Hospitality, community and reaching out across divides. All central components of our Christian faith. All shine through in the life of Jesus, from a wedding at the beginning of his public ministry to his final shared meal before his crucifixion. They are what Christians are to be known for because they reflect who he is.
We share these values with other religions too, where food and welcome are core parts of belief and action. Indeed, it is this common ground which led to a conversation that has now sparked a movement. Christian leader Steve Chalke and Muslim leader Julie Siddiqi began discussing the importance of bringing communities together and the power of the goodwill of Christmas to help make that happen.
From that conversation has grown We Are United: Together at Christmas, with an ambition to inspire 1,000 Tables of Welcome across the UK this December. Shared meals bringing people together across differences of faith, belief, culture, age and background.
Children and young people are central to this campaign; helping to shape and host gatherings, bringing generations together and sharing their hopes for the communities they are growing up in.
This movement and its ambition aims to be a symbol of hope, at a time when that hope is urgently needed. The UK is experiencing division and mistrust, across political, social and cultural divides; too often amplified through social media, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
And yet.
Across the country, thousands of organisations and individuals are already reaching out into their communities and making a real, tangible difference. I saw that myself as a local councillor, through the most amazing organisations positively engaging with and shaping their communities for good. We urgently need to amplify these unsung heroes and the possibilities they represent.
Bringing the country together, table by table, community by community.
As Christians on the Left, we have an opportunity to step up and become part of this movement. It echoes Jesus’ call to love our neighbour as ourselves and to see leadership as service.
Schools and Youth organisations; the Boys’ Brigade, the Girls’ Brigade Rotary and the Salvation Army are among those taking part. They join a wider movement bringing together organisations and groups of all faiths and none, with support for the initiative from the Department for Education. At Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury will host a meal with pupils from local schools. Alongside these gatherings, neighbours and community groups across the country will be creating their own Tables of Welcome.
And for those planning a Christmas meal, Jamie Oliver will be writing our Together at Christmas menu, offering a little extra inspiration for your table.
Each table offers space for real conversation, care and connection; alongside what I hope will be many mince pies!
We are not prescriptive about the format or location. A Table of Welcome could be a community lunch, a shared supper or a simple gathering over soup and bread. What matters is bringing people together who might otherwise never meet.
For us as followers of Jesus, our motivation is that every person matters, is loved and valued, and is made in his image. The invitation itself is open to everyone, of all faiths and none. Nobody needs to share a religious belief to host a table or take a seat at one.
So, I will be holding a choir and Christmas food event in our street and inviting all the neighbours to join us. Others will host meals bringing together people who might not usually see eye to eye, creating space to listen and discover what they share.
As we plan, we can ask ourselves: who might otherwise be missing? Who would appreciate a personal invitation? What would help someone feel comfortable taking part? Thinking about accessibility, dietary needs and any costs is part of turning an invitation into a welcome.
To quote one of my absolute heroes, the late Jo Cox MP:
“We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”
Sharing food offers a simple opportunity to discover that common ground. Wider than this, it will create a wave of light and hope this Christmas.
And the possibilities extend beyond Christmas. A conversation can become a friendship. A first invitation can lead to another. Connections made around a table can help strengthen a community long after the decorations come down.
Please get involved in any way and every way you can. You could host and register a Table of Welcome, encourage your church, school, youth group or local community to take part, become a partner, or share the invitation through your networks. Wherever possible, involve young people in planning and hosting your table, with space for their ideas and voices.
Visit peopleunite.org.uk to find out more, explore the resources and take your next step.
Together, we can help shape this nation for good and offer real hope at Christmas; one table, one conversation and one community at a time.
Anya Sizer
Civic & Communities Lead
We Are United: Together at Christmas
Christians on the Left
