Middle Octorara Church, 1199 Valley Road, Quarryville, will host its annual Ladies Lenten Tea on Saturday, March 11. The event will kick off with live music from singer and songwriter Bruce Fite at 2 p.m., followed by food and beverages in the church's social hall. There is no fee to attend, but donations will be accepted by the church.

Fite is a music teacher and performs songs written for a wide range of audiences. His songs employ upbeat melodies and comical but educational lyrics, such as his single "Don't Put Your Cat in the Washing Machine." Each year, the Ladies Lenten Tea features a different performer for its live entertainment. "(Fite) is a lot of fun. He provides a lighthearted, fun show," said Boni Henry, organizer of the event.

After the performance, attendees will gather to share tea, coffee, fruit, cheese, crackers and small sandwiches. Henry noted that those attending often bring friends and socialize during the luncheon, and women are welcome to attend by themselves or as a group.

Middle Octorara Church first began hosting the Ladies Lenten Tea in 2014 and held the event every year until 2020, when it was placed on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradition was started by former pastor Douglas Hileman and his wife, Kristine, after Kristine helped to organize a similar community activity at another church. The Ladies Lenten Tea was immediately well received by the congregation, with over 80 women attending in the past. This is the first year that Middle Octorara Church has hosted the event since 2019.

"I love seeing everyone enjoy the food and fellowship the most," Henry said. "March is such a wintery month, and it can be bleak; ladies are looking for something to do. It's a nice way to get together with your friends and have a fun day." The registration deadline for the Ladies Lenten Tea is Saturday, March 4. To register, email mopc_sec@comcast.net or call 717-786-3402.

The Ladies Lenten Tea is one of several events coordinated by Middle Octorara Presbyterian Women (MOPW), a women's group that consists of members from the congregation. Every other month, the group hosts a sub and soup sale to raise funds for community events as well as local ministries. MOPW uses its funds to support organizations such as Solanco Neighborhood Ministries and its programs to provide residents of the Southern End with food and furnace fuel during the winter. Every February, members of MOPW also knit and crochet quilts, which they donate to the Gap Veterans of Foreign Wars. The quilts are then given to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville. "We try to give what we can with the money that we make," Henry said.