The Rev. James Dollhopf and his congregation at First English Lutheran Church on Main Street will host the first of five weekly evening community Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The joint services were started about six years ago, and clergy and parishioners enjoy visiting other churches for worship and fellowship. Oak Hills Christian, Trinity Lutheran, Grace @ Calvary Lutheran and Shiloh Baptist churches also are participating.

Those hoping to attend a midweek Lenten service in February and March will have no difficulty finding one, regardless of their denomination.

Five weeks of Wednesday services will kick off at 7 p.m. Wednesday at First English Lutheran Church on Main Street.

Although First English will provide the venue, the service will be officiated by the Rev. Phillip Conyers, pastor of Oak Hills Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ group.

Participating churches also include Trinity Lutheran Church, Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church and Shiloh Baptist Church.

"There is a time of fellowship after each service," said Vicar Scott Schul of Trinity Lutheran, who will officiate the March 3 event at Grace @ Calvary.

"The host facility puts on the meal and the liturgy, and one of the participating congregations provides the preacher."

According to the Rev. James Dollhopf of First English Lutheran, the joint Lenten services were started more than six years ago by a core group of Lutheran congregations.

About the time some participants fell away, others outside the denomination came forward.

The Rev. Phillip Conyers of Oak Hills began participating three years ago when invited by the Rev. Tom Pierotti of Trinity Lutheran, who organizes the program.

Although Oak Hills hadn't previously offered Wednesday night Lenten services, Conyers said the chance to offer additional services is not his main motivation.

"It's the fellowship that excites me," he said.

Dollhopf agreed, listing variety and education among the program's other attributes.

"Everybody has their different styles," he said. "Even with the Lutheran churches, we do things a little bit differently.

"It's very exciting to see the differences and to share in the traditions that other people have. It broadens your perspective.

Churchgoers like Kathy Kline echo both sentiments.

"It's a matter of helping to open your eyes to other members of the community," said Kline, who serves on the Butler City Council and attends First English Lutheran Church.

"We all worship, and I guess the settings and the places are different. But it's really neat because we all worship the same God."

Services are set for 7 p.m. at these dates and locations:• Feb. 24 — Hosted by First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St. Officiant: The Rev. Phillip Conyers of Oak Hill Christian Church in Butler Township.• March 3 — Hosted by Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St. Officiant: Vicar Scott Schul of Trinity Lutheran Church.• March 10 — Hosted by Shiloh Baptist Church but held at Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond. Officiant: The Rev. James Dollhopf of First English Lutheran.• March 17 — Hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive. Officiant: The Rev. Maran Alexis, interim pastor at Grace @ Calvary.• March 24 —Hosted by Oak Hills Christian Church, 113 Township Line Road, Butler Township. Officiant: Pastor Floyd Palmer of Shiloh Baptist.