For the 92nd year, the Mount Airy Ministerial Association will provide an opportunity for the community to gather weekly in worship for the Lenten season this year.

Since 1921, the group of area ministers has organized and hosted the annual Community-wide Lenten Services for those in the region.

According to the Rev. Bob Josey, president of the association, the crowds in recent years have increased dramatically with last year’s attendance surpassing all expectations.

“It has become a wonderful opportunity for the Christian community to come together and to meditate upon the life, death and resurrection of the living Lord through the messages of some of the area’s finest ministers,” Josey said.

This year’s seven-week services will be hosted by Highland Park Baptist Church, 1247 Park Drive, Mount Airy, behind Hampton Inn, and the church’s pastor, Dr. Darrell Tate.

Services will be held each Wednesday with a musical prelude beginning at 11:45 a.m. provided by area religious musicians. The 30-minute worship service will begin at noon, and a meal will be provided after each service by Highland Park Baptist Church. While the meal is free, donations will be accepted to help fund the cost of the meal.

This year’s services will begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, featuring Tate as the speaker.

Other speakers will include Dr. David Sparks, pastor of Flat Rock Pentecostal Holiness Church, on Feb. 20; the Rev. Richard Loman, pastor of Mount Airy Wesleyan Church, on Feb. 27; Father Larry Heiney, priest of Holy Angels Catholic Church, March 6; the Rev. Lonnie Gunter, pastor of Genesis Full Gospel Church, March 13; the Rev. Jake Penley, pastor of White Plains Friends Meeting, March 20; and Josey, a retired Southern Baptist minister, on March 27.

For more information on the services, call Highland Park Baptist Church at 786-4275 or Josey at 786-1644.