Churches are gearing up for The Big Lunch this weekend when they'll be inviting friends and neighbours to take part in lunches and street parties.
The Big Lunch, happening this Sunday, aims to bring communities together for a few hours of food and fun. The Eden Project initiative is now in its sixth year and last year involved more than 3.5 million people.
HOPE has teamed up with Eden on The Big Lunch and is encouraging churches to get involved. In Nottingham they are focusing on the most isolated and vulnerable residents.
HOPE Nottingham Director, Nigel Adams, said: "We plan to have churches all over the city hosting Big Lunches, either alone or in collaboration with other churches. We're also encouraging members to host street parties and invite people into their homes for the day to enjoy a meal together. Our main aim is simple - that the Church should be at the forefront of ensuring that no one eats alone."
Everyone who attends a Big Lunch will be invited to a great banquet in Market Square, Nottingham on Sunday 22 June, which will feature music from an open invitation Gospel Choir led by gospel music leader Freddie Kofi.
"The whole purpose of the initiative is to provide our church members with the chance to put their faith into action and serve local residents," Adams continued.
"We want the whole weekend to be an opportunity to help build relationships with our neighbours, to reach out to those so often overlooked, and, most importantly, to be good news for our city."
