Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Riehle.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hospitality has always been a passion of mine. As my husband and I ministered to the people around us throughout the past years of our marriage, we began to see the importance of serving others. We moved to this area about three and a half years ago. As we settled in, I felt I needed to start putting my passion for hospitality to use, and we did so by using our home as a place to encourage others. Abide Gatherings is geared around Biblical hospitality. We believe that gathering people together, most often around a table of food, is a special way to bring a sense of rest and community. In a culture where face-to-face conversation has become rare, we feel called to provide an atmosphere of no distraction and a chance for people to be encouraged by genuine conversation and a shared experience. The heartbeat here at Abide Gatherings is to love God and love others. A quiet, calm refreshment away from the storms of life is a dose of something I believe we all need from time to time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been an incredible experience to start Abide Gatherings. It has not been easy to start this journey. One struggle is that we are working out of our home. It is a positive, on the one hand, because our kids have been a part of the process. On the other hand, it has been difficult to work out of our home and balance work with family life. Serving others has been worth all the work. We love people and care so much about providing a place of rest.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Food and atmosphere are the biggest creative components of the business. Each customer contacts me with a desire to have an event. Once the date is booked, I put together several menu choices for them to choose from. At that point, they can sit back and relax, and I go to work preparing food and a beautifully set table with cloth napkins and real plates. When the guests arrive, the event is wired to run smoothly, and the food comes out in several courses, depending on their prior menu choice. What sets Abide Gatherings apart is the private and peaceful setting of our home, which turns into a small restaurant for each event. It is the most custom, intentional experience you can imagine. Good company and good food are often just what a person needs to find rest and that is our goal with each event.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Staying positive is the most important lesson I have learned. Starting a business involves a lot of high notes and low notes. It takes strong resolve and a commitment to the call to serve others to persevere when the ups and downs come. Hospitality is an incredible way to serve others.
Pricing:
- $35.00 Brunch Gathering
- $35.00 Soup and Salad Gathering
- $45.00-$55.00 Dinner Event
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abidegatherings.com
- Instagram: @abidegather
- Facebook: Abide Gatherings
Image Credits
Lauren Aten
Red Letter Productions
