The success of last year's Big Jubilee Lunch at St. David's Church in Tsawwassen has prompted organizers to repeat Britain's Big Lunch format this Sunday.
Moving the annual parish picnic from a local park to the church parking lot in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee initiated a new-to-Canada way of bringing together parishioners, friends and neighbours around a Big Lunch table.
Since its beginning in 2009, thousands of Big Lunches have taken place in towns, villages and hamlets across the UK and Commonwealth, with 8.5 million people sitting down with their neighbours, block-party-style, to share food and fun.
On Sunday (UK-designated Big Lunch date), St. David's Community Choir will bring light-hearted songs to the gathering, among them the Teddy's Bear's Picnic with its lilting, "There's lots of wonderful things to eat; and wonderful games to play."
There will also be face painting, a paper hat-making station (for those who don't have a favourite hat) and an opportunity to see how things are progressing in the Jubilee Community Garden, established last year. A Queen Elizabeth rose, planted at that time, and in bloom again, is an ongoing reminder of the parish commemoration of a royal milestone.
Parishioner Tom Morrison will add a certain garden-party touch when he plays the harp during the Big Lunch.
John Ashton Thomas, composer in residence of the DaCapo Music Foundation in England, has written a new song for Big Lunch 2013 that says it all: "...Out on our street, there's a party today, Bunting is flying and sausages frying, We've set out the tables and made fruit punch..."
Residents near St. David's Anglican Church are invited to join parishioners and friends from noon to 3 p.m. when getting to know your neighbours is the beginning of growing a safer and happier community.
