The
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth
dining site has been open since early December. As of mid-January, the site served 250 meals in its first five weeks. Diners from our other dining sites are showing up and they continue to have volunteers signing up to serve.
The opening of the new dining site is part of a multi-phase initiative for Mount Olivet called “Be Open.” The first phase is called “Open Grounds.” Because the congregation abuts French Regional Park, they entered into conversation with the Three Rivers Park District and other organizations to create a “healing walk” for the community.
Near the labyrinth is a community garden which will connect to the next phase of their vision: open tables. The garden will provide fresh food for the weekly meal.
“In a similar manner to the general public pedestrians the experience Mount Olivet by walking by, using the parking lots, or by visiting the labyrinth, we are going to meet members of the community that are new to Mount Olivet via the regular Loaves and Fishes meal,” said Mark Schmidt, Council President. “How cool would it be to develop a tradition of a shared community meal plus a 15-minute time of meditation and contemplation every Monday evening?”
