By JENNIFER MURLEY Calvary Lenten series takes center stage beginning Wednesday "Since times ancient, the Church has set aside a period of deep reflection and personal growth known to Christians throughout the world as the season of Lent. Calvarys rich tradition of the Lenten Preaching Series brings us into the presence of some of our churchs most notable preachers. This year particularly, as our world seems so deeply divided politically and spiritually, we are called together to hear and respond to Gods holy word in ways that beckon the whole human community into a deeper respect and Godly affection for one another. Everyone is welcome. Calvary extends to each of you its richest blessing for a holy and fulfilling Lent." the Rev. G. LaRue Downing, Calvary Episcopal Church associate rector By JENNIFER MURLEY The Daily News The Right Rev. Don E. Johnson will lead next weeks Ash Wednesday sermon at Calvary Episcopal Church marking the kickoff of the churchs 79th annual Noonday Lenten Preaching series. Guest speakers from congregations across the nation will lead midday sermons Monday through Friday from 12:05 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. in Calvarys sanctuary through March 22. The services are free and open to the public. Calvary is located at 102 N. Second St. In conjunction with the sermons, Calvarys Waffle Shop, famous for its fish pudding and tomato aspic, will open Thursday serving daily lunches from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. As bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee, Johnsons Wednesday sermon will be his first appearance in the Calvary Lenten series. Johnson was consecrated as third bishop of the diocese of West Tennessee in June. Following the Ash Wednesday sermon, local evangelist Dr. Frank A. Thomas will lead services Feb. 14 and 15. Thomas, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church senior pastor, is a strong supporter of education and has developed and taught seminary courses that promote preaching as an art. Now serving as co-executive editor of "The African-American Pulpit," Thomas is the author of "They Never Like to Quit Praisin God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching." Dr. Kenneth A. Corr takes the pulpit during the following week, Feb. 18 and 19. As head of the local First Baptist Church, Corr has actively involved his congregation in the larger Christian community by participating in Calvarys AIDS healing service and providing prayer support for women in ministry. Winding down the second week of the series Feb. 20 through Feb. 22 is Dr. Daniel P. Matthews, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City. As part of the Ground Zero neighborhood, Trinitys congregation was displaced from its church during the weeks following Sept. 11. However, Matthews continued his ministry to the residents and workers, despite the widespread destruction surrounding his parish. Returning from last years Lenten series is Dr. Marcus J. Borg, who will lead the sermons Feb. 25 and 26. As a Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University, Borg is internationally recognized in academic and religious circles as a Jesus scholar. His book, "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time" is the single best-selling book by a contemporary Jesus scholar. Borg is current president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. Headlining the series Feb. 27 and 28 is Dr. John M. Mulder, president and professor of historical theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Mulder is an author and current chief editor of "Family Ministry," which focuses on strengthening congregations and families to reflect and spread Christian faith. Ushering in the new month is the March 1 sermon of the Rev. Gina M. Stewart, head of the local Christ Missionary Baptist Church. As the first African-American woman to lead a Baptist congregation in Memphis, Stewart is also a contributing writer for the African-American Devotional Bible, as well as the Whole Life Stewardship Bible Study. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, senior pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., will preach three sermons March 3 through March 6. Youngbloods ministry, the topic of the best-selling book "Upon This Rock," encourages strong male participation in African-American churches. Among his community outreach programs is the Nehemiah Housing Project, which restores blighted housing within the Brooklyn neighborhood through the construction of owner-occupied, single-family homes for low-income families. Former Memphian Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam will lead the services March 7 and 8. Dunnam, president of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., is widely recognized as an evangelist and pioneer in small group ministries. Dunnam was world editor of "The Upper Room" when the Cursillo movement was established in Methodism. Next up, March 11 and 12, is Dr. Stephen R. Montgomery, Idlewild Presbyterian Church senior pastor. Known for his ability to "grow congregations," Montgomery is a former president of North Atlantas Interfaith Association as well as a former instructor at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Recently named by Memphis Magazine as one of the citys most significant leaders, Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein of Temple Israel will deliver the March 13 sermon. Currently, a Memphis Theological Seminary faculty member, Greenstein is a past president of the Memphis Ministers Association. He now sits on the boards of the National Civil Rights Museum, United Way of the Mid-South and the Central Conference of American Rabbis. The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Little Rock, Ark., will round out the week, preaching March 14 and 15. Installed last year as the sixth bishop of the diocese of Little Rock, Sartain has served in a number of capacities locally, including vicar general of the Memphis diocese and St. Louis Church pastor. March 18 and 19 begins the final week of Lenten series with sermons by the Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. of Los Angeles. Lawson preaches and lectures nationwide on "soul force," or creative nonviolence, working with interfaith coalitions for justice and peace. He also hosts a national cable network television show examining current affairs through the lens of compassion and justice. The series begins to wind down by March 20 with a sermon by the Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, pastor of the local Monumental Baptist Church since 1959. As founding board member of People United to Save Humanity, Kyles is a member of the Religious Action Network and helped to monitor South Africas first multiracial election. Dr. Bill J. Leonard, dean and professor of church history at Wake Forest Divinity School in Winston-Salem, N.C., will the close the 2002 series leading sermons March 21 and 22. Leonard has authored and edited 13 books including the recent "Christianity in Appalachia: Profiles in Regional Pluralism," and was former co-editor of the "Encyclopedia of Religious Controversies."