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Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25 : 34–36 |
About the MATTHEW 25 PROJECT
This Lenten season, CtK is joining with several community partners in an effort to serve those who are hungry, thirsty, unknown (a stranger), poor, sick, and imprisoned.
This effort—which we’re calling the Matthew 25 Project—offers many ways to explore the issues named in this well-known Scripture reading. There are opportunities to understand more fully with one’s mind, to experience more deeply with one’s heart, and to serve in some small way with one’s hands.
The following pages describe all of the Matthew 25 Project events in detail. For your convenience, we’ve organized the events into four broad focus areas: Worship, Giving, Serving, Learning, and Arts and Experiences. Click on each category for a list of full descriptions of the events in each category. Also, at the bottom of this page you can find color-coded calendars that show the day, time, and location of each event at a glance. If you want to collapse a category, click on the minus at the top right of each category.
Please look over the schedule of events now and mark your calendars for whatever moves your heart or fits into your busy life.
This effort—which we’re calling the Matthew 25 Project—offers many ways to explore the issues named in this well-known Scripture reading. There are opportunities to understand more fully with one’s mind, to experience more deeply with one’s heart, and to serve in some small way with one’s hands.
The following pages describe all of the Matthew 25 Project events in detail. For your convenience, we’ve organized the events into four broad focus areas: Worship, Giving, Serving, Learning, and Arts and Experiences. Click on each category for a list of full descriptions of the events in each category. Also, at the bottom of this page you can find color-coded calendars that show the day, time, and location of each event at a glance. If you want to collapse a category, click on the minus at the top right of each category.
Please look over the schedule of events now and mark your calendars for whatever moves your heart or fits into your busy life.
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
From Ash Wednesday through Easter, CtK will offer multiple opportunities to worship each week. All services marked with an asterisk (*) will be both livestreamed and recorded for viewing at your convenience. Livestreams and recorded services acn be accessed online via the CtK website and the church's YouTube channel.
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Ash Wednesday Worship
Wednesday, March 2 + 11 am and 7 pm* Join us in the sanctuary for a traditional Ash Wednesday service, including Communion and imposition of ashes. Sunday Worship Each Sunday in Lent + 8:15 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am* Throughout Lent, Sunday worship services will be held at their regular times: 8:15 am (traditional), 9:30 am (contemporary), and 11:15 am (traditional). Holden Evening Prayer Wednesdays from March 1 through March 29 + 7:15–7:35pm Holden Evening Prayer returns to the sanctuary this year! Join us at 7:15 for this brief musical service, to be held following the weekly soup dinner and Les Misérables discussion. (See page 9 for details.) If you are unable to join us in person, a prerecorded Holden Evening Prayer service will be available throughout Lent via YouTube and the CtK website. (Links are provided at the bottom of the page.) |
Palm Sunday Worship
Sunday, April 10 + 8:15 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am* Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, with services held at 8:15, 9:30, and 11:15 am. All three services will include a processional with palm branches. Maundy Thursday Worship Thursday, April 6 + 7 pm* Join us in the sanctuary for this traditional service commemorating the Last Supper. Good Friday Worship Friday, April 7 + 7 pm* Reflect on Jesus’ final hours at this meaningful service. Easter Vigil Saturday, April 8 + 7 pm* Join us for this traditional service in which we remember Christ’s sacrifice and await his Easter resurrection. Easter Sunday Worship Sunday, April 9 + 8:15 am, 9:30 am, and 11:15 am* Join us at 8:15, 9:30, or 11:15 am to celebrate this most joyful day in the church year! |
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Throughout Lent, CtK will engage in special giving initiatives in three focus areas. Read on for details about each focus area and different ways to contribute.
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Weeks 1 and 2: Easter Basket Outreach
Sunday, February 26 + Sunday, March 5 In partnership with First Presbyterian Church, CtK has committed to providing Easter baskets for approximately 200 children at LaSalle Park Homes, El Campito, and Hope for the Hungry. Bring in items to fill the baskets or make a monetary donation to help bring joy to children in our community. Shopping lists and collection boxes will be available in the narthex on Sunday and throughout the week. (For more ways to participate in the Easter basket outreach project, see page 7.) Weeks 3 and 4: Spring Break Food Pack Collection Sunday, March 12 + Sunday, March 19 All are encouraged to bring in product donations for the Spring Break Food Pack initiative conducted in conjunction with Clay Food Pantry. You may also make a monetary donation to purchase gift cards given to the families to buy milk and eggs. Shopping lists and collection boxes will be available in the narthex on Sunday and throughout the week. (See pages 7 and 8 for more ways to support this program.) |
Weeks 5 and 6: Dismas House Grocery Cards
Sunday, March 26 + Sunday, April 2 Dismas House is a residential facility for people who are working toward independent living after jail or prison. CtK has a long-standing relationship with Dismas House, which includes providing dinner for residents one night each month, as well as supplying a monthly $100 Meijer grocery card. Help us continue this ministry by buying a monthly gift card for Dismas House or by donating toward the cost of one. CtK will purchase the cards via the ShopWithScrip/RaiseRight Program, which raises funds for our other community mission activities. Stop by the Community Missions table in the narthex on Sunday to make your purchase, or place a donation in the collection jar available in the narthex throughout the week. (For more ways to support Dismas House, see pages 6 and 13.) |
SERVING OPPORTUNITIES
There are plentiful opportunities to love and serve the world this Lent. Please consider joining us for one or more of these events.
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Soup Making and Baked Goods Drop-off
Sunday, February 26 + Sunday, March 19 10:30–11 am + Drop-in Chop in Narthex 11 am–12:30 pm + Cook and Pack in Van Oort Hall Help feed attendees at our Wednesday Lenten dinner and discussion series (described on page 9). Join us on February 26 and March 19 as we prepare, cook, and package a variety of soups. Stop by the narthex between 10:30 and 11 am for a “drop-in chop,” where we’ll clean and cut vegetables for the soups. Or, come to the kitchen from 11 am to 12:30 pm to cook and package soups. No advanced registration is required for the “drop-in chop,” but we are limited to four people per kitchen cooking shift. Please sign up in the narthex if you’d like to reserve a spot on the kitchen crew. Want to help but can’t make either shift? We are also collecting breads, rolls, and cookies to serve at the Wednesday dinners. Bake at home (or make a stop at the grocery store) and drop off your baked goods in the kitchen on February 26 or March 19 to help feed our hungry guests. Volunteers are also needed to set up, serve soup, and clean up after the Wednesday meals; if you would like to help with these efforts, look for the signup sheet in the narthex. Dinner at Dismas House Tuesday, February 28 + Tuesday, March 28 + 6:15–7:30 pm + Dismas House + 521 S. St. Joseph St., South Bend Sign up to make and take a meal to Dismas House, then stay and eat in fellowship with the residents, who are working toward independent living after jail or prison. Sign up in the narthex. Senior Suds Intergenerational Service and Fun Sunday, March 5 10:30–11 am + Van Oort Hall Stop by Van Oort Hall during the Sunday school hour to learn more about CtK's Senior Suds laundry ministry, help make lunches for Senior Suds guests, and enjoy some laundry- themed fun and games. All ages are welcome! Senior Suds Laundry Days Tuesday, March 7 + Tuesday, March 21 + Tuesday, April 4 1:45–5 pm + Burton's Laundromat + 3706 W. Western Ave., South Bend CtK has partnered with Clay Food Pantry, the St. Joseph County Health Department, and Burton’s Laundromat to host Senior Suds, a program that offers free laundry services for seniors every other Tuesday. While seniors are washing their clothes, they are able to order groceries from Clay Food Pantry, talk with staff from Oak Street Health, and receive a meal to eat. Volunteers are needed to make sack lunches prior to each laundry day, and two volunteers are needed at the laundromat during each Senior Suds event to connect with the guests and give them the prepared lunches. Sign up to volunteer in either capacity at ctkluth.com/seniorsuds.html. |
International Women's day "Party with a Purpose"
Wednesday March 8 + 10 am–4 pm IUSB Fireside Room + 1700 E. Mishawaka Ave., South Bend Stop by the Fireside Room at IUSB to celebrate International Women’s Day and learn about ways to help women across the globe. Enjoy presentations by several nonprofits dedicated to women’s empowerment; buy fair-trade goods made by women artisans; participate in hands-on service projects to help girls in Malawi; and donate feminine hygiene supplies for women in need in Michiana. This event is sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and the IUSB Honors Program. Easter Basket Sort and Craft Event Sunday, March 12 10:30–11 am + Narthex In partnership with First Presbyterian Church, CtK has committed to providing Easter baskets for approximately 200 children at LaSalle Park Homes and El Campito. All are invited to stop by Van Oort Hall to help sort basket donations and/or assemble craft materials that will be included in each basket. Spring Break Food Packs Sorting Saturday, March 25 8–10am + Clay Church Firehouse Campus Join us at the Clay Church Firehouse Campus to help sort and repackage donations for the Spring Break Food Packs project. Sign up online at claychurch.com/events. Card Making Sunday, March 26 10:30 am + Narthex Stop by the narthex between 10:30 and 11:10 am on March 26 to make one-of-a-kind greeting cards, or drop off cards you’ve made at home. These cards will be included in the Food 4 Kids backpacks distributed by the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Spring Break Food Packs Sorting Monday, March 27 9 am + Clay Church Firehouse Campus Come to the Clay Church Firehouse Campus to help deliver filled Spring Break Food Packs to distribution sites around the community. Sign up online at claychurch.com/events. Sole Hope Shoe Prepearation Sunday, April 2 10:30 –11:30am + Van Oort Hall Millions of Ugandans suffer from a crippling parasite called jiggers. Jiggers enter the body by burrowing into the feet, so the best way to prevent infestation is by wearing sturdy shoes. Sole Hope is a nonprofit organization that makes shoes out of discarded denim, then distributes these shoes to people throughout Uganda. Join us in Van Oort Hall as we trace pattern pieces and cut our own old denim that will be sent to Sole Hope. All ages are welcome. Please bring in your old jeans and/or a pair of fabric scissors! |
LEARNING OPPORTUNIES
Expand your mind and your heart by participating in various educational events.
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Weekly Soup Dinner and Les Miserables Study
Wednesdays from March 1 through March 29 + 6–7:10 pm + Van Oort Hall Come to Van Oort Hall for dinner and facilitated discussion of Matthew 25 themes as reflected in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Familiarity with the film, stage, or book version is recommended but not essential for participation! Soup and bread will be provided. (Because Les Misérables contains adult content, any children present will have separate activities.) Stay afterward for the Holden Evening Prayer service in the sanctuary. (See page 3 for details.) Volunteers are needed to set up, serve soup, and clean up after the meal; if you would like to help, look for the signup sheet in the narthex. |
Book Club: Autobiographies of African American LeadersInternational Women’s Day “Party with a Purpose”
Thursdays, March 2 through March 23 + 10–11:30 am + Various Locations Engage in book club–style discussion of autobiographies of African American leaders. Participate in whichever session(s) you choose; read the book in advance and come ready for conversation. This series is a cooperative effort of First Presbyterian Church and the host organizations listed below. Dates, books, and meeting locations are as follows: March 2 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Heritage Center 1040 W. Washington St. March 9 Crusade for Justice (Ida B. Wells); Can I Get a Witness (others) St. Joseph County Library 304 S. Main St. March 16 Born to Rebel: An Autobiography (Benjamin Mays) Olivet AME Church 719 N. Notre Dame Ave. March 23 With Head and Heart (Howard Thurman) Brain Lair Books 1005 Portage Ave. |
Arts and experiences
Explore Matthew 25 themes through concerts, film, art, tours, and other special events.
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Cultural Music Series
Saturday, February 25 + Saturday, March 4 + Saturday March 18 + 10 am–12 pm + 333 S. Michigan St., South Bend Join The Music Village for this event series that offers representatives from various cultures and subcultures an opportunity to express their identity through music. Enjoy presentations and demonstrations featuring Irish music by Kennedy’s Kitchen (February 25), blues harmonica (March 4), and West African dance and drumming by UZIMA (March 18). For more details, visit themusicvillage.org. George Shirley in Concert Sunday, February 26 + 3 pm First Presbyterian Church + 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend George Shirley is one of opera’s most versatile tenors. He was the first African American tenor to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and has enjoyed a decades-long, trailblazing international career, including receipt of the National Medal of Arts in 2015. Join Mr. Shirley for a special performance at First Presbyterian, featuring compositions by Ralph Vaughn Williams, Johannes Brahms, Roland Hayes, and others. There is no charge to attend. Film and Discussion Series Mondays from February 27 through March 27 + 6 pm St. Joseph County Main Library + 304 S. Main St., South Bend Join us for a series of films addressing systemic poverty and structural racism. Movies will be screened on five consecutive Mondays, starting at 6 pm. Each film will be followed by discussion with local nonprofit leaders and community advocates. This series is sponsored by First Presbyterian Church in cooperation with Notre Dame’s Browning Cinema and Department of Film, Television, and Theater. Dates and films are as follows: February 27 Les Misérables (1935) March 6 Parasite (2019) March 13 The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) March 20 Salt of the Earth (1954) March 27 Shoplifters (2018) "Brushstrokes for Hope" Art Class Tuesdays from February 28 through March 14 + 1:30–3 pm First Presbyterian Church + 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend Work with artist Lee Bauman to create expressive mixed-media paintings filled with hope, inspiration, and positivity. This class meets once per week for three weeks; attendees should attend all three sessions. Class size is limited so each student will receive individual attention. There is a small participation fee that includes all necessary materials. To reserve your space, contact First Presbyterian Church at (574) 234-4159 or info@fpcsouthbend.org. South Bend Symphony Orchestra Presents "Silent City" and Brahms Saturday, March 4 + 7:30 pm Morris Performing Arts Center + 211 N. Michigan St., South Bend Join the South Bend Symphony Orchestra as they host Kayhan Kalhor, an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on the kamancheh (spiked fiddle). This concert includes the emotionally charged “Silent City,” which commemorates the 1988 massacre in the Kurdish city of Halabja, where Saddam Hussein ordered a chemical weapons attack. This piece is paired with Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. For ticket information, visit southbendsymphony.org. |
Music for Unique, Sensitive, Intelligent Children (MUSIC): A Concert by Adaptive Arts for All Ages and Apbilities
Sunday, March 5 + 3 pm First Presbyterian Church + 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend Adaptive Arts is an inclusive performing arts school that serves students of all ages and abilities, including individuals with special needs. Instructors work with community members to help individuals perform more comfortably by adapting the curriculum and teaching method to their cognitive or physical challenge. Come to First Presbyterian for a free concert featuring students from Adaptive Arts performing alongside local professionals. For more information, visit www.adaptivearts.org. Spring Into Service at Unity Gardens Saturday, March 25 + 9:30 am–12:30 pm Unity Gardens LaSalle Square + 3701 Prast Blvd., South Bend Join Unity Gardens for a morning of volunteering, education, and activity. The day starts with a tour of Unity’s LaSalle Square facility. Later, all are invited to work in the 7-acre garden mulching, spreading compost, and seeding beds. Children will have the chance to learn how to sow seeds and grow their own food. They can also pet the goats and check out the worm composter. Be sure to dress for outdoor work, and be ready to get your hands dirty! Pop and Heal Workshop with Connect 2 Be the Change Sunday, March 26 + 3–6 pm Reflections Counseling Center + 3220 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend Connect 2 Be the Change (C2BTC) is a nonprofit dedicated to stopping gun violence in South Bend. They provide therapeutic services to help people cope with trauma and work to empower young people to make healthier choices. Join C2BTC to create bracelets and keychains from disarmed bullets taken off the streets of South Bend. Finished items will be distributed to families and friends whose lives were impacted by gun violence, and to community members who live in solidarity with those whose lives have been impacted. Ethnic Bakeries of Michiana Bus Tour Thursday, March 30 + 9:30 am–1:30 pm First Presbyterian Church + 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend Enjoy a tasty tour of Michiana’s ethnic bakeries, including La Central Panaderia, Baker’s Dozen Bake Shop, Ciao’s Italian Bakery, Macri’s Italian Bakery, and West End Bakery. This chartered bus tour departs from First Presbyterian Church in downtown South Bend. There is a fee of $5 per seat, with all proceeds going to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Advance registration is required. For information or to sign up, go to tinyurl.com/SBbakerytour. Prison Re-entry Simulation Friday, March 31 + 9:30 am–12:30 pm St. Joseph County Main Library + 304 S. Main St., South Bend Have you ever wondered what it is like for someone who is re-entering society after being incarcerated? This event will help you learn how challenging it can be. Participants will navigate through the first four weeks of an individual's journey back into society, including compliance with all requirements of supervised release. This free event is hosted by Dismas House. Registration is required; visit tinyurl.com/DismasSim to learn more and sign up. The Way of the Cross: A Good Friday Walk Through Southeast South Bend Friday, April 7 + 10am Broadway Christian Parish + 1412 Carroll St., South Bend Join Broadway Christian Parish on Good Friday morning for its annual “Way of the Cross” walk. Participants march through the southeast side of South Bend, tracing a unique vision of resurrection as they stop at places of death, despair, healing, and hope in the community. |
CALENDARS
Click or tap on either calendar to download a pdf version of that calendar.
Click or tap on either calendar to download a pdf version of that calendar.
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