St. Luke’s Episcopal Church announces Mardi Gras celebration

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church invites the community to a Mardi Gras celebration on March 1, 2025.

The evening will begin with a fundraising pancake supper followed by a Dixieland jazz band concert and king cake reception. The supper, held in the church auditorium from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., includes pancakes, sausage, and beverages for $10 per person ($5 for children under 10); tickets must be purchased ahead of the event at www.stlukesbazaar.org.

At 7:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy a free concert by Ben Mauger’s Vintage Jazz Band in the nave (sanctuary) of the church. The five-piece band performs early festive jazz that was made famous during the 1920s and ‘30s in New Orleans. The group has performed at (to name a few) the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Connecticut, Potomac River Jazz Society in the Washington, DC, area, The Pennsylvania State Jazz Society in Easton Pa, The Tri-State Jazz Society , Suncoast Jazz Society in Florida, Bethlehem Musikfest, and many concerts in the park and private events throughout the East Coast.

“Last year we held our first ever Mardi Gras celebration with this band, and it was such a great success, we decided to do it again,” said Steve Doster, senior warden of St. Luke’s. “We love hosting events that bring the community together. This free concert is made possible through our new ‘Friends of Music’ fund, which exists to bring live music to downtown Lebanon at little to no cost to the audience.” To learn more about or contribute to St. Luke’s Friends of Music initiative, please visit https://stlukeslebanon.org/music/ and click on the “Friends of Music” link.

After the concert a free reception featuring a king cake will be held in the church auditorium. The name “king cake” comes from the biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to Baby Jesus. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras. Hidden within these seasonal sweets also lies a special surprise: a plastic king cake baby. King cake is first served on King’s Day and lasts through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the coming of the three kings.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at the corner of Chestnut and South 6th Streets in historic downtown Lebanon, PA.

Sponsored by St. Luke's Episcopal Church

St. Luke’s is a family church that is inclusive, diverse, and loving. Here is a place to grow, to learn, to share, to worship, to pray, and to love God and one another. We are a downtown church in a rural community and the only Episcopal Church in Lebanon County, PA. St Luke’s has a closely knit congregation that cherishes and preserves its lively history while also gladly welcoming newcomers and visitors. We are fortunate to have a strong mix of families with long lineages as members and also a continually growing list of new members.

Learn more about St. Luke's Episcopal Church