Evening Prayer and Parking Lot Blessing. Image credit: Gary Allman
On Wednesdays St. Matthew’s, Ozark holds its weekly free community dinner. Wednesday, August 18, 2021, was a little different. Over the previous eight weeks, members of St. Matthew’s, Ozark Presbyterian Church, and volunteers from the local community have been working to convert a swampy area of grass at the back of the building into a new parking lot. On August 18 the parking lot was officially opened. After the community dinner, a short evening prayer service, led by Bishop Marty, who also blessed the lot. You can watch the service here.
The lot, capable of holding 16 vehicles, cost $45,000 to build. $40,000 of the cost was shared 50:50 by St. Matthew’s and Ozark presbyterian church. “This is an excellent example of a great ecumenical relationship,” said Bishop Marty.
St. Matthew’s obtained a $20,000 Congregational Development Grant from the diocese to cover its financial contribution to the project. The churches are now working together to raise the outstanding $5,000. In addition, a member of the Presbyterian congregation is providing a pavilion to be installed over the basketball ball court adjacent to the lot.