‘This is my story’ is an occasional series of short devotions, based around the Bible, the experiences of Open Table members, reflection and prayer. This month we hear from OTN trustee Peter Jones, on the barriers we face, and how we can come together to make a difference.

TODAY, 11th October, is marked around the world as ‘Coming Out Day’. On Sunday 8th October, Warren Hartley from Open Table Liverpool preached at the Open Table Warrington community on the theme of ‘coming out’, inspired by the song of Mary, known as the Magnificat [Luke 1:46-55].

TODAY, 11th October, is marked around the world as ‘Coming Out Day’, based on the belief that prejudice against LGBTQIA+ people thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are LGBTQIA+, they are far less likely to maintain prejudiced or oppressive views. Wendy Young shares her coming out story.

BILLED AS ‘the nice people’s pop festival’ when it began in 1974, Greenbelt is more subversive than it first appeared 50 years ago. The annual celebration of art, activism and belief describes itself as ‘a festival that’s inclusive, open-minded, participatory and generous in spirit’. Gail from Open Table Warrington reflects on her first visit this year.

AT OTN’S NATIONAL GATHERING in June, Lauren McCombie Smith from Frontier Youth Trust led a breakout group to introduce Open Table members to Diversity Dice, a resource created by a Christian youth charity and an LGBT+ youth group. Lauren explains, and movingly shares why this really matters to her.

OTN TRUSTEE Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who found the first Open Table community to be ‘a safe space in a dangerous time’ when he lived in Liverpool ten years ago, has stepped down from the OTN board after three years. Here he explains what’s next for his ministry with the LGBTQIA+ community in Manchester.

AT THE FIRST Open Table community in Liverpool this month, the communion service was led by Revd Poppy Thorpe, Vicar of All Saints and St Frideswyde, Crosby, home of the Open Table Sefton community. This is Poppy’s reflection on these two questions, based on Matthew 16.13-20.

AT OTN’S NATIONAL GATHERING in June, we heard the extraordinary story of a new six-week course for Christians seeking Bible-based support for their churches to be more inclusive and affirming. Co-author Peter Russell explains.

HAVE YOU EVER been utterly annoyed or dismayed over a particular issue and had no way that felt helpful or adequate to express that? Craftivism is about getting those feelings out in a way that has potential impact - externalising and change-making, writes OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young.

‘This is my story’ is an occasional series of short devotions, based around the Bible, the experiences of Open Table members, reflection and prayer. This month we hear from Wendy Young, who came out as a lesbian 30 years ago, yet only walked in her first Pride march just last month.

FOR MANCHESTER PRIDE festival weekend last month, the city’s Anglican cathedral hosted an Open Table Eucharist, gathering more than 180 people in a service of celebration and hope for LGBTQIA+ people and our allies. Revd Alexa McDonnell gave this reflection, on Matthew 13:31-35.

THIS YEAR Greenbelt, an inclusive, affirming Christian festival of artistry, activism and belief, celebrated 50 years. Last Sunday morning, Jo Clare-Young, and OTN Co-Chairs Alex Clare-Young and Sarah Hobbs, led a Quiet Communion service as an alternative to the main celebration on the main stage. Here is an extract of the service they hosted.

‘This is my story’ is an occasional series of short devotions, based around the Bible, the experiences of Open Table members, reflection and prayer. OTN Trustee Roo Stewart introduces the series here, and shares his contribution to inspire us to add our own to the series.

DURING THE PRIDE SERVICE at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 30th July, following reflections on the Welcoming Christ, The Hospitality of Abraham, and The Outraged Christ, we moved through the Cathedral to the Lady Chapel to conclude our service, with a reflection by Jen Williams, founder of Open Table Sefton, echoing this year’s theme for Pride In Liverpool: ‘Shout It Loud!’

DURING THE PRIDE SERVICE at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 30th July, following reflections on the Welcoming Christ, and The Hospitality of Abraham, we moved through the Cathedral to two more points for reflection. The third was at the sculpture of The third was at the sculpture of The Outraged Christ, a 15ft high depiction in wood, iron and steel of the crucifixion of Jesus.

DURING THE PRIDE SERVICE at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 30th July, following a reflection on the Welcoming Christ statue, we moved through the Cathedral to three more points for reflection. The second was at the icon of the hospitality of Abraham, also interpreted as representations of the three persons of God (Father, Son and Spirit).

AT THE CLOSE of Pride in Liverpool on Sunday 30th July 2023, Liverpool Cathedral and Open Table collaborated to host a reflective service that brought us together and celebrated the vulnerability and visibility of Pride. The theme of the service took inspiration from the statue of the Welcoming Christ by Elizabeth Frink which stands over the entrance to the Cathedral, greeting visitors to the Cathedral with open hands.

INSPIRED by guest speaker Jonathan Tallon’s reflection on Pride in the New Testament at our national gathering last month, OTN trustee Neil Rees shares his own response with a broader Biblical focus.

Following the 2023 national gathering of the Open Table Network (OTN), Fiona Thomas, co-leader of the Open Table community in Blackheath, south London, and developmentalist for Appreciating Church, reflects on how simple questions can generate ideas and imagination.

AS PART of our 15th birthday celebrations, representatives from across the Open Table Network attended a meeting of the Church of England General Synod Gender and Sexuality Group on Friday 7th July. Bishop of Bradford Toby Howarth led an Open Table communion service to close the meeting, and shared this reflection