Christmas Lunch

Christmas day is usually filled with family, fellowship fine food and a sense of belonging.  That is the case for the majority of us, but not all.  Each year as we unwrap presents, put the turkey in the oven, sing carols and enjoy the company of loved ones, there are hundreds of people in our communities who are alone.  Some have lost loved ones that year and face their first Christmas without someone special.  Others simply lack the financial means for the food, presents and trimmings of Christmas.

In 1998, our Pastor, Robert Griffith, had a vision for a huge Christmas Day lunch for the community.  A place where people could come and be blessed with good food and fellowship and enjoy this special day in a way most others in the community take for granted.

So we launched our first Community Christmas Lunch and were blessed to be able to feed and love over 300 people that first year.  This wonderful ministry has continued every year since, with over 400 people attending each time. We have an army of volunteers from across the community who work very hard on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Many of our workers report that this is best day of the year for them and that they consider this to be an incredible privilege - to be able to serve people this way.

Robert's vision from the start was that this ministry would grow and become 'owned' by the community more and more. That vision has now been fufilled.  Although Orange Baptist Church is still the primary organiser and administrator for the lunch, the vast majority of those who work hard to make this happen each year are outside our Church and span every section of the community.

We have received wonderful support from the community by way of donations. All expenses have been met each year through the contribution of people and businesses in our community.

If you would like to contribute to our next Community Christmas Lunch, please call the Christmas Lunch hotline on (02) 6361 3100 or send us an email.