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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 2h

'BLESSED are the closeted;
God sees you shine anyway.'
#ComingOutDay seems like a good day to share award-winning trans poet Jay Hulme's verse, 'Beatitudes for a queerer church', read by OTN Patron Alex Clare-Young: youtu.be/TRrWCGikb6E [1min]

Alex Clare-Young reading the poem. The subtitle says 'Blessed are the scared; the scarred, the silent.'

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 5h

TODAY is #ComingOutDay
In October 2020 we published a worship video taking #ComingOut as our theme, including #BritishSignLanguage #BSL & captions.
The video is still on our YouTube channel if you missed it or want to watch again.
WATCH: youtu.be/aFE11T1npTA [29 mins] #NCOD25

OTN Director Kieran leading an online reflection for Coming Out Day standing in front of a stained glass window. Subtitle says 'Coming Out Day is not just designed to help people feel comfortable about coming out'. A BSL interpreter is in the bottom left of the screen.

Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 8h

‘YOU'RE NOT… what you thought, ok?’
TODAY, 11th October, is marked around the world as #ComingOutDay.
In 2023 Wendy Young shared her story of #ComingOut as a #queer #Christian and the inspiration of former worship music singer Vicky Beeching: bit.ly/ComingOut1023

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 1d

ONLY a few places left for our LGBT+ Christian weekend retreat in north Wales, 7-10 November. It’s usually fully booked by now - don’t miss this chance for rest, reflection & connection. Bursaries available if cost is a barrier. READ MORE: bit.ly/BeunosRetreat25

St Beuno's Spirituality Centre in early autumn.

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 1d

THIS #WorldMentalHealthDay here's how joining an Open Table community makes a difference:
- Members experience 40% improvement in well-being
- 87% feel less isolated & more socially connected
- 92% said it increased their sense of belonging.
opentable.lgbt/our-impact #WMHDay

Statistic from OTN Research & Case for Support, June 2021

Quote from OTN Research & Case for Support, June 2021

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 2d

🌟 GOOD NEWS! The Together Fund will match donations to Open Table Network during the #BigGive #ChristmasChallenge (2-9 Dec) - so your giving goes twice as far to help LGBTQIA+ Christians know they’re not alone this #Christmas.
👉 READ MORE: bit.ly/BigGive1025

Double the difference your donations make - White text on a red door with two door knockers and wreaths, above the logos for Open Table and the Big Give Christmas Challenge.

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 2d

THIS SUNDAY - Launch of our community in #Horsham #WestSussex
4.30pm Communion service followed by refreshments.
OTN Director Kieran will lead a reflection on the Open Table story.
READ MORE: bit.ly/OThorsham1025
#ComeAsYouAre #MoreThanWelcome #FaithfullyLGBT

Come As You Are - You're more than welcome here @ Cornerstone Methodist Church, Horsham, West Sussex.
LOGOS: Open Table & Cornerstone Methodist Church.

Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 3d

THIS #InternationalLesbianDay we proudly celebrate Cherry Vann, Open Table Network patron and now Archbishop of Wales, the first female Archbishop in the UK! 🌈💜
A historic moment and an inspiring example of LGBTQ+ leadership in the church.
READ MORE: bit.ly/ArchbishopCherry0725

Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales

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Reposted by Open Table Network

Open Table East Cardiff @opentableec.bsky.social · 5d

An absolute joy to welcome Archbishop Cherry to Open Tablethis evening for our 1st ever confirmation service! It was so lovely to see the church full of our OT community and our candidates friends and family!

@churchinwales.bsky.social @opentablelgbt.bsky.social

Archbishop Cherry and our three confirmation candidates.

Confirmation cake. Made by Jules. Beautiful decoration of fish, frogs and bees.

Liz, Rhys and Grace. Liz & Thys always put on a great spread of tasty treats. Grace was in dish duty

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 3d

On #InternationalLesbianDay, we celebrate Sue Say, trustee of the Open Table Network. From decades of activism to finding a place to truly belong and #ComeAsYouAre, Sue shares her journey of faith, inclusion & community 🌈💜
👉🏾 WATCH: youtu.be/iGl7liS17xs [2mins]

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 3d

THIS #InternationalLesbianDay, we proudly celebrate Rosemary Hill, Open Table Network trustee and leader of our Cardiff community, blazing a trail in faith, leadership & authenticity 🌈💪💜 Watch her story here: youtu.be/-QeUX9ffBIg [1.5mins]

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 3d

TODAY on #InternationalLesbianDay, we proudly celebrate lesbians in leadership across the Open Table Network 💜🌈
Hear Gail’s powerful journey of faith, freedom and authenticity on the #ThisWasAlwaysMe podcast: bit.ly/GailPodcast [56mins]

Gail with Rich Clarke, host of the 'This Was Always Me' podcast.

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 6d

TODAY our communities in Bradford, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Exeter, Guildford, Liverpool, London - Bow & Bethnal Green, Reading, and Weymouth gather PLUS our new community in Runcorn.
FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
#ComeAsYouAre #FaithfullyLGBT #MoreThanWelcome

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 7d

OUT NOW: Our latest e-news with a retreat weekend, a safeguarding conference, a wellbeing workshop, a survey, our Christmas Challenge update, international solidarity, an inspiring leadership story, a community launch and a consultation! READ MORE: bit.ly/OTNenews021025

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 8d

FREE WORKSHOP: Spirituality, Wellbeing & Trans Identity
Next Friday 10th 12:30 -16:00
Part of Exeter #TransPride
Led by Prof Susannah Cornwall inc. guest speakers, hosted by Southernhay URC, home of our Open Table Exeter community.
For Eventbrite registration email [email protected]

Spirituality, Wellbeing and Trans Identity workshop flyer

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 10d

SAFEGUARDING LGBT+ People in the Church: 2 day conference in Oxford AND ONLINE 6th-7th October with talks, forums and workshops focusing on protecting and supporting LGBT+ people in church communities: bit.ly/SafeguardingLGBT1025

Safeguarding LGBT+ people in the Church flyer

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 13d

TODAY our communities in Nantwich, Nottingham, Wigan and Wirral - Heswall gather.
Check out our communities page for details: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
#ComeAsYouAre #FaithfullyLGBT #LGBT #Christian #Church

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 15d

THIS is #RetreatWeek.
We're co-hosting an #LGBT+ #Christian #retreat weekend 7-9 November @ St Beuno's Spirituality Centre, north Wales, home to this beautiful Rock Chapel.
The theme is #RefugeAndStrength.
READ MORE & BOOK HERE: bit.ly/BeunosRetreat25
#FaithfullyLGBT

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 16d

THIS is #RetreatWeek
If you want a weekend #retreat by and for #LGBT+ #Christian people, check out #RefugeAndStrength led by the Open Table Network in partnership with Quest for LGBT+ Catholics and St Beuno's Spirituality Centre in north Wales?
READ MORE & BOOK HERE: bit.ly/BeunosRetreat25

Stained-glass windows from St Beuno’s Rock Chapel designed by Claire Mulholland

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 17d

THIS IS #RetreatWeek which this year takes the theme #RenewAll.
LISTEN to Open Table Network Patron John Bell reflect on how it is not the likely suspects
but people of no significance who are the ones who are key in getting God’s will
done: renewall.org.uk/project/retreat-as-renewal-with-john-bell

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 18d

THIS #BiVisibility Day we celebrate our bisexual Co-Chair Carol Joyner. Carol is a tutor, writer, wife, mother, lay preacher - & now stand up comic: As 'Binocchio' she playfully busts myths about bisexuality! Catch her show at Augustine United Church, Edinburgh 27 Sept 👉 binocchio.bpt.me

Dr Carol Joyner, Open Table Network Co-Chair

Carol with guitar on stage as 'Binocchio the bisexual liar.

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 19d

OUT OF OFFICE: Kieran our Director will be back in the office on Wednesday 1st October and will respond to any correspondence ASAP. Social media content until then has been scheduled in advance.

Out Of Office - Monday 22nd-Tuesday 30th September 2025

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 20d

TODAY our communities in Birmingham, Cambridge, Kendal, Lincoln, Liverpool, London - West Hampstead & Salford are gathering. FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
#ComeAsYouAre #MoreThanWelcome #FaithfullyLGBT

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 21d

SAFEGUARDING LGBT+ People in the Church: A two day conference in Oxford 6th-7th October 2025 with talks, forums and workshops focusing on protecting and supporting LGBT+ people in church communities: bit.ly/SafeguardingLGBT1025

Safeguarding LGBT+ People in the Church conference flyer

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Open Table Network @opentablelgbt.bsky.social · 22d

IT'S Bisexual Awareness Week #BiWeek
What does it mean to be #bisexual and #Christian?
READ this really helpful article from #QueerGrace, an online encyclopedia for #LGBTQIA+ and Christian life: queergrace.com/bisexual

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