That prayer to Jesus is inappropriate at a company party?

Lucky it's not actually his birthday party, then, isn't it?

This is a workplace end of year all-staff event, a chance for everyone to let their hair down, and something that was a traditional winter festival long before Christians appropriated it. If you wish to campaign for only Christians to be permitted to ever use the word "Christmas" then go at it (I prefer Yule and Winter Festivals myself) but I very much doubt it'll be catching on countrywide any time soon - in fact, generally people get accused of being "PC" for suggesting alternatives.

You can ask for a moment for people to think of those less fortunate, and for those who wish to pray, do so.

Different if it was a carol service of course.

We don’t all celebrate the birthday of Jesus - even if we were once nominally Christian…

That’s why Santa Claus was onboarded and so readily accepted by most people as a symbol of the joyful break in an otherwise cold and miserable part of the year (in the UK, anyway), and tying in with the ancient customs of celebrating new life with the New Year.

Our “Christmas” was imposed on the pagan feast of Saturnalia by the Romans, or Jul by the Vikings: by making it less about the Christian faith, we let other people with other beliefs into our national celebration so that everyone can experience the joy of family gatherings, present exchanges and general joy at this time of year.

We are so lucky that Christianity here is not so fundamentalist that there are “rules” - this makes it so inclusive to people who have come here to make their homes from abroad - and that is wonderful!

When is his Birthday exactly?

Don’t go to his birthday party then?

So you're a Christian - great. You don't get to impose expectations of prayers on everyone else in the workplace in the UK (many places in the US do though) and this was a work end of year event. I don't know any workplace situation where this would be deemed appropriate these days - unless you actually worked in a church or in a denominational school.

What you think is nice for friends and family because of your shared beliefs is fine, but we generally keep religion out of workplaces because other people have as much right NOT to be Christians as you do to be one. I really don't care if you think it's a shame. And yes, people continue to call it "Christmas" despite most people in the UK not being practising Christians, and many like to follow traditional festivities - with and without their religious elements - but as many others have had to point out and as you know, it was originally a pagan festival, not a Christian one at all. There is no reason to impose prayer at a workplace event for all staff like this and it will make many attending uncomfortable.

We need to bring back openly celebrating yule instead of calling it christmas.

Who was the woman who said the prayer?

But why are you so offended?
I would bow my head out of respect if somebody from a different faith, or none, was sharing a prayer or words. It doesn’t mean that I have to believe. Taking offense at everything is such a modern disease.
Could you not just take a little bit of pleasure in the words of love and gratitude and disregard the rest?

Exactly!

CHRISTmas is a Christian festival and has been from about the 4th century. You are right that the date (ish) was taken over from a pagan festival. So the date (sort of) was originally a pagan festival but the festival of Christmas itself is very much a Christian one.
As a Christian, I’ve not known anyone who would object to somebody who is atheist or of any religion celebrating Christmas. Personally, I think it’s rather nice actually; I believe that family, friends, nice food are all God-given. I can’t understand this level of ‘offended’ that appears so often; it is indeed the modern disease.

Then next time don't go.

I am also atheist, and just to expand a bit on something you said: "... but some people of another faith could feel offended...".

Plenty of Christians could be offended too, indeed, should be offended.

Matt 6: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full"

A direct order from the man himself to not pray in public. So a Christian should stop her, because she is committing a sin ?

And the prayer was led by a woman.

1 Tim 2:12 " I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet."

So a possible compounded sin is happening, a double sin perhaps ?

I post this half in jest of course. It is Ironic though, that the woman leading the prayer might believe she is earning brownie points with him upstairs, but according the Bible, she is doing the exact opposite ?

I just wouldn’t take part or pretend to. It’s weird to try to force your religion on others.

Just because many people did bow their head in prayer, or at least bowed their heads out of respect for those who were praying, it doesn't necessarily mean there was an expectation or a demand that everyone should do it. Unless they were requested or told to bow their heads then the OP is just being silly. She could have sat with her head bolt upright and I doubt anyone else would even have noticed unless they were doing the same.

It's called Christmas party because Christianity appropriated original festivities and put this name on them.

Now it is just a name for majority, similarly to any other situation when a successful brand name becomes a generic word , as with Xerox -> to xerox something.

I would be put out by any praying, it is a personal thing and so awkward for others to be imposed upon.

It's Christmas. Any very devout and observant Jew or Muslim would probably not attend a Christmas celebration anyway. As an atheist from a Christian culture If I were invited to any celebration for Diwali, Eid, Purim, Passover or whatever, I'd fully expect their to be some sort of religious blessing or prayer or some reference to the faith in question and I would not be remotely offended by that.

A family member had this foisted upon them in a similar situation. They felt extremely uncomfortable and excluded. It’s incredibly arrogant to do this.

It seems and odd thing to do but lots of evangelicals cant resist an opportunity to prosyletise. If it was a sit down formal dinner maybe with an MC and a speaker the saying of Grace its often traditionally done before people are seated but in today's modern society with people of all faiths and none its less common and has all but died out Personally as an atheist I would respectfully keep quiet and look on but some people of another faith could feel offended, if this might apply perhaps a word should be said as to whether this Grace was planned. Things often happen at parties that we personally dont do or like. Some people dont drink alcohol and dont like to be around it others are vegetarian, some see it as an opportunity to snort drugs, others take liberties and cant behave. I think this matter of the Grace is largely irrelevant in the scheme of things and is of little consequence but if the person is pushing an unwanted religious agenda in the workplace thats another matter.

And then we'll get the 'Work's erasing Christmas for the Muslims!' type of threads - along with at least one 'My boss is a Satanist, he's cancelled our Christmas party in favour of making us celebrate Yule'.

What is it for then, why is it called a Christmas party, why give gifts.

Those were all happening before Jesus was born so we would still be doing those things without Christianity

That's hilarious. My head would have stayed upright

But if there was no Jesus they'd be no Christmas, was everyone happy to eat, drink, get presents, get pissed, enjoy themselves?