodist, tells about the revised plan in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVcViyQNeP4
While there won't be any noon Wednesday gathering this year for Ash Wednesday or the other Wednesdays leading up to Easter, several Lincolnton area churches will have Ash Wednesday observances (see list at right).
In the Dallas area, First United Methodist Church of Dallas will host an Ash Wednesday evening service at 7 PM and has invited other Dallas area churches to participate.
