MASSENA -- St. John's Church, 139 Main St. is hosting Lenten lunches for the next five Wednesdays. There will be an ecumenical worship service at noon with the meal following at 12:30.

A different member of the local clergy will conduct each service, which includes hymns, scripture readings and a brief message.

The events are sponsored by the Greater Massena Ministerial Association.

Massena's Lenten lunches started in the early 1960s so downtown workers could attend a brief church service and eat during heir hour-long lunch breaks.

This year’s menus are:

• March 12 – Spanish rice and tossed salad, prepared by St. John’s Episcopal Church.

• March 19 – Tater Tot casserole and tossed salad, prepared by the Roman Catholic churches.

• March 26 – Chicken & Vegetable Casserole with cole slaw, prepared by Grace Methodist Church

• April 2 – Beef Stew and broccoli salad, prepared by the United Methodist Church.

• April 9 – Goulash and Caesar salad, prepared by the Emmanuel Congregational Church.

The events are sponsored by the Greater Massena Ministerial Association.

Massena's Lenten lunches started in the early 1960s so downtown workers could attend a brief church service and eat during heir hour-long lunch breaks.