If you feel there's something special about a supper of hot pancakes, sausage and syrup on a cold winter's evening, then an annual event held tonight at St. David's Episcopal Church in Laurinburg may be just what you need.

"From 5 until 7:30 p.m. we will have all you can eat pancakes, two kinds of sausage, stewed cinnamon apples, beverages and lots of syrup," event volunteer Kyle Bethel said. "You can eat in or take out, whichever you prefer, all for $5."

The traditional Shrove Tuesday supper will be held in the parish hall of the historic church.

"My husband and I have been here 20 years, and this event was in place long before we arrived," Bethel said. "It is an ongoing historical custom that provides funds for outreach programs sponsored by the church."

The Rev. Marty Stebbins has been the cluster missioner at St. David's for the past three years.

"The pancake supper has been held longer than any member of the congregation can remember," she said. "It is a long standing tradition in honor of Shrove Tuesday, the last full day before Lent."

Lent is a 40 day period of fasting and prayer in the days prior to Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

"In the ancient tradition, Lent was a time to get rid of your refined flour, sugar, and good quality fat, because those were forbidden until Easter," Stebbins said. "Those ingredients were all combined together, and for us, that happens to be what goes into a good batch of pancakes. This practice goes back to the Middle Ages, in preparation for a period of penitence and introspection."

Proceeds from the event are to benefit "the general ministry of Christ's hope, love, and reconciliation at St. David's, and to the various ministries of our church, including Covington Street School located next door," Stebbins said.

Bethel hopes the public will drop by to enjoy the pancakes and to consider visiting other church functions as well.

"St. David's invites the community to our historic "Fat" or Shrove Tuesday evening feast of "all-you-can-eat" delicious hot pancakes, sausage, apples, juice and coffee," Bethel said.

"This is a delectable way to 'kick-off' the Lenten season of fasting and penitence, which leads up to the celebration of Easter. Our parish hall is an inviting place to dine-in as it is bedecked with seasonal flowers along with many welcoming parishioners and neighbors. The community is also invited to our traditional Wednesday evening Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 for the imposition of ashes, the reading of psalms and the litany of penitence."

St. David's Episcopal Church was founded in 1905 and has been at its current location since the 1950s. For more information call 276-1757.