Sunday, May 10 at 5:30 PM
Mount of Olives Lutheran Church
3546 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix
As food insecurity rises sharply across Arizona, congregations are stepping forward in faith and action. With recent reports indicating that more than 450,000 people in Arizona are losing access to SNAP benefits, the need for local support has never been greater. Each week, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church is now serving nearly 300 family units through its Olive Branch Food Closet—setting new records as demand continues to grow.
In response, Mount of Olives invites the community to gather for Jazz Vespers on Mother’s Day, May 10 at 5:30 PM, featuring musicians Donna Wilde and Richard Palalay. This special evening is part of the congregation’s ongoing “Music for Food” ministry, where art, faith, and justice meet in service to neighbors in need.
This Mother’s Day, participants are encouraged to honor the love and compassion learned from their mothers by extending that care outward—to those facing hunger and hardship. The evening will include live jazz, a reflective worship setting, and fellowship with light refreshments following the performance.
The ministry continues throughout the summer with additional Jazz Vespers gatherings:
June 14 at 5:30 PM featuring Beth Lederman, Diana Lee, and Steven Powell
July 12 at 5:30 PM featuring Beth Lederman and guest musicians
The Olive Branch Food Closet began humbly in the 1980s, serving just five families from a coat closet. Today, in partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank and Waste Not, it serves hundreds each week—an example of how the Spirit continues to grow ministry rooted in community care.
In the Lutheran tradition, we are called to love our neighbors not only in word but in deed. This gathering offers a meaningful opportunity to embody that calling—through presence, generosity, and shared community.
All are welcome. Come for the music. Stay for the fellowship. And be part of God’s ongoing work of compassion and justice in our communities.
