THIS is my reflection at the Post-Pride Chillout Service in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral to mark the end of Liverpool Pride on Sunday 29th July 2018: The death of Michael Causer was Liverpool’s Stonewall moment. My name is Kieran, and I’m the coordinator of the growing network of Open Table communities, which began …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/07/31/liverpools-stonewall-moment-a-reflection-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-michael-causers-murder/
Jun 06
Come As You Are – LGBT+ Christians celebrate ten years of inclusive welcome
A CHRISTIAN community which warmly welcomes people who are LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning, Intersex and Asexual), their friends and family, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Liverpool this month. The inclusive celebration, hosted by the community known as ‘Open Table’, will take place on Sunday 17th June 2018, at St Bride’s Church on …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/06/06/come-as-you-are-lgbt-christians-celebrate-ten-years-of-inclusive-welcome/
Apr 21
Just love for all – Bishop speaks out against inequality and harm for LGBTI Christians
LAST WEEK, at the launch of a new charity whose aim is to tackle prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender in religious organisations, Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes spoke of his ‘pain and regret’ at the rejection and harm many LGBTI+ people have experienced personally and institutionally from Christians. More than 100 …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/04/21/just-love-for-all-bishop-speaks-out-against-inequality-and-harm-for-lgbti-christians/
Apr 08
Liverpool LGBT-affirming church studies ‘Queer Virtue’
This Lent, our inclusive church in Liverpool city centre offered a six-week course to explore the ‘queerness’ of the Christian tradition. Participants read and discussed Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity (Beacon Press, 2016), written by the American Episcopal priest Elizabeth Edman. At the launch of …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/04/08/liverpool-lgbt-affirming-church-studies-queer-virtue/
Mar 30
‘Today you will be with me in paradise’ – Saying farewell to Uncle Simon
ONE MORNING earlier this month, my sister called to say our uncle in Ireland was unwell, and that the hospital which had become his home had advised Mum to come and see him while there was still time. Mum and my sister were booking a flight to Dublin that afternoon, and Mum asked if I …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/03/30/today-you-will-be-with-me-in-paradise-saying-farewell-to-uncle-simon/
Mar 01
The Examen: Practicing an attitude of gratitude
As part of St Bride’s Liverpool‘s Lent reflection series on ‘Holy Habits’, I shared my experience of the Examen, an invitation to daily thankfulness: In St Paul’s letter to the Colossians (3: 12-17), he tells the church in Colossae to ‘Always be thankful’ in everything they say or do, giving thanks to God in the name …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/03/01/the-examen-practicing-an-attitude-of-gratitude/
Feb 22
Who gives a toss? You can! A Lent reflection
This was what I put on a poster to invite residents of YMCA Liverpool (where I am part-time chaplain) to come and make pancakes last week. The aim was to bring people together for a simple food making activity to mark the beginning of Lent, the time of preparation for the Christian festival of Easter …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/02/22/who-gives-a-toss-you-can-a-lent-reflection/
Jan 25
Oh! Look at the Moon – Sharing a poem from the heart inspired by #BurnsNight
Last year around this time, friends of Scottish heritage invited us to a traditional supper in honour of Burns Night, the anniversary of the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, at which it is traditional to recite poetry. It reminded me of my Irish heritage, and similar gatherings at which family and friends would …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/01/25/oh-look-at-the-moon-sharing-a-poem-from-the-heart-inspired-by-burnsnight/
Dec 24
Is there room? – A poem for Christmas Eve
AT A carol service last Sunday, hosted by Open Table, an inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. Is there room? There rarely is when people are desperate and search for shelter. Is there room? There seldom is when people are …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2017/12/24/is-there-room-a-poem-for-christmas-eve/
Dec 16
The real Jesus of Nazareth – Why we celebrate Christmas
Last week I read a headline on The Independent news website that said: ‘One in five Brits does not know Jesus Christ born on 25 December’. I have good news for them – he almost certainly wasn’t! In the story we hear again each Christmas, we remember that the shepherds were out watching their flocks by night – …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2017/12/16/the-real-jesus-of-nazareth-why-we-celebrate-christmas/
Recent comments