IT may not be Biblical times or the Sea of Galilee, but Oxford worshippers hope their take on feeding the 5,000 – or at least 2,000 – will help spread God’s word.

For the eighth year, people from 20 churches across the city are coming together to serve a free lunch for passers by in Bonn Square.

The event, which has been running since 2003, is organised by St Aldate’s Church with help from other churchgoers.

John Owen, a member of the congregation at St Aldate’s, will be organising the event for the second year running.

Over the course of three lunchtimes – Thursday, May 13, Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 – he and a team of volunteers will serve a free meal for up to 2,000 people.

He said: “We want to show God’s love and compassion to the city. We will put tables and chairs out and talk to people about the Gospel.”

But while the burger does come with a message, people are welcome to just enjoy their meal and then carry on with their day.

He said: “Some take their burgers and off they go, but some do sit and talk and that tends to be the more disadvantaged members of the community, such as homeless people.

“It’s good to get to know these people so we can invite them to whatever things we have at the church that they might be interested in, like a monthly meal for the homeless, Alpha courses, that kind of thing.”

As well as a choice of burgers, sausages and vegetarian options, there will be singing from young people from the city’s churches, a worship band and short messages from preachers.

Mr Owen said: “There is a good, joyful, happy atmosphere and I believe it is good to bless the people in the city.

“For me, it is an opportunity to meet with the public and express the good news about Jesus Christ.

“People think you can only find God in the Church, but God wants Christians to go outside and show other people his message.”

Between 30 and 40 people will help Mr Owen man the barbecue, which will include, on Thursday, the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev John Pritchard.

He said: “It’s a fun event that sees churches working together to bless shoppers and workers in the city centre with a free lunch for three days every year.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk The event acts as a precursor to the Love Oxford festival in South Park on Sunday, May 23, when thousands of Christians will come together for worship. The team will be in the square between 11.30am and 1.30pm every day.