News and events

To view pictures from Kitty Irving's Bene Merenti Presentation, please click here to launch the photo album.

On 7th March, the Government published its Sexual Orientation Regulations. These will prohibit so-called “discrimination” against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. They will prevent children and others from being taught that the marriage-based family is the most desirable unit of society. Obviously, no-one would support discrimination but these regulations will have very adverse effects on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The Regulations will particularly affect Christians and members of other religions, who are concerned about homosexual lifestyle. It will become illegal to make statements expressing concerns about the homosexual lifestyle, and about adoption of children by gay couples. Schools will be obliged to teach that homosexual relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships. Children will be taught that all family arrangements are equally valid – including children growing up with gay couples, when it is universally accepted that children ideally need a mother and a father. Christian adoption agencies, which do not want children to be placed with gay couples have the choice of either changing their Christian stance or being forced to close. Christians and members of other religions will not be allowed to refuse to provide certain commercial services, e.g. a printer may not refuse to print gay literature, a web designer may not refuse to develop a website for a gay dating agency, a landlord may not refuse to rent out his flat to a gay couple etc. This will happen despite the fact that there should be no problem in finding someone sympathetic to the gay cause who would print gay literature, design a gay website etc. It becomes clear that there will be no limit to the possibility of malicious claims and abuse these regulations will generate, especially against churches and Christian organisations. There is evidence from abroad that this will happen. Influenced by political correctness it has been suggested that those who on conscience grounds disapprove of homosexual practices are all ‘homophobic’ which is grossly untrue.
Extracted from Maranatha’s “Trumpet Call!”
Related links:
The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
Christian concern for our nation
Maranatha Trumpet Call (PDF)

If you took your children to a petting zoo and a little lamb came running towards you, you probably wouldn’t be afraid at all because lambs are harmless. You might even reach out your hand and let the lamb lick it. But let’s say you’re at the zoo and the alarm goes out that a lion has escaped from its enclosure. If you’re standing there and that lion comes running towards you, you’ll be terrified and start to run because you know what lions can do. But just suppose that the runaway lion corners you in one part of the zoo and comes up to you - but instead of attacking you it gently licks your hand the way the lamb did. If that happened whose gentleness would you appreciate more; the lamb’s or the lion’s? You’d appreciate the lion’s gentleness more because you know that he could just as easily have destroyed you without violating his nature as a lion. Well, grace is God’s kindness and gentleness to us when He could have backed us into a corner as guilty sinners and destroyed us without violating His holy character. But God wanted to make us His children, so instead of expressing His wrath against us, He poured it out upon His own sinless Son on the cross. Jesus took our punishment so God could embrace us. Hence, we have a brand-new relationship with God through grace. Isn’t that amazing!
© Copyright. Taken from The Word for today

with Fr. Laurence Brassill and Pauline Edwards

What is “Healing of Memories”?
People, even Christians, are affected by what is said and done to them. Over the years, if hurtful words and actions are not brought into the light of Christ, they can fester and eventually may surface in problems such as anxiety, depression, addictions, compulsive behaviours, inability for intimacy, chronic anger, eating disorders, sexual confusion, etc.

Healing of Memories is prayer that goes to the root cause of the symptoms. The Holy Spirit is able to pinpoint the source of the emotional affliction and speak the truth to the part of the soul that is wounded or bound. As the healing occurs over time, people begin to realise that they are being freed from what has held them captive. Here is an article by Fr. Fio Mascarenhas, a well respected international speaker and expert on the subject. Read article.

Thu 14 Dec

19.30 - 21.00 Opening talk in hall
21.00 - 22.00 Time with individuals

Fri 15 Dec

11.00 - 15.00 Time with individuals in presbytery
17.00 - 20.00 Second session with individuals

Sat 16 Dec

11.00 - 16.00 Long session in hall but no need to stay for whole period (bring packed lunch)

Kitty Irving drawing the car raffle with Fr Andrew. Congratulations to Kate Howes of Shirley (Winning Ticket No. 1101).

To view Deacon Bill’s pictures from the recent pilgimage to the Holy Land, please click here to launch photo album