Upcoming events at the House of the Open Door Community
The Community hosts many events throughout the year, using some of the facilities in our Retreat Centre; we list those coming up in a calendar below.
Our Tithe Barn is sometimes reserved for guest groups but is at other times is an ideal event space for meetings or conferences hosted by the community such as our Friday night Fellowship meetings, or those visiting for discipleship. Smaller meetings such as craft retreats take place in our Craft Studio.
If you are visiting for one of the events it may be possible for us to cater for you in our Dining Room; during your visit you are welcome to spend any spare time in our Retreat Centre Gardens.
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Matt Blair from Gas Street Church in Birmingham spoke at HOD last year. He returns to be our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting speaker on 19 July 2024.
Gas Street Church
The Gateway Summer Youth Conference at HOD takes place from Monday 22nd July – Sunday 4th August 2024, as part of the wider Discipleship Course running from February to December 2024 in three terms.
The theme of the conference is ‘the Joy of Salvation.’
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
(Isaiah 12, 3)
For more details see Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2024
Jamie Price from Elim Limitless will be our speaker on 24th July 2024, as part of our Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2024. Jamie spoke last year and we had to have him back!
Jamie is the Director of Ministries for Limitless (Elim’s National Youth and Children’s ministry) and on the Limitless Pioneers team, helping churches with no youth ministries, start new youth ministries. He lives in Birmingham with his wife Debs and sons Jude and Ezekiel. In his spare time, he loves to run and read.
‘When we have been clothed…’
(2 Corinthians 5.3)
On Friday September 27 2024 our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting speaker will be Andy Swinford who will speak on the theme “When we have been clothed“
Andy will lead us in a deep dive into the fascinating subject of clothing in scripture. It is an important and inspiring topic running right through the Bible, from God’s clothing of Adam and Eve at the beginning, to the wedding garment of the Bride at the end of time. Sometimes we all need a change of clothes and this might be the night!
We look forward to Andy sharing with us. Our fellowship meeting will be in the Tithe Barn at HOD for those who live locally. All welcome.
We sometimes post recordings of our Friday night speakers afterwards on our YouTube channel.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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Andy formerly taught English Literature and is the author of 14 essays in ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’. He is about to publish ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’. He also delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the authors C S Lewis and Tolkien.
Andy Swinford
Walking in the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief pleasures. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.
On Friday October 11 2024 our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting speaker will be Tim Alford from Limitless.
Our fellowship meeting will be in the Tithe Barn at HOD for those who live locally. All welcome. We sometimes post recordings of our Friday night speakers afterwards on our YouTube channel.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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Tim lives in Malvern, England, with his wife Jen, and two kids, Tobijah and Aria. He is the National Director of Limitless, a Youth Ministry Specialist Lecturer at Regents Theological College, and author of Leadership 101: Your go-to guide to leading youth and children’s ministries into a brighter future.
Tim is passionate about equipping leaders and communicating the gospel, having spoken at conferences, churches, schools and events all over the world. He is an enthusiastic runner, a frustrated supporter of Arsenal, and has on more than one occasion been to the cinema in Star Wars fancy dress.
“Come let us Return unto the Lord” (Hosea 6 v 1)
A day of guided prayer and reflection in beautiful surroundings, with reflections led by community members.
In between the times together, there will be time to pray and reflect in our beautiful Chapel and peaceful Retreat Centre Gardens.
Join us as we seek to return to the Lord this Advent.
We suggest a donation for the day of £15, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
The Spring term for our Discipleship Course 2025 runs from 1st March – 20th April 2025.
In 2025 the Discipleship Course runs from March to December in three terms, and includes our summer conference, Gateway:
- Spring Term – Saturday 1st March – Sunday 20th April
- Summer Term – Monday 19th May – Monday 21st July
- Autumn Term – Monday 6 October – Friday 12 December
The summer term is followed by Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2025 (Monday 21st July – Sunday 3rd August 2025).
For more details see Discipleship Course 2025
“My Kingdom is not from this world” (John 18 verse 36)
A day of reflection and prayer, considering what it means to be in the world but not of the world, living as ambassadors from a far country.
Join us as we seek the Lord together, in a day’s guided retreat led during Lent by Lynda Watson.
In between the times together, there will be time to pray and reflect in our beautiful Chapel and peaceful Retreat Centre Gardens.
We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
Lynda Watson
This is a Lent retreat day in which we’ll reflect on some of the ways in which we can be ‘alive to God’ in our daily lives.
‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6.11)
said St Paul, and again
‘God made you alive together with Christ’ (Colossians 2.13).
Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to explore some refreshing takes on this ‘aliveness’.
There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.
Join us as we seek the Lord together.
We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
Andy lives in Birmingham and is a former teacher of English.
He delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the two friends C S Lewis and Tolkien, and is the author of ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’ (Grove Books) and a contributor to ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ (Zondervan).
Since retiring from teaching, enjoying the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief joys. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.
Andy Swinford
On Friday March 28 2025 our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting speaker will be Maria Heath.
Our fellowship meeting will be in the Tithe Barn at HOD for those who live locally. All welcome. We sometimes post recordings of our Friday night speakers afterwards on our YouTube channel.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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Maria works as the Director of Mission Northampton, an evangelisation office in the Diocese of Northampton and is also the former co-ordinator for CHARIS England & Wales.
Maria is married to Alex, they have 5 children aged 6 to 21. In her free time, she enjoys all things Italian with friends and family.
Terl Bryant will lead us in a special Friday night on 4 April 2025.
Terl is a well known Percussionist and Speaker – see terl.uk for his inspiring stories and clips, or his Wikipedia entry for more information on his career as a musician.
Terl’s Voice of Drums project :
Since 1996, I’ve been working with individuals and groups to inspire change through education, rhythm, music and storytelling.
-
- STORYTELLING
- PERFORMANCE
- EDUCATION
- WORKSHOPS
VoD initiatives are non-exclusive but have a legacy of work amongst Christian faith communities. Core values include open dialogue, mutual respect and the pursuit of grace.
The evening will be hosted in the Tithe barn at HOD. All welcome.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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It has been said “speaking your truth is the most powerful tool you have”.
I left school at 16 to pursue a rock ’n’ roll dream as a drummer. In my early 20’s I had a transforming faith experience and became a follower of Jesus.
Adventures in music brought the privilege of playing with many wonderful and well known artists and on the way stories emerged; stories of faith, hope and a love that is there for all.
I look forward to sharing these with you – Terl Bryant
This is a springtime retreat day set during the season of Easter in which we’ll reflect on themes of resurrection and new life, particularly as we enjoy them in the natural world around us.
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise.
Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to help us enjoy and celebrate the twin theme of creation and resurrection.
There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.
Join us as we seek the Lord together.
We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
Andy Swinford
Poster: For the Beauty of the Earth
Our guest speaker will be Nev Green, Pastor of the Vale of Evesham Christian Centre.
The Summer term of our Discipleship Course 2025 runs from 19th May – 21st July.
In 2025 the Discipleship Course runs from March to December in three terms, and includes our summer conference, Gateway:
- Spring Term – Saturday 1st March – Sunday 20th April
- Summer Term – Monday 19th May – Monday 21st July
- Autumn Term – Monday 6 October – Friday 12 December
The summer term is followed by the Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2025 (Monday 21st July – Sunday 3rd August 2025).
For more details see Discipleship Course 2025
Our guest speaker will be Fr Bernard Murphy CFR, a member of the Franciscans Friars of the Renewal serving at St. Fidelis Friary, London.
Fr. Bernard Marie Murphy, CFR is the former Community Servant (Superior General) of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a new Franciscan community established in 1987 in the Bronx, NY under the patronage of the late John Cardinal O’Connor, Catholic Archbishop of New York. Prior to his position of Community Servant, Fr. Bernard served as Vocation Director, Postulant Director, and Novice Master. Initially entering religious life as a brother in another community, Fr. Bernard transferred to the Friars in 1993 and was ordained a priest in 1998. Fr. Bernard presently resides in his community’s London residence, St. Fidelis Friary.
The primary mission of the Franciscans of the Renewal is to serve the materially poor, most especially the destitute and homeless. Fr. Bernard, along with the other friars in Canning Town, serves our less fortunate brothers and sisters at the Friar Benet Kitchen. Fr. Bernard has also been on the Board of Directors for Good Counsel Homes, a “safe haven” for single mothers in a crisis pregnancy situated in New York City, as well as the Saint Benedict Joseph Medical Center in Comayagua, Honduras, a medical outreach facility sponsored by the friars in Central America.
The Franciscans of the Renewal are also involved in evangelistic efforts inspired by the call of our late Holy Father, St. John Paul II, for the New Evangelization. Fr. Bernard has been actively involved in conducting parish missions and youth retreats extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Far East. He is a regular Retreat Master for priests and communities of Religious Sisters, most particularly Saint Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
The Gateway Summer Youth Conference at HOD takes place from Monday 21st July – Sunday 3rd August 2025, as part of the wider Discipleship Course running from March to December 2025 in three terms.
The theme of the conference is “A Future full of Hope”.
Jeremiah 29:1111 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
For more details see Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2025
The Autumn term of our Discipleship Course 2025 runs from Monday 6 October – Friday 12 December.
In 2025 the Discipleship Course runs from March to December in three terms, and includes our summer conference, Gateway:
- Spring Term – Saturday 1st March – Sunday 20th April
- Summer Term – Monday 19th May – Monday 21st July
- Autumn Term – Monday 6 October – Friday 12 December
The summer term is followed by the Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2025 (Monday 21st July – Sunday 3rd August 2025).
For more details see Discipleship Course 2025
