The area's faith community is preparing for Lent, which begins in four days with Ash Wednesday.

Lent is the period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter, observed in various ways in Christian churches by fasting and penitence. This year, Easter is March 31.

Many Valley churches are planning special services on Ash Wednesday. Among them:

-- Holy Family Episcopal Church is offering services at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday when people can come to the altar and receive the imposition of ashes. Priests apply the ashes in the shape if the cross on the forehead of people.

The church is at 1135 E. Alluvial Ave.

Details: (559) 439-5011.

-- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hanford is holding English Masses with distribution of ashes at 7:30 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 10355 Hanford-Armona Road. The church also is offering a Spanish Scripture Service with distribution of ashes at 7 p.m. in the Parish Pavilion.

Details: ihmhanford.org or (559) 584-8576.

Church celebrating 131st anniversary

Carter Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church is celebrating its 131st anniversary with special events Feb. 17 at the church, 940 Waterman Ave.

The church was established in 1882. It is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in Fresno.

Guest speakers will be Minister Dominic Holland at 11 a.m. and the Rev. Andrew Rollins, pastor of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in San Jose, at 3:30 p.m.

The anniversary theme -- "Look Where He Brought Us From" -- is based on 1 Corinthians 3:9-10.

Carter Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church's current pastor is the Rev. Willie Adams.

The public is welcome.

Details: (559) 442-1793.

Ethics Center announces lectures

The Ethics Center at Fresno State has announced its Leon S. Peters Ethics Lecture Series for spring 2013. The dates, speakers and topics:

-- On Feb. 20, Trudy Conway, professor of philosophy at Mount St. Mary's University, and Vickie Schieber, chair of Murder Victim's Families for Human Rights, will speak on "Justice, Mercy, and the Death Penalty" at 5 p.m. in the Alice Peters Auditorium at the University Business Center.

-- On April 2, Will Kymlicka, Canada research chair in political philosophy at Queen's University, and Sue Donaldson, a playwright and author, will speak on "Zoopolis and the Frontiers of Citizenship" at 5 p.m. in the Alice Peters Auditorium.

-- On April 13, Charles Haynes, director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum and a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, will lead a discussion on "Religious Diversity and the First Amendment in Schools." The event is a full-day workshop.

-- On April 18, Alejandro Santana, associate professor of philosophy and E. John Rumpakis Professor of Hellenic Studies at the University of Portland, will talk on "The Importance of Aztec Philosophy" at 5 p.m. in the Alice Peters Auditorium.

The events are free and open to the public.

Details: afiala@csufresno.edu.

Also, Conway and Schieber will be part of a forum on the death penalty at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center's chapel, 1572 E. Barstow Ave.

Conway and Schieber have co-edited a new book, "Where Justice and Mercy Meet: Catholic Opposition to the Death Penalty."

Details: (559) 436-3434.

Jewish film 'Wasserman' showing

The film "Wasserman" is showing at 7 p.m. today at Temple Beth Israel, 6622 N. Maroa Ave. The presentation is part of the Fresno Jewish Film Series.

The film is about a 73-year-old man who swore never to pray again. He blames God for his family's annihilation during the Holocaust. He is unwilling to forgive. But a dire situation forces him to reconsider. Cost is $8.

Details: fresnojewishfilm.org or (559) 439-9638.

Gospel music group to perform in Tulare

The Southern gospel group Solid Ground will perform at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Wayside Church of the Nazarene, 1929 E. Bardsley Ave., Tulare.

The trio is from Sacramento. It has traveled throughout California for six years, singing traditional and contemporary gospel music. At the Tulare event, an offering will be taken.

Details: (559) 686-7880.

Church to host Organ Evensong

The annual Galloway Memorial Organ Evensong is at 4 p.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church of Fresno, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd.

The event features Scott Horton, the church's music director and organist.

An offering will be taken. Proceeds benefit the church's Casavant organ fund.

Details: (559) 227-8489.

Our Lady of Victory holds rummage sale

The Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church's Women's Guild is presenting its annual rummage sale 8 a.m.-2 p.m. today and Sunday at the church's Hayes Parish Hall, West Avenue at Princeton Avenue.

Bake sales also will be held after each Mass on Sunday.

Details: (559) 227-0084.