St. Matt’s Community Dinner Guests – St. Matthew’s, Ozark. Image credit: Gary Allman
True to my word (and the call of burgers and dogs), I visited St. Matthew’s for their first community dinner since they stopped serving weekly meals because of COVID. A lot’s happened since then.
Free Wednesday Night Dinner – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
When St. Matthew’s temporarily closed for in-person activities, they were based in a strip mall in the middle of Ozark, sandwiched between offices of the Ozark Police Department and Christian County Health Department. In September 2020, after months (years) of searching, false starts, discussions, and negotiations, St. Mathew’s moved to its new home in a shared space with Ozark Presbyterian Church.
Any un-voiced concerns that the relocation might adversely impact St. Matthew’s Community Dinner ministry, proved unfounded when over twenty guests arrived for the opening meal.
St. Matthew’s Lisa Barns serves a meal for one of the guests – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
JoAnn Raine and Dennis Blevins keep the beans and other sides coming – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
Lisa Barns (left) and Betty Gloyd serving up the meals – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
Rob Barns (right) in charge of the grill, discussing construction work at the church with one of the guests – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
Burgers and Dogs – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
Grill time – St. Matthew’s, Ozark, Community Dinner. Image credit: Gary Allman
Image credit: Gary Allman
Gary Allman is Communications Director with The Diocese of West Missouri.
