BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//achurchnearyou.com//eventfeed//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Celebrating Open Table’s 18th birthday with special guest Revd S teve Chalke DTSTART:20260621T173000Z DTEND:20260621T183000Z DTSTAMP:20260620T035152Z UID:13353622026-06-21 17:30:00+00:00achurchnearyou CATEGORIES: DESCRIPTION:YOU are invited to our eighteenth birthday celebration and com munion service.\nYOU are more than welcome to come as you are.\n\nIn June 2008\, six people gathered at the first Open Table service with a vision t o start a regular communion service for the LGBTQIA+ community\, family an d friends. 18 years later\, the Liverpool community has grown and is still going strong\, and 36 other communities now meet across England and Wales \, hosting hundreds more each month\, and reaching thousands online\, with more to come.\n\nThere is much to celebrate and much to look forward to!\ nJoin us for a celebration and thanksgiving communion service led by Revd Steve Chalke MBE. \n\nSteve is a Baptist minister\, broadcaster\, author a nd social activist\, best known as the founder of Oasis Charitable Trust a nd Stop the Traffik. Across more than four decades of ministry\, Steve has worked to put faith into action through schools\, community hubs\, anti-t rafficking work\, church renewal and advocacy for those pushed to the marg ins. \n\nSteve is also a long-standing advocate for the full inclusion of LGBT+ people in church life. In 2013\, he published A Matter of Integrity\ , making a biblical and pastoral case for the full inclusion of LGBT+ Chri stians\, including support for faithful same-sex relationships and equal m arriage. Oasis Church Waterloo\, where Steve was Founding Minister\, is n ow known for its inclusive stance and regularly conducts same-sex marriage s. \n\nFor Open Table Liverpool’s 18th birthday\, Steve joins us as some one whose ministry has consistently centred justice\, reconciliation and w elcome.\n\nSteve is no stranger to Open Table:\nIn 2013 Open Table Liverpo ol hosted an open conversation with him on church\, sexuality and inclusio n\n\nIn 2015 he encouraged Open Table as it prepared to become a network t hrough the Oasis Open Church conference\n\nIn 2017 he recorded a video mes sage for the emerging Open Table Network’s first national gathering: Dre aming Around An Open Table.\n\nWe’re delighted to welcome him back as we celebrate 18 years of Open Table Liverpool and the start of the movement that became the Open Table Network!\n\nDoors open at 6pm - refreshments wi ll be served before the service at 6.30pm. The service will be followed by refreshments\, and of course rainbow cake!\nIf you can’t join us in Liv erpool\, you can also join us on Zoom\n\nTo join the gathering on zoom jus t click this link: (or copy and paste):\n\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/34876 27488?pwd=WmVMU3N3NUd3a0tYMXhLSDlqaTJRQT09&omn=84119305367\n\nMeeting ID: 348 762 7488\n\nPasscode: 494498\n\nIf you join on zoom\, feel free to bri ng some bread and wine\, biscuit & grape juice or any other combination yo u desire and we can share food together despite not being able to share sa cramentally. There is no obligation though!\n\nPlease get in touch on live rpool@opentable.lgbt if you have any questions or would like more details. \n\nDo try joining before 6.30pm if you are worried about connecting and s omeone will be available to help if we can.\n\nLooking forward to seeing y ou on Sunday evening. GEO:-2.969334;53.397148 LOCATION:St Bride's URL:https://stbridesliverpool.org.uk/our-events/2026junecommunion END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR