Do Lent with these Living Matthew 25 concerts, films, tours and more

SOUTH BEND — To mark the 40-day holy season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22, the Living Matthew 25 series returns for a second year with concerts, service projects, tours, book discussion groups, weekly film screenings and worship opportunities.

First Presbyterian Church of Downtown South Bend, 333 W. Colfax Ave., is spearheading the effort that it started last year — this time with twice as many events. The events are free unless otherwise noted here. They are all in South Bend.

They’re intended to prepare participants for Easter by helping them to grow their understanding of systemic poverty, structural racism, and how people of faith or goodwill can help those around them. Living Matthew 25 refers to a passage in the Gospel in which Jesus says, essentially, whatsoever you do for the poor, sick, estranged, imprisoned and otherwise needy, that you do unto him.

Area churches, nonprofit organizations and community groups are involved. For questions, contact info@fpcsouthbend.org or 574-234-4159.

Learning about issues

∎ 3 p.m. March 19: “Say Their Names: The Drama of Gun Violence” at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St.

∎ 3 to 6 p.m. March 26: Bracelet- and key chain-making and discussion on solutions to gun violence, Reflections Counseling Center, 3220 E. Jefferson Blvd.

∎ 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 31: Post-incarceration re-entry simulation led by Dismas House, Life Outside Reentry Assistance and The Beacon at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Michigan St.

Book discussions

These will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays.

∎ March 2: “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” at IU Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 W. Washington St.

∎ March 9: “Crusade for Justice: Can I Get A Witness?” (Ida B. Wells) and “Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women — An Anthology” at St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St.

∎ March 16: “Born to Rebel: An Autobiography” (Benjamin Mays) at Olivet AME Church, 719 N. Notre Dame Ave.

∎ March 23: “With Head and Heart” (Howard Thurman) at Brain Lair Books/Near Northwest Neighborhood Center, 1005 Portage Ave.

Film discussions

These films will be shown at 6 p.m. Mondays at St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Michigan St., and include discussions led by local nonprofit leaders and community advocates.

∎ Feb. 27: “Les Miserables” (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)

Art classes

Artist/educator/instructor Lee Bauman will lead “Brushstrokes for Hope” art classes from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on the following Tuesdays: Feb. 28 and March 7 and 14. ($20 for supplies at eventbrite.com)

Soup suppers

A study of the characters and themes of “Les Miserables” will be combined with these suppers from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on each Wednesday of March at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17195 Cleveland Road.

Tours

∎ Civil Rights Heritage Bus Tour of South Bend starting at 2 p.m. March 12 from the IU Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 W. Washington St. ($5 on eventbrite.com)

∎ Ethnic bakeries tour (Baker’s Dozen, Central Bakery, Ciao’s Italian Bakery, Macri’s Italian Bakery and West End Bakery) from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 30, starting at First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax Ave. ($5 on eventbrite.com)

∎ The Way of the Cross/Good Friday walk through the southeast side neighborhood, starting at 10 a.m. April 7 at Broadway Christian Parish, 1412 Carroll St.

Concerts

∎ Cultural music series goes from 10 a.m. to noon on these Saturdays at The Music Village, 333 S. Michigan St.: Feb. 25 with Kennedy’s Kitchen Irish Academy, March 4 with blues harmonicist Tom Moore and March 18 with UZIMA! West African Dance & Music Troupe. ($5 per concert)

∎ Opera tenor George Shirley, pianist Timothy Cheek and tenor singer Mark Beudert perform at 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at First Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow. An Indianapolis native, Shirley is widely known as the first Black tenor to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

∎ South Bend Symphony Orchestra performs “Silent City: A Commemoration of Halabja’s Tragedy” at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Morris Performing Arts Center. ($90-$19 or $12-$10 per child/student at southbendsymphony.org or 574-232-6343)

∎ Adaptive Arts performs “Music for Unique, Sensitive, Intelligent Children” at 3 p.m. March 5 at First Presbyterian Church.

∎ Elkhart Community Chorus and orchestra and guest musicians perform “The Simple Life” for Good Friday at 7 p.m. April 7 at First Presbyterian Church.

Service projects

∎ Assist senior citizens with free laundry services and meals from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays March 7 and 21 and April 4 at Burton’s Laundry, 3706 W. Western Ave.

∎ International Women’s Day service project and collection of feminine hygiene supplies for local women’s residences from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 in the Fireside Room at IU South Bend Administration Building, 1700 E. Mishawaka Ave.

∎ Serve dinner at 5:30 p.m. March 13 at Hope Ministries, 432 S. Lafayette St.

∎ Make and distribute Easter baskets for children in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 19 at First Presbyterian Church.

∎ Do spring work from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 25 at Unity Gardens, 3702 Prast Blvd.

∎ Serve dinner at noon March 26 at Broadway Christian Parish, 1412 Carroll St.

∎ Make Easter dinner boxes with Hope for the Hungry from 1 to 3 p.m. April 2 at Near Northwest Neighborhood Center, 1005 Portage Ave.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Lent series features concerts films tours and service in South Bend