Imagine sitting down to dinner with Christians on your block, celebrating how God is at work in our lives, congregations, and city. Since UniteBoston’s ministry began seven years ago, we have learned that relationships are the leverage point to cultivating Christian unity. Our relationships inform how we pray for one another, how we serve the city, and how we understand our unique role within the larger body of Christ. We’ve also been convinced that Christian unity is less about a program, and more about a way of life.
In a world that is divided on many lines, especially politically and racially, it is imperative that Christians come together to demonstrate the fullness of our communion in Christ because our reconciling unity is a witness to the world (2 Cor 5:18, John 17:23). This is a timely opportunity for all Christians to turn towards one another in efforts to help answer Jesus’ prayer in John 17 “that we would be one.”
You are invited to join into a neighborhood dinner party! The goal for the dinners is to build relationships and to let our relationships inform our shared mission of revealing Jesus’ love within our communities. We will be gathering to hear our personal stories of faith in Christ and to answer two questions: “What is God already doing in our community?” and “What can we together to better demonstrate the love of Christ?”
To promote the sense of hospitality, we encourage the dinners to take place in homes. If the cost of providing a dinner is prohibitive, UniteBoston can provide the funds for you to host. Both clergy and laity are invited to attend; the more, the merrier!
When you sign up, you can indicate if you’d like to cook, coordinate, or simply attend the neighborhood dinners. Once we have enough interest within one geographic area, we can launch that neighborhood dinner.
Father Tom Ryan, director of the Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in downtown Boston, attended the inaugural UB neighborhood dinner in October 2017. He found the dinner to be an inspiring model for Christian unity based on his 42 years of work in this area. Click here to read his story and the value of UniteBoston’s grassroots, relational approach towards making visible the oneness we have in Christ.
Share with friends!
We appreciate your help in getting the word out! Click on the letter below to download and share with colleagues, pastors, and other Christians in the city.
UB Neighborhood Dinners Invitation Letter
Sign Up!
If you are interested in participating or hosting the dinners, please sign up below. All of your personal information will be kept private. If you have any questions, you can contact UniteBoston’s Executive Director Kelly Steinhaus, kelly@uniteboston.com