Carnival Atmosphere
EVANS CITY — Jazz music will replace hymns and liturgical colors will be replaced by Mardi Gras decorations Sunday at St. John's United Church of Christ, 501 E. Main St.
For the church's first Mardi Gras jazz worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, St. John's pastor, the Rev. Lisa Griffin said, “The colors of Mardi Gras are green, gold and purple. We have the altar decorated now in green, gold and purple.
“And on that day we will have the sanctuary windows and the sanctuary decorated for Mardi Gras,” she said.
And the church praise band — drums, clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar — will play jazz including “When the Saints Go Marching In,” in place of the usual hymns.
Afterward, there will be refreshments including the traditional Mardi Gras treat of a king cake, a New Orleans pastry.
“It was my idea to do it,” said Griffin of the service.
For many, Mardi Gras is all about the three Bs: beads, booze and the Big Easy.
But this carnival, which ends on Fat Tuesday every year, isn't confined to New Orleans or partying.
Griffin said Mardi Gras has a Christian foundation dating to the 17th century when in Europe it was a time for festivities before the fasting and sacrifice of Lent.
“This is the end of Epiphany, the last Sunday of Epiphany,” said Griffin.
It ties in with the story of Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain as recounted in Luke 9:28-36, she said.
“It is the story of Jesus on the mountain,” she said. “The colors of the king cake originally came from the Christian religion. The purple symbolizes justice, the green symbolizes faith and the gold symbolizes power.
“Jesus came down from the mountain, and people can live out their faith by doing acts of justice and charity,” she said.
Patty Marburger of Prospect, who will be playing piano with the church band, said, “This will be creatively interesting. It's challenging. It's inspiring.”
Marburger, who calls herself a part-time church musician, said the band has been practicing “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “This Little Light of Mine,” a jazz version of “How Sweet the Sound” with lyrics from “Amazing Grace” and a version of “All That Jazz” with Christian lyrics supplied by Griffin.
And Tuesday — Fat Tuesday — is also known as Shrove Tuesday which is associated with pancakes.
Griffin said, “Many churches have pancake dinners on Shrove Tuesday. St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Evans City is having a pancake dinner. We didn't want to have one of our own this year.”
The Rev. Brandon Johns, pastor of St. Peter's, 202 Van Buren St., said, “We will have a pancake and sausage supper at 5 p.m. and a talent show at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. It's something we do every year. It is open to the public.”
Johns added, “It's a pancake and sausage dinner because Lent starts the next day and this is an excuse for emptying out the rich fats for a more austere life for the season of Lent.”
Johns said St. Peter's would have an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. with the imposition of ashes.
Griffin said St. John's will have its own Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. with the imposition of ashes to symbolize the beginning of Lent, the six weeks of prayer, repentance of sins, almsgiving and self-denial Christians are supposed to undertake before the arrival of Easter.
Griffin said, “Some people choose to give up things for Lent, some people choose to take on things for Lent to draw them closer to God.”
Griffin said the Mardi Gras service is appropriate “because the United Church of Christ came from Germany where it broke off from the Catholic Church. A lot of our traditions come from the Catholic Church.”
Griffin said, “I hope that this service shows how Mardi Gras fits into our faith. It's not just a big party in New Orleans, but it has a faith-based meaning to it.”
