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.

Evening Prayer

Bishop Marty. Image: Julie Holloway

Fr. Chandler Jackson, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Ozark, Missouri. Image: Julie Holloway

The communications director, directing. Image: Julie Holloway

Bishop Marty delivers a short homily before blessing the parking lot. Image: Gary Allman

Evening Prayer – Taken from the Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families, with an added Parking lot blessing. Image: Gary Allman

Members of St. Matt’s. Image: Julie Holloway

Members of St. Matthew’s. Image: Julie Holloway

Feeding the hungry in body and spirit. Image: Gary Allman

Community Supper. Image: Gary Allman

Community Supper. Image: Gary Allman

The completed parking lot

The parking lot is filling up. Image: Gary Allman

Free Dinner – The start of the new driveway with the large pile of excavated earth in the background. Image: Gary Allman

The plastic grid also marks the parking bays. Image: Gary Allman

Building the lot

The site before work started. Image: Chandler Jackson

Breaking ground. Image: Chandler Jackson

Unloading the plastic grid. Image: Chandler Jackson

Parking lot excavated and the plastic grid unloaded. Image: Chandler Jackson

Digging the drain. Image: Chandler Jackson

Driveway excavated. Image: Chandler Jackson

The excavated earth. The pile was huge, and there are plans to sell it. Image: Gary Allman

Base gravel. Image: Chandler Jackson

Retaining wall. Image: Chandler Jackson

The plastic grid. Image: Gary Allman

Laying the grid on the base gravel. Image: Chandler Jackson

The grid in place. Image: Chandler Jackson

Delivering the finish gravel. Image: Chandler Jackson

Spreading gravel. Image: Chandler Jackson

Spreading Gravel. Image: Chandler Jackson