from the editor - St John's Felbridge

FROM THE EDITOR
VICAR: The Rev Stephen Bowen
The Vicarage, Felbridge,
West Sussex RH19 2QT
ASSOCIATE MINISTER:
Michael Peach
5 Burns Way, East Grinstead,
West Sussex RH19 1SA
Tel: 01342 312406
michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com
Michael’s day off: Friday
Cover photo:
Tractor wheel,
Hayward's Farm
Gordon Wilkinson
YOU may be wondering why there is no
vicar’s letter this month or you may have
heard that Stephen, our vicar is ill. Andy
Brown, our Church Warden, has written an
article about this on page 2 which replaces
the usual Stephen Writes article. At such
times as these it is hard to see that God’s
plan is good and much easier to fall into
despair, becoming angry with God or even
turning away from him. Yet I once heard
someone say that pain is God’s megaphone.
Sometimes it’s the only way we can be
reached, because we’ve switched off all
other channels. That’s not to say that
everyone who experiences pain has turned
away from God. Remember Joseph - God
was with him, talking to him through his
dreams, and yet he was still imprisoned for
a long time. But it worked out alright in the
end and he was able to save his family from
starvation - he just didn’t know that when
he was in prison.
So if you are going through painful times
right now - don’t give up - God never stops
loving you and he wants what is best for
you. Sometimes that might be bringing you
home to him or it might mean a time of
suffering or in some cases it might mean
miraculous healing.
Romans 8:28: And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according
to his purpose.
Lindsey Saunders
MAY: Articles for this Issue to be handed in by
SUNDAY 15th April. Publication: 29th April
Please e-mail your articles to parishmagstjohns@gmail.com, put them in the editor’s
pigeon hole in the south porch, or post them to Lindsey Saunders at The Bungalow,
Saint Hill Farm, Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead, RH19 4NG.
1

STEPHEN BOWEN – A MESSAGE FROM THE
CHURCHWARDENS
AS MOST will have heard by now,
Stephen our vicar has recently
been diagnosed with kidney cancer
for which he is undergoing urgent
investigation and treatment. This
serious problem was discovered in
early March and, on medical
advice, he immediately relinquished
his church and parish
responsibilities to allow his
treatment to take priority. He will
remain on sick leave for the
immediately foreseeable future and
we appreciate your continuing
prayers for him, Mandy and all the
family.
Stephen’s unexpected absence
means we will all have to pull
together as a church family to keep
the various activities of St John’s
running and we will soon
appreciate how much Stephen and
Mandy have done week by week.
The first practical change will be
the need to rearrange the schedule
of services to accommodate input
from visiting ministers and
preachers. Please keep an eye on
the monthly timetable. We hope
you will understand if your favourite
service has been moved or
“rebadged”!
You may be wondering who will be
in charge while Stephen is away?
The obvious and immediate answer
is, as always, our wonderful caring
Father God! It may be difficult to
understand the reason for this
sudden sad setback, and no doubt
questions will remain for many of
us, but Christians believe that God
reigns in all circumstances. (Look
up Romans 8: 37-39 for a refresher
course in this truth!)
However, there will certainly be a
need for various people to step into
the gap left by Stephen and Mandy.
When such circumstances arise in
the Church of England the
Churchwardens have the
responsibility for the general
oversight and governance of
church affairs, with the help of the
PCC. Please approach us if you
have any queries or concerns.
Michael Peach, our Associate
Minister, will take responsibility for
planning services and supervising
most of the practical day to day
matters. Please keep him informed
of any diary dates, activities etc.
We will aim to bring you regular
news of Stephen’s progress but
please contact Anne Butler, who is
acting as a link person, if you need
interim information. (Tel: 01342
313640. Email:
butleranne09@gmail.com). Finally,
please keep praying for Stephen
and asking if there are areas you
could help with over the coming
months. Don’t be afraid to
volunteer!
Comfort and prosperity have never
enriched the world as much as
adversity has. (Billy Graham.)
Andy Brown
2

The Youth Team at St John’s Felbridge presents:
Race Runners: Easter Holiday Club
A fun holiday club for Primary School aged children (those
in school years R to 6, so aged 4-11) including games (with an
Olympic theme!), activities, craft, and learning about Jesus
together from the Bible.
Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th April,
10am-12noon,
in St John’s Church Hall.
Followed on Wednesday 4th at
12noon by a lunch for all the family.
Adult helpers from St John’s very welcome
(and feel free to bring your younger children with you).
Over 11’s very welcome to come and help too.
If you are interested in helping or coming along, please
contact Diane Francis, 01342 714575
diane.francis21@gmail.com.
Good Friday Easter Service
Walk of Witness behind the cross from Trinity Methodist Church at
10:30 to the High Street followed by Open Air service starting at
11.00am.
3

WHAT’S HAPPENING
Easter Services
Palm Sunday 1st April - Services will be held at 10am & 6pm
Maundy Thursday 5th April - 8pm Service of Holy Communion
Good Friday 6th April - 11am in the High Street, 2pm The Last
Hour Service
Easter Sunday 8th April - 8am Holy Communion, 10am Family
Service, 6pm Evening Prayer
Other Sunday Services in April
15th April - Morning Service at 10am, Raise the Roof at 6pm
22nd April - 8am Holy Communion, 10am Morning Service,
6pm Evening Prayer
29th April - 10am Holy Communion, 6pm Evening Prayer
Alterations to Services in April
There will be no Family Service on 1st April.
The Morning Service on 1st April will be followed by the Annual
Parochial Church Meeting.
4

THROUGH THE WEEK
Mondays
Connections 2-4pm on 2nd April in the Church Hall
Tuesdays
WI 6th March at 1.30pm in the village Hall
Wednesdays
Watercolour on Wednesdays in the Church Hall at 2pm
1st Felbridge ( St John’s) Brownies
Prayer on Wednesday (non-homegroup weeks) at 8pm
Afternoon Prayer meeting on at the home of Di Giles
Thursdays
WIGS at the Old Pheasantry, Woodcock Hill at 10.30am (home of
June Clark)
Girls Bible Study in the Church Hall at 4pm
JAFFA Plus in the Church hall on 5th April at 5pm - 7pm
Fridays
1st Felbridge (St John’s) Rainbows
1st Felbridge (St John’s) Guides
Saturdays
Prayer breakfast on 7th April at 8am—9am
Men’s breakfast on 21st April at 5 Burns Way from 8.30—10am
Felbridge and District Horticultural Society
Our meeting on Thursday 19 th April will be the Spring Show at
8pm.and this will be followed by an illustrated talk by Len Stebbings
‘How to Exhibit’
New members are always welcome – you don’t have to be an expert
gardener!
5

CURRENT ISSUES: HONESTY
Why are the British less honest than a decade ago?
PROFESSOR PAUL WHITELEY
of the University of Essex Centre for
the Study of Integrity surveyed more
than 2,000 adults at the end of last
year and concluded that British
people are less honest than they were
ten years ago.
People today, says Professor
Whiteley, are more tolerant towards
a range of misdemeanours — such
as having an extramarital affair,
drink driving or failing to leave a
contact after damaging a parked car
— than they were in 2000 when a
similar survey was undertaken.
In 2000, seven out of ten people said
that cheating on your spouse could
never be justified, but this has now
dropped to just over half of those
surveyed. Today, two in three people
can justify lying if it’s in their own
interest. Tolerance of smoking
cannabis and underage sex has also
markedly increased, says the report.
In 2011 Britons were more likely to
condemn accepting bribes, falsely
claiming benefits or drink driving
than they were to be critical of lying
or exceeding the speed limit.
In the latest survey, 2,000 adults
were asked to take an ‘integrity test’
in which they were asked whether
they thought a range of activities
could ever be justified. Around
seven out of ten respondents said
they would never condone taxdodging
or buying stolen goods, but
about half thought that falsifying a
job application could sometimes be
justified.
People did seem concerned about
dropping litter, drink driving and
falsely claiming government
benefits, with more than eight out
of 10 respondents saying these
activities could never be justified.
The one area where British people
appear to have become less tolerant
in the last decade is cheating the
benefits system, with 78%
condemning it in 2000 but 85%
doing so in 2011.
Attitudes to driving while under the
influence of alcohol have softened
in the past decade, although more
than 85% of people still believe it is
never justified, down from 90% in
2000.
The young were much more likely
to condone bad behaviour than
older people, the study found.
Under-25s scored an average of 47
points on an ‘integrity scale’
against an average of 50 points,
while those aged 65 and over
6

scored an average of 54 points. For
example, only a third of under-25s
said that lying on a job application
couldn’t be justified, compared
with three quarters of the over-65s
who said it was wrong.
The researchers said that the
differences between young and old
might mean that Britain would
continue to grow more dishonest as
this young generation aged, but
alternatively it might simply tell us
that people tend to become more
honest as they grow older. It might
also tell us that as a society we
need to do more to make it clear
what things are right and wrong…
there are too many ‘grey areas’.
Why not see how you score on the
integrity test? Check out: http://
www.essex.ac.uk/government/
documents/integrity_test.pdf.
Gordon Wilkinson
Youth Easter Special
Thursday 5th April, 5:30-7:30pm
in St John’s Church Hall
A special Easter youth event for anyone in
school years 5 upwards (9 and over).
fun games
yummy food
what the Bible say about Easter
If you want to come, please reply to Gaby Cicala:
gabriella.cicala@gmail.com
7

VILLAGE ISSUES
Felbridge W.I.
WE WERE very pleased to display
the new banner we had made through
the very kind donation from one of
our past members. We plan to wave
this when the Olympic torch comes
through the village, and to advertise
our stall at the Country Fair.
Ann Neale gave a cookery
demonstration - a four course meal
made easy. She started with home
made hummus which can be a lot
cheaper than one from a shop. Then
on to spicy prawns, and a special
chicken dish finishing with an apple
and ginger compote. The room was
filled with wonderful smells which
made our mouths water – I am sure
her family enjoyed the food that she
had prepared before us whilst we
were left with our mouths still
watering. We comforted ourselves
with tea and a biscuit!
We are looking forward to two
events in April – our usual meeting
on the first Tuesday of the month
when we will be hearing about
Felons and Fingerprints, and on
Wednesday 18 th April; we will host a
Border Group meeting when Nick
Owen will be telling us about Strictly
Come Dancing and TV Secrets. Both
meetings will start at l.30pm. Please
ring 322302 for more info.
Daphne Ayerst
Felbridge Country Show
More detail is now appearing about
the competitions at the Country
Show. From Jubilee Weekend we
are looking forward to scarecrows
appearing around the village,
created by individuals and groups,
which will be in place in front
gardens, or maybe even more
imaginatively, until Show day, 16 th
June. This will give everyone
plenty of time to see them all in situ
and vote for their favourite for the
People’s Choice Award. More
details here next month on the Art,
Photography and Domestic
Sections as well as other
attractions.
Entry forms are available from
Chetan Patel at the Village Shop
and on the Country Show Website
at www.show.felbridge.org.uk as
well as from the organisers and
various village organisations.
Rosemary Archer
Felbridge Village Store
new opening times:
Mondays-Saturdays
8am to 7:30pm
Sundays
8am to 4pm.
8

FELBRIDGE WILDLIFE
Cuckoos Clocked
THE CUCKOO has been
declining for many years and
sadly can no longer be
considered a traditional
harbinger of Spring. In an
attempt to find where cuckoos
go in the wintertime, five caught
in England were fitted with tiny
satellite transmitters which
revealed them to be in Nigeria
for Christmas and moving
Northwards in February.
However, in Felbridge this
month we can enjoy a number
of 'cuckoo flowers', the
commonest being the pale lilac
ladies smock. Less welcome is
the cuckoo ‘spit’, a covering of
froth exuded by the larvae of
young froghoppers to protect
them as they suck the sap of
plants. The emerging adult
'spittlebug' will jump away from
harm. Especially in a Leap Year.
Last month half a dozen lesser
redpolls visited gardens in The
Limes, a species now on the
Red List of birds of special
conservation concern. This
month should see the return of
our mercifully commoner song
birds from the South, and the
start of nest building by the local
residents.
9
A topical deft definition states
that a wicked developer is
someone who wants to build a
house in a Green Belt
Settlement. A conservationist is
someone who already has.
Certainly overdevelopment
could mean fewer nests in
which any surviving cuckoo
could lay its own eggs.
The Protestant Church was
founded on The Diet of Worms.
Our thrush needs a diet of
snails. We no longer hear the
cuckoo. It would be tragic to
lose that thrush.
Not A Local. For those mystified
by the colourful character on
last month's cover, it was a
Greater Double Collared Sun
Bird that lives in East and South
Africa and inspired our
indefatigable Tear Fund team.
Peter Bateman.

IN THE GARDEN
Our England is a garden, and such
gardens are not made
By singing: - ‘Oh, how beautiful!’
and sitting in the shade,
Rudyard Kipling
THERE’LL BE no sitting in the
shade for the first enthusiastic
tenants of the new Felbridge
Garden Plots, which are finally
underway. For them, there is a lot
of hard work ahead, to get their
ground ready for the spring sowing,
but they are all keen and ready for
the challenge. The very best of luck
to them all for their new venture.
April is when the pace – if not
always the weather – really begins
to hot up in the garden. Seed
sowing of both flowers and
vegetables reaches its peak and it
starts to get difficult to find the
space for everything that still needs
to be under cover. Last year, I
decided that my small heated
propagator just couldn’t cope with
everything I wanted to raise from
seed, so I invested in a soil heating
cable which runs through large
trays of sand. Ordinary seed trays
with plastic covers stand on the
sand and the whole acts as a giant
propagator at a fraction of the price.
The only problem then is dealing
with the quantities successfully
germinated; I just can’t bear to
waste them!
This year, I’m planning to be a little
more selective with what I try to
grow, sticking to what works for me
and not wasting time and effort on
those cabbages, cauliflowers and
broccoli which never turn out well; I
will also try to grow fewer but better
tomatoes! The water companies are
already making those dreaded
drought predictions and it looks as if
it is only a matter of time before the
hosepipe bans appear, so we all
need to be planning for that. Surely
all they need to do is promise us
another Barbeque Summer – it
usually works.
I always think that the best way to
find new ideas to try is to look at
how others plan their gardening - I
grow my runner beans on a pergola
which was directly copied from one
I saw a few years ago in an Open
Garden. For those of us wanting to
learn more about the real art of
gardening, April 19 th brings the
opportunity to watch the very best
at work at Sissinghurst with ‘Behind
the Scenes with the Head
Gardener’ – followed by a cream
tea. What could be nicer?
– Rosemary Archer
10

TELL ME WHY?
Can we really believe in Jesus’ resurrection?
AT THE HEART of Easter is the claim that Jesus Christ was killed and on the third
day was brought bodily back to life. In this age of science and medicine can we really
believe that a man was raised from the dead? If you like television crime shows then
you know that the detectives always have to follow the evidence, and as they do so they
can establish the truth. When it comes to the resurrection the Bible is full of evidence of
what happened, and the evidence all points to the same conclusion. Let’s consider three
pieces of biblical evidence.
The empty tomb
On Friday Jesus was killed (and this was verified by an experienced Roman soldier)
and his body placed in a new tomb while other people watched. This tomb was then
closed with a large stone, sealed and guarded by armed soldiers.
Yet somehow by the Sunday morning the large stone had been removed and this tomb
was empty, except for Jesus’ grave clothes. How could this have happened? The
disciples could not have taken Jesus’ body – quite apart from the fact they are scattered
and scared, how would they get past the guard? The authorities would not have opened
the tomb and taken the body, for they wanted people to get over the excitement
regarding Jesus, and if they had they taken his body they would have produced it as
soon as resurrection was suggested. Something remarkable must have happened.
The eyewitness accounts
Not only was Jesus’ tomb empty, but many people saw Jesus alive, as Paul tells us:
“...he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still
living... Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he
appeared to me also...” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8 NIV)
Many people saw Jesus alive, and when Paul writes this letter he says that most of them
are still alive – the implication being that you can go and ask them and check this out.
The changed disciples
On the night Jesus was killed, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, denies to a servant
girl that he even knows Jesus. Yet only a few weeks later this same Peter tells the same
leaders who had condemned Jesus, that he is Jesus’ follower and that whatever they do,
he cannot stop speaking of Jesus. Later many of Jesus’ disciples died for speaking of
Jesus and his resurrection – each must have been convinced Jesus really had been
raised from the dead. The evidence all points the same way – Jesus was raised from the
dead. So we cannot write Jesus off; we must listen to what he claims.
11
Michael Peach

FELBRIDGE HOTEL & SPA OFFERS
Restaurants: New lower price for square meal lunch
menu, two courses just £13.95.
Chakra Spa: Winter Warmer, £99 for 2 Spa Days!
Health Club: £1 a day Gym Membership
Events
Wedding Open Evening Thursday 26th April 2012
Get a real feel of what your wedding would be like with us. Our
Wedding Coordinators will also be here as well as our Chef so you
can talk through any queries you may have about your big day.
Connections is a new series of events for Seniors. We will
meet monthly for tea, coffee and cake, a short informal talk
from the Bible about things that matter, and lots of different
activities and games. There’s even a newspaper corner!
Hand massage is available too! Or you can simply spend
time sitting and chatting. A great opportunity to meet old
friends and make new ones – all welcome! Our next meeting
will be on
Monday 2nd April, 2pm-4pm,
in St John’s Church Hall.
For more information please do contact Don Ely or Michael
Peach.
16

NEW WORLD ORDER
IN THE 1980S, as the Soviet Union
imploded in upon itself, finally
releasing its iron grip on Eastern
Europe, the entire Western World
heaved a huge, collective sigh of relief.
By the 1990s, Mr Blair and Mr Bush
were talking enthusiastically about a,
‘New World Order,’ centred on the
World’s remaining superpower, the
United States of America, with
Democracy, Freedom and Justice for
all. It is reported that Mr Blair also had
a dream of adding to this power base
with a second pillar, the ‘United States
of Europe’ which would further
underwrite ‘peace’ worldwide. I
wonder how that all worked out?!
Throughout history, there have been
other such dreams, including that of
the British Empire, which, not so very
long ago, effectively controlled and
administered a huge part of the Globe.
The thing is, of course, that the
controlling ‘peace’ is not generally
wielded for philanthropic reasons at all
but rather for the personal gain and
glory of the power wielding it. At the
time of Jesus, it was Pax Romanus, the
‘Peace of Rome’.
Jesus came to tell/remind us that the
real King of the World is God and that,
despite the fact that the Kingdom, ‘Is
currently taken by force’, He was
about to re-establish, take back, His
Kingdom, with genuine Freedom and
real Justice for all. However, having
won the Kingdom, not by strength of
arms but, paradoxically, by total
surrender and sacrifice, Jesus left it to
us to continue to establish that
Kingdom on Earth, until such time as
He returns to take possession of it and
to unite it with Heaven, in a true ‘New
World Order’. We may not know
when that time will be but I would say,
looking around, that we have plenty to
be getting on with, wouldn’t you?
Rest assured, God always keeps His
promises, He never lets us down and
His plan will not fail. He truly is the
only one deserving of Glory.
Jesus warned us not to be side-tracked
in our purpose by worldly concerns but
rather to, ‘Seek first the Kingdom and
His righteousness…’, ‘seeking’ being
working-towards as opposed to
looking around for, and as we do, to
rely on God, who knows our needs.
He also promises us real ‘power’ from
God Himself, to enable us to do His
work, in His name. (Which is a whole
other exciting subject!)
Living the Kingdom Life
To effectively ‘see’ the Kingdom, we
need to long for the return of the King,
yet live each day as though He already
has.
If you would like to know more about
God’s exciting plans for the World and
how important He feels that you are in
those plans, come along to Church one
Sunday.
John Dabell.
17

BOOK REVIEWS
God Hunting by Joe Swinney
I FOUND this book refreshingly down
to earth, funny and easy to read. The
author is also a Mum with young
children and understands the pressures
of working, bringing up children,
looking after the house and finding time
to spend with God.
This book is her account in a diary form
of developing her relationship with God
using different methods such as prayer,
fasting, solitude, worship, simplicity
and the Bible. She openly confesses
her difficulties, but also describes the
benefits she has discovered from each
experience. An easy book to pop in and
out of when you have a few spare
moments.
Lindsey Saunders
Is it nothing to you
Is it nothing to you,
All you that pass by,
To see that giant cross stand
Against the dark sky?
Is it nothing to you
That a man bled and died,
Was sentenced unjustly
To be crucified?
Is it nothing to you
All you that pass by,
To see the sun darkened,
To hear the last cry?
Is it nothing to you,
As you gaze on his face,
To know that he hangs there
In your rightful place?
Is it nothing to you,
All you that pass by
Have you never considered—
Just why he did die?
Is it nothing to you
That ‘twas your sin He bore?
So pause there a moment,
To think and adore!
Ann Butler
18

MISSION MATTERS
UCCF:thechristainunions
NATASHA KASPROWICZ is one of
St John’s mission partners. Natasha has
now worked for UCCF in London for
three and a half years after returning
from Russia, where she worked for the
International Fellowship of
Evangelical Students (IFES). UCCF is
a family of students, staff, and
supporters. Christian Unions (CUs) are
mission teams operating in universities
and colleges, supported by the local
church, and resourced by UCCF staff.
This family exists to proclaim the
gospel of Jesus Christ in the student
world. (www.uccf.org.uk).
Recently the London CU project
mission has been keeping Natasha
busy. The mission took place at the end
of January in Central London and at
the end of February in South West
London. CUs from different
universities across London worked
together to provide opportunities for
students to hear the good news of
Jesus.
The mission involved local events on
campus where Christian Unions
engaged with students to discuss the
questions they most want to ask God.
Christian Unions ran a survey in
December and students most wanted to
ask God why he allows suffering,
followed by What is the meaning/
purpose of life? The third in the list
was Is there life after death? and the
simple Do you (God) exist? was also a
popular choice.
There were also joint events shaped by
the surveyed students’ favourite films.
Krish Kandiah, the mission speaker,
linked Luke’s gospel and themes from
the films. For example, the talk ‘Jesus
and Inception’ looked at Luke 15 and
included the themes, What about my
past?, Who can you trust?, and What is
real?. Other evening talks were titled
Jesus and Lord of the Rings looking at
Luke 9:18-27 and Jesus and the
Shawshank Redemption looking at
Luke 11:37-54. The venue was set up in
the style of a film awards ceremony
with red carpet and a popcorn cart.
The joint events were very popular with
a few hundred students attending. A
good number of international students
also attended the dinner held before the
evening talks and Natasha hopes this is
something that will continue to grow
over time. International students asked
questions, like, how does prayer work?;
Is there any point in trying to be good?;
Isn’t Christianity just for Western
people?; and You said Jesus was God
but I thought he was a man, can you
explain that?
We are hoping to hear more about the
mission project and the follow up
events, which included a six week
course studying Luke’s gospel and a
tour of the British Museum looking at
the evidential basis for the Bible, in
Natasha’s next newsletter. If you are
interested in receiving Natasha’s
newsletters please speak to Dan or Suzy
Callaway.
19

THE UNIQUENESS OF MARRIAGE
Seven Reasons not to
legalise same sex marriage
1. Marriage is the union of one
man and one woman
THROUGHOUT HISTORY in
virtually all cultures and faiths
throughout the world, marriage has
been held to be the union of one man
and one woman. Marriage existed
thousands of years before our nation
began and has been recognised in our
laws as the ‘voluntary union of one
man and one woman to the exclusion
of all others for life’ (Hyde v Hyde
1866). The UN Declaration of Human
Rights (article 16) recognises that the
family, headed by a man and a woman,
‘is the natural and fundamental group
unit of society and is entitled to
protection by society and the State’. It
is not up to governments to redefine
marriage – but simply to recognise it
for what it is, and to promote and
protect it as a unique institution.
2. Same sex couples already have
civil partnerships
All the legal rights of marriage are
already available to same sex couples
through civil partnerships so there is
no need to redefine marriage to
include them. The President of the
Family Division has even described
civil partnerships as conferring ‘the
benefits of marriage in all but name’.
Such a move would also inevitably
lead to calls to open civil partnerships
to opposite sex couples on the basis of
‘equality’. But marriage and civil
partnerships have been designed for
two very different types of relationship
and should be kept distinct. It is not
and should not be ‘one size fits all’.
3. Redefining marriage without
consultation is undemocratic
None of the political leaders who are
supporting the legalisation of same sex
marriage announced it as a priority in
their election manifestos. There is
already a huge amount of opposition to
the move and pressing ahead with
legalisation will lead to considerable
dissension and division. Legalising
same sex marriage to appease a small
minority is wrong and it should not be
foisted on the British people without
proper consultation about whether
rather than how it should be done.
4. Equality does not mean
uniformity
In a free democratic society we accept
that many human activities are not
open to everybody. Not everyone is
allowed to drink alcohol, drive a car,
buy property, cast a vote, own a
firearm, attend university, visit
Buckingham Palace or participate in a
100m women’s Olympic event. This
does not mean that those who are not
eligible for these activities are in any
way denigrated or demeaned, but just
that there are eligibility criteria. Same
sex couples do not fulfil the eligibility
criteria for marriage, which should be
reserved for the voluntary union of one
man and one woman for life.
20

5. Protecting traditional marriage
safeguards children and society
Stable marriages and families headed by
a mother and a father are the bedrock of
society and the state has a duty to
protect the uniqueness of these key
institutions. Though death and divorce
may prevent it, children do best when
raised by a married mother and father.
Whilst single parents or same sex
couples may do a good job in raising
children, social policy has to be
concerned with what is normally the
case, and children have a right if at all
possible to have a married mother and a
father involved in their upbringing. In
general the evidence shows that
marriage provides a stability for adults
and children which is hard to beat in
terms of outcomes. There is
considerable evidence to show that
marriage leads to better family
relationships, less economic
dependence, better physical health and
longevity, improved mental health and
emotional well-being and reduced crime
and domestic violence. By contrast,
sexual freedom and relationship
breakdown cost Britain £100 billion
annually and other models of the family
have not been shown to have the same
stability as traditional marriage. Same
sex marriage, in comparison with
conventional marriage, is an unproven
and experimental social model.
6. Marriage is a unique biologically
complementary relationship
Marriage is the only legal union which
can naturally lead to children. It takes
both a man and a woman to produce a
baby. The fact that there is a natural link
between sexual intimacy and procreation
is what makes marriage distinctive and
different. Redefining marriage will
undermine this distinctness and
difference and risks normalising the
technological instrumentalisation of
reproduction and increasing the number
of families where there is confusion of
biological, social and family identity.
7. Redefining marriage will be
complex and expensive
Redefining marriage could cost billions
and involve amending hundreds of
pieces of government legislation. The
word 'marriage' appears 3,258 times in
UK legislation, which underlines the
central role the institution plays in
national law. Introducing same sex
marriage is a legal can of worms which
cannot be achieved without changing
the common and legal definition of the
word marriage and other words which
define it (eg. ‘husband and wife’,
‘consummation’ and ‘adultery’). These
changes will inevitably change the
definition and nature of marriage for
opposite sex couples by trying to
accommodate these two very different
kinds of relationship under one legal
umbrella. According to an assessment
done for gay rights group Stonewall by
a former civil servant, the cost of
implementing one favoured option
would be around £5 billion. This figure
relates to a theoretical increase in
straight couples taking up the
opportunity of civil partnerships, with
knock-on implications to their
entitlement to pension and tax benefits.
This is simply not a priority for
government at a time of economic
recession as it will confer no new
rights.
Christian Concern
21

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Congratulations
CONGRATULATIONS to Gary and Kathy Hunt on the birth of
Alexander.
We are glad for Ed and Sheila Drury on becoming
grandparents as Jenson Arthur Rodd was born to their
daughter Claire and son-in-law Duncan. Our thoughts and
prayers are with them all as Jenson awaits a major heart
operation.
Change of address:
The Defriends new address is available from the church office
by emailing: stjohnschurchoffice@gmail.com
Corrections to the family directory
Ann Tucker and Sue & Terry have new email addresses. For
details, contact: stjohnschurchoffice@gmail.com
Funerals
Audrey Barbara MacGregor died 18th February aged 84. The funeral was at the
Surrey and Sussex crematorium on 29th February 2012.
Baptisms
Jacob Andrew Callaway on 18th March
22

PEST CONTROL SERVICES
Wasps, flies, fleas. All types of rodents and vermin 01342 321373
BUTCHER
ARTHUR FRY, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead 01342 323225
CHIMNEY SWEEP
MILBORROW CHIMNEY SWEEPS, ‘The Flueologists’
All Flues and Appliances Swept and Serviced. Pots, Cowls,
Caps, Birdguards, Fireplace Repairs, Stacks Repointed 01342 717900
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
R MEDHURST, Vine House, Hartfield
Caring family firm; home visits; 24 hour service.
Memorials arranged: Golden Charter pre-paid Funeral Plans
01892 770253
01342 315880
GARAGE & CAR REPAIRS, MOTs & COACHES
Woodcock Hill Service Station, London Road, Felbridge
01342 325544
01342 326213
KOINONIA COUNSELLING
Marriage problems, bereavement, depression, eating disorders etc
Jackie Lake 01342 718948
TV SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS
Panasonic Specialists. Plasma, LCD, Multiroom Systems, Aerial & Satellite.
Scott Brothers, 178 London Road, East Grinstead. 01342 321117
For Fairtrade gifts and jewellery that help lift people out of
poverty, call Brenda Wilkinson on 01342 311516 for a
catalogue and to place your order, or log on to
www.createdgifts.org.
When you contact any of our advertisers, don't forget to mention that you saw
their advert in Parish News. For advertising enquiries, contact
Gordon Wilkinson on 01342 311516 or John Dabell on 01342 317745.

USEFUL CONTACTS
Churchwardens: Anne Butler 01342 313640
e-mail: butleranne09@gmail.com
Andy Brown 01342 314267
e-mail: brownemail@btinternet.com
Treasurer: Chris Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: treasurerstjohns@gmail.com
PCC Secretary: Sheila Drury 01342 323865
e-mail: sheila.drury1@hotmail.co.uk
Magazine Editor: Lindsey Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: parishmagstjohns@gmail.com
Cleaning Rota: Carole Grainger 01342 325482
Ministry of Flowers: Ann Morley 01342 714645
e-mail: annmorley@aol.com
Church Hall Bookings: Sally Hobbs 01342 410929
e-mail: hobbsfamilysja@gmail.com
Village Hall Bookings: Lynda Railton 01342 322205
CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES
Stars (3-6 yrs): Sally Hobbs 01342 410929
e-mail: hobbsfamilysja@gmail.com
Comets (Year 2-4): Diane Francis 01342 714575
e-mail: diane_francis@tiscali.co.uk
Meteors (Year 5-6):
Gaby
e-mail: gabriella.cicala@gmail.com
The Rock (Year 7-9): Michael Peach 01342 312406
e-mail: michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com
Parish Safeguarding Officer Chris Ely 01342 311614
e-mail: christineely2@msn.com
Rainbows, Brownies & Guides Ann Tucker 01342 317283
e-mail: ann_tucker@btinternet.com
24