This sermon was given by The Venerable Simon Fisher, Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The reading was Matthew 20:1-16

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist).

To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

This reflection was given by the Revd Br Dave Kernick, Curate to St Margaret’s Toxteth at the Celebrating Pride Service at Liverpool Cathedral on 27th July 2025. Liverpool Cathedral joined with the Open Table Liverpool community hostedby St Bride's Church Liverpool for a reflective service that brings us together and celebrates the vulnerability and visibility of pride. Come to celebrate that God hears us and loves us all equally.

The reading was Luke 15:11-32

⁠For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer /Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist). To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt

This sermon was given by The Revd Lilly Nelson at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The readings were 1 Corinthians 4.8–13 and John 4:31–35

Lilly is a priest in the Church of England, currently serving as Assistant Curate at St Peter’s Church, Formby. Lilly is also a long-time member of the Open Table, she speaks with gratitude about how it’s ministry—and the chosen family she found there—played a vital role in her journey toward ordination to the priesthood. It has been a long road to this moment, and she is absolutely delighted to be presiding. Lilly describes herself as ‘camp and sapphic’, embracing both her faith in Jesus and personal identity with joy and authenticity..

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist).

To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

This sermon was given by Open Table Network Patron, The Revd Dr Barbara Glasson at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The reading was John 3:1-17

Barbara is a dear friend of Open Table Liverpool, a retired Methodist Minister, former President of the Methodist Union and Patron of the Open Table Network.

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worshipcommunities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist).

To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

This sermon was given by the Revd Cate Jacobs at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The readings were Acts 11:1-18 and John 13:31-35

Cate a dear friend and long term member of Open Table. Cate is also Curate at Speke All Saints and St Aidan’s and a published poet.

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist). To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

This sermon was given by the Revd Alan Brooks at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The readings were Acts 10:34-43 and John 20:1-18

The Revd Alan Brooks is a dear friend of Open Table Liverpool, a retired Head Teacher and part of the community at Crosby All Saints with St Frideswyde which hosts Open Table Sefton

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist). To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

This sermon was given by the Revd Dr Colin Hart at the Open Table Liverpool community hosted by St Bride's Church Liverpool, UK for our monthly Communion Service for the LGBTQIA+ community. The readings were Romans 15: 1-7 and Mark: 2:23-3:6.

Rev Dr Colin Hart has research degrees in both New Testament and Ethics, and taught both subjects for many years at St John’s College, Nottingham, a Church of England theological college. He has also been a vicar and taught in Grammar schools and a sixth-form college.

Colin has written four Grove Booklets on New Testament Ethics and has more recently co-authored school textbooks on Critical Thinking. He is currently Principal Examiner in Thinking Skills for Cambridge International and has permission to officiate in the Diocese of Chester. He is a member of the Liverpool and Wirral Open Table congregations.

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist). To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠

We were delighted to welcome the Revd Dr Colin Hart to Open Table and St Bride’s to share a lecture on this important topic.

In his lecture, Colin looked in detail at the (sparse) New Testament teaching about same-sex attraction, sexual acts and relationships, in order to assess the widely-held view that “Bible-believing Christians” must condemn some or all of these.

Rev Dr Colin Hart has research degrees in both New Testament and Ethics, and taught both subjects for many years at St John’s College, Nottingham, a Church of England theological college. He has also been a vicar and taught in Grammar schools and a sixth-form college.

Colin has written four Grove Booklets on New Testament Ethics and has more recently co-authored school textbooks on Critical Thinking. He is currently Principal Examiner in Thinking Skills for Cambridge International and has permission to officiate in the Diocese of Chester. He is a member of the Liverpool and Wirral Open Table congregations.

To download a PDF copy of Colin's Powerpoint please click here.

To download a copy of the handouts Colin shared please click here.

For details on the Open table Liverpool community visit ⁠⁠www.stbridesliverpool.org.uk/lgbtqia⁠⁠

Open Table is a network of ecumenical Christian worship communities which offer a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church. The first Open Table community began at St Bride’s Liverpool in June 2008. Now Open Table communities gather across England and Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in four denominations (Anglican, United Reformed Church, Baptist, Methodist). To find out when and where you can 'come as you are' visit ⁠⁠www.opentable.lgbt⁠