Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That prayer to Jesus is inappropriate at a company party?

509 replies

Kate8889 · 06/12/2025 12:06

I went with my husband to a company Christmas party and before we started to eat a woman came to the microphone and said a short prayer in the name of Jesus as thanks/blessings for the food. Everyone was expected to bow their head.

This is the first time I've been witness to something like this, it is a secular company with many Jewish, Muslim and agnostic people. We have been going to this Christmas party for 7 years and it's never been like this.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
AwfullyGood · 06/12/2025 12:14

I'm not religious but Christmas is about the birth of Jesus so it shouldn't be surprising that this happened.

You can't really have a party in honour of someone without mentioning the birthday boy.

canklesmctacotits · 06/12/2025 12:13

If I were your DH I’d be wanting to know who authorized that and in what basis. It wouldn’t have bothered me; I’d have been aghast at the balls on whoever authorized it to think everyone would be fine with it. Uncharitably maybe, but perhaps reasonably in the current climate, I’d conclude that it was actually a message about what the leadership’s politics are.

If my DH were your DH he wouldn’t bother and tell me to stop being so cynical or causing a fuss.

40andlovelife · 06/12/2025 12:13

Kate8889 · 06/12/2025 12:12

Because not everyone believes that he was the Son of God.

Show quote history

You’re right they don’t. It’s weird how those people engage in a festival dedicated to him and in honour of him.

TittyGajillions · 06/12/2025 12:13

40andlovelife · 06/12/2025 12:11

But a Christmas party is esssntially a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Why is it inappropriate to honour his birth at a party in his name?

Company Christmas parties have zero to do with Jesus, they're a way to thank employees and get drunk.

Girasoli · 06/12/2025 12:13

That's a bit unusual (and I say that as a Christian).

Where was the party? Possibly if it was in a fancy building owned by a church she might have done it to be polite (though I can't really imagine a work party in a church hall!)

Original poster
Kate8889 · 06/12/2025 12:12

40andlovelife · 06/12/2025 12:11

But a Christmas party is esssntially a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Why is it inappropriate to honour his birth at a party in his name?

Because not everyone believes that he was the Son of God.

OP posts:
40andlovelife · 06/12/2025 12:11

But a Christmas party is esssntially a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Why is it inappropriate to honour his birth at a party in his name?

Original poster
Kate8889 · 06/12/2025 12:09

RosaMundi27 · 06/12/2025 12:07

Unless the company is run by a religious organisation, this is a bit strange. Work should be a neutral space as regards people's private beliefs.

Not religious at all

OP posts:
RosaMundi27 · 06/12/2025 12:07

Unless the company is run by a religious organisation, this is a bit strange. Work should be a neutral space as regards people's private beliefs.