Mark momentous occasions in week of events in Horsham

Interfaith minister Jean Francis is looking for people who would like hold a baby naming ceremony or who are celebrating a milestone birthday or wedding anniversary in conjunction with Dying Matters Awareness Week in May. All are free of charge for participants.

Through a range of events and ceremonies in May there will also be opportunity to scatter the ashes of pets, celebrate the beauty of nature and remember loved ones passed.

Jean said: “The aim of this occasion is to illustrate how birth, the journey through a lifetime and death can be beautifully interwoven within ritual and ceremony affirming that we can’t have one without the other.”

From May 16 to May 24 there will be 16 events open to people of all faiths and none to take part in. One of the more unusual ones is a ‘loving separation ceremony’.

Jean wants a brave couple who would like hold a ceremony witnessed by friends and family to mark their break-up or divorce in a positive way.

She said: “A lot of couple argue and divorce in terrible, terrible times, but there are couples that acknowledge that being together is not ideal and want to separate in a very loving way. They don’t want to create a huge performance, they just want to make a loving separation between them so they can still stay friends. It’s the point the old relationship ends and a new one begins.”

The week will finish with a procession, picnic and a peace ceremony in the Horsham Park on Saturday May 24.

If you would like to take part in any of the events email Jean on [email protected] or call 01403 273754 or 07906 963308. For more information go to www.milestone-celebrations.co.uk