A well-watered garden - A reflection on the anniversary of the Open Table Chester community

A Well-Watered Garden: A floral arrangement by Suzanne from Open Table Chester on the third birthday of their community

THIS MONTH the Open Table Chester community celebrated three years of meeting at Wesley Church Centre in the city.

A regular supporter who could not be there created this beautiful floral arrangement for the occasion, inspired by God's words to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah about God’s chosen people.

‘I will lead them besides streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble 
because I am Israel’s father 
and Ephraim is my firstborn son

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.

For the Lord will ransom Jacob
and redeem them,
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice In the bounty of the Lord,
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds

They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow,
I will satisfy the priests with abundance 
and my people will be filled with my bounty’, declares the Lord.

  • Jeremiah 31:9b-14 (New International Version)

Open Table Network

Open Table Network (OTN) is a growing partnership of communities across England & Wales which welcome and affirm people who are:

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, & Asexual (LGBTQIA)

+ our families, friends & anyone who wants to belong in an accepting, loving community.

http://opentable.lgbt/
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Visibility matters - Why we held a Pride Eucharist at Manchester Cathedral

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A model of perfect friendship - Open Table Chester remembers the Ladies of Llangollen