Central Union Church and the ‘Iolani Guild of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii will observe Lent — the 40-day period of penance for Christians in preparation for Easter — with a labyrinth program and a retreat in Waialua.

Central Union, 1660 S. Beretania St., will hold its second annual Lenten Labyrinth program on Wednesday evenings, starting this week and wrapping up March 16.

The five-week series in the parish hall will include centering prayer, a labyrinth walk and a discussion about Christian worship practices, led by the Rev. Brandon Duran. All are welcome to take part in any of the weekly activities.

The labyrinth will be open 5-6 p.m. An ancient spiritual tradition, labyrinth walkways made of stone, glass or canvas have recently surfaced as a popular setting for solitary prayer, meditation and personal reflection, according to a news release.

The Central Union program will offer an optional centering prayer session at 5:30 p.m. A soup supper will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the “Animate: Practices” video series, 6:30-7:30 p.m., which explores basic religious themes.

For more information, call 941-0957 or visit centralunionchurch.org.

The ‘Iolani Guild, a devotional and philanthropic organization, is sponsoring “A Retreat for the Journey of Lent: Traditions and Theological Reflection,” Wednesday-Thursday at Camp Mokuleia in Waialua.

The cost is $160; registration is available at 808ne.ws/1O5S99i. For more information, contact Chaplain Kaleo Patterson at kaleop@gmx.com or Leimalama Lee Loy at LeiP51@hawaiiantel.net.

The program will include passages from the first Hawaiian prayer book, Hawaiian-language Bible study, chants and prayers, hymns and songs, meditations and subsistence-gathering traditions.