Near the Auntie Anne's pretzel shop and Sbarro Italian eatery at Summit Mall in Fairlawn, several people gathered to share food for thought Thursday morning.

As mall workers busily readied shops for the onslaught of holiday shoppers, the group sat in the food court, reading and talking about Scripture. Open Bibles dotted the tables.

The food court ''has become a home for us,'' said the Rev. David Loar of Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ in Akron, the group's leader.

Loar prefers to call the discussion Bible ''reflection'' as opposed to ''study,'' which he says sounds academic and conveys ''an almost being outside of the experience type of thing.''

Marilyn Hodge, 82, a longtime member of Fairlawn-West, has been showing up at the food court for the Thursday reflection since it began about seven years ago.

''It is so neat because people come by and stop and ask us to pray for them,'' she said. ''People walking by even join our group.

''They might come for a day or they'll join us whenever they are around,'' she said while waiting for others to show up.

Being ''out in the world'' to build relationships is what Loar envisioned when the reflection started.

The group's inaugural discussion was about the book of Acts.

In that book, ''Jesus sends the disciples out into the world,'' said Loar, whose ministry includes making himself available weekly for discussion at a local coffee shop.

A food court in a mall seemed an appropriate gathering spot given that ''in the old days, the cathedrals were the centers of community life and a lot the mercantile (activity) went on around the cathedral,'' he said.

Isabel Hershberger, 86, enjoys meeting amid the hubbub of the mall.

''It's noisy, but there's something great about it,'' said the Fairlawn-West member.

''People are walking by, they're friendly,'' she said.

Plus, she said, motioning toward the Italian eatery, ''it smells good when he starts to make his pizza.''

Thursday, the group read the book of Jude, which is a page long and is a traditional reading for Christmas Eve.

''Open your heart,'' Loar said to the group, reading from a contemporary version of the Bible. ''Love is on the way.''

Looking up from the Bible, Loar asked, ''Can you see why this would be a Christmas Eve message?''

More readings and discussion followed.

''We go off on tangents,'' said Fairlawn-West member Rich Herbruck, 51, smiling.

Loar, also smiling, retorted, ''There are no tangents in this.''

The group is unassuming; even mall officials were not aware of the regular meetings.

Magnolia Hill, 67, a Medina resident, stumbled upon the group when she was at the mall walking. She's been a regular for about a year.

''I saw them here every Thursday,'' the retired hospital unit clerk said. ''At first, I just started out sitting way over there. Gradually, I began sitting closer.''

She said she shows up for ''the Word and the people.''

Loar said he hopes others get ''a sense that we can study and learn and grow . . . being a part of the world. We don't have to be out there yelling in people's faces about being Christian.''

Nearby, four electricians took a break from their work on the mall's renovation project.

Mike Postek, one of the electricians, said the Bible group has become a familiar food court fixture during his time on the job.

''People getting together, talking,'' he said. ''That's a good thing.''