by the Revd Louis Johnson on Sunday 17th January 2021

Reading:Matthew 8.5-13

Hello everyone, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to join you this evening, and I’d like to begin by thanking Open Table for asking me to come and speak, it feels like a real honour, and I’ve been so excited at the prospect of being here with you.

Yve Taylor shares her story of being #FaithfullyLGBT at Open Table Liverpool January 3rd 2021

This Psalm was written for our Open Table service for All Saints Day, 1st Nov 2020, by community member Zach Ford

And there is no limit to the Lord’s memory.
It traces your each atom from end to end of Time,
Every one the more beloved,
Because what they make is you.

Tonight, as we recall our trans siblings who have died in the past year, many in violent circumstances, it is fitting that we celebrate the Eucharist, in the hope that Christ will transform our poor bodies that they may become like his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he will gather up all things into the orbit of his mercy and love.

Reflection by Revd Laura Ferguson, Team Vicar, on Matthew 22.15-22

Ultimatums are tricky aren’t they. Just two choices lying before you; the high road or the low road? The wide path or the narrow. Fight or flight? It seems like whether in Jesus’ time or today, there will always be people who try to enforce binaries.

Every year Open Table our LGBTQIA+ worship community celebrates National Coming Out Day in their October Communion service. As part of our celebration we’ll use this wonderful Litany of Coming Out, adapted from Courage to Love: Liturgies for the LGBT Community by Geoffrey Duncan.

Reflection by Warren Hartley, LGBTQIA+ Ministry Facilitator, on Matthew 18:15-20

‘Let’s challenge the church, call out its sins to our community and to us as individuals. We too are the part of the body of Christ and He is present with us now as we gather.’

Lilly (She/Her) is the University Mission Chaplaincy Assistant for St Luke in the City Parish, working with students from Liverpool John Moores University and University of Liverpool.

Lilly reflects on her experience of leading the Open Table Liverpool community in a creative evening Prayer service on the theme of spiritual nourishment.

The Revd Alan Brooks led Open Table’s online service on Sunday 19th July ahead of what would have been the Pride in Liverpool festival on 25th July 2020. The reading was Mark 6:30-34, 53 to end.

Reflection by Warren Hartley, LGBTQIA+ Ministry Facilitator at St Bride’s on Matthew 11:16-19, 25 to end.

It was a quite a delight to see today’s gospel reading come around. It is one I’ve reflected on a lot over the past 14 years since I returned to the Christian faith.