GOLCAR

Mar 8 2008 by Yvette Smith, Hudd Sat

Canon Martyn Crompton and the Rev Barbara Mitchell officiated at the Mothering Sunday service at St John’s Church. A large congregation included Sunday Club, Sunday Youth, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. The colour party from Rainbows comprised Corby Land, Olivia Roberts and Bayley Taylor, from Brownies Caitlin Humble, Imogen and Shauna Moss and from Guides Abbie Smith, Elizabeth Dyson and Helena Fletcher. Brownie leader Margaret Shaw gave the reading and Sylvia Hanson led prayers with the help of Sunday Club member and Rainbow Bethany Hemingway, Brownie Rebekah Heywood and Guide Kathryn Dyson. Daffodils were distributed by the children to ladies of the congregation. Ann Norton was organist and Helen Davies played the guitar.

A Mothering Sunday Family service was held at Golcar Baptist Church on Sunday, led by the Rev Chris Thompson. Calinda Stockhill was organist and Chris Woodhead the pianist. At the conclusion, polyanthus plants were distributed to ladies of the congregation.

Mothering Sunday service at Golcar Providence Methodist Church was led by Liz Bishop. Robert Dearnley gave the appropriate reading as Gillian Beever and son James took the crown of thorns and the purple robe to the cross. The lesson was read by Winifred Ellis. Daffodils were presented to the congregation and organist was Chris Pearson.

LINTHWAITE

Palm Sunday March 16 at Linthwaite Methodist Church will be celebrated at a special Family Songs of Praise for Easter at 4.30pm. The service will be followed by tea and hot cross buns.

Women’s World Day of Prayer was marked at Christ Church yesterday (Friday) with a special service, led by the Rev Sue Pegg. Speaker was Canon Jane Clay.

A carvery lunch for 132 people was served at the Old Folks Treat in the Methodist Church Centre. Youngest lady was 65-year-old Hilary Baxter of Stones Lane and youngest man Thomas Parker of Manchester Road, who was also 65. The eldest lady (who had not received the award before) was Connie Reast of Gilroyd Lane, aged 90 and 90-year-old Harry Cawood of Linroyd was oldest man. Oldest married couple were Mr and Mrs Hildred Haigh of Gilroyd Lane, who had been married for 61 years. All received gifts and the ladies bunches of flowers from host and hostess Ronnie and Barbara Hanson. Co-operative Funeral Care kindly provided free transport for residents of Linroyd. Entertainment was provided by Belinda O’Hooley, who sang and played the keyboard. All present received a box of chocolates.

An ‘own arrangement’ Mothering Sunday service was held at the Methodist Church on Sunday, led by Lesley Baxter and members of the congregation. Organist was Linda Nuttall. Children presented daffodils to ladies of the congregation. Afterwards everyone sang Happy Birthday for Norman Walshaw on his 95th birthday.

A combined Family and Mothering Sunday service was held at Christ Church, led by the Rev David Wilding, who celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. A Mothers’ Day presentation was given by Margaret McQuilland and Ann Leigh. Junior Church and the uniformed groups took part and the Spice Girls song Mama, adapted by Katharine Longbottom, was performed. Bunches of flowers were presented to members of the congregation, arranged by Kim Harrison. Evening service was led by the Rev Julian Perkins, who preached, prayed and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by Ann Leigh and Derek Horne and organist was Rodney Pearson.

LONGWOOD

A capacity congregation, including scouts, guides and uniformed services, gathered for the Mothering Sunday Family Worship. Parish Priest Rev Jim Hunt led the service. People arriving at St Mark’s were greeted by organist Philip Turner and his group of musicians and augmented choir singing Come Now is the Time to Worship. Jim introduced the service by saying it was a very special day as it was a celebration of the award of the MBE to Sunday school and Beaver Scout Leader Joan Morton. Everybody was invited to a free buffet lunch in the Parish Centre after church. The now familiar format, using a large screen resounded to happy singing. The second hymn– My God is so Big included physical jerks led by Nikki Gaukroger! After the gospel reading, a video presentation featured pictures of Church family mothers and their children with commentary by Anne Stephenson and vocal song by Sue Smith. Intercession Prayers were presented by Anna Wallace. Members of the uniformed organisations helped in the offertory and collections. David Verlander assisted Jim with the Communion following which the children collected posies of flowers and cards to present to their mothers. The final hymn was the Graham Kendrick favourite Shine Jesus Shine. The service concluded with Jim leading the singing of the Celtic Blessing.

The Buffet Lunch, in the Parish Centre was well attended and David Verlander presented Joan Morton with a bouquet of flowers and a gift from the church in honour of her MBE award in the Queen’s 2008 New Years Honours List.

MARSDEN

The family service at St Bartholomew’s, Marsden, was led by Geoff Clay. Organist Don Rowarth and reader Emily Fisher. Prayers were by Alison Whitehead and sidespeople were B. Lennon, M Hall, A Muskett, E Knight, and E Lingard. There were two baptisms; Ged Arthur MacDonald, son of Beth and Alistair, and Lilly Katherine, daughter of Stewart and Louise Alexandra. Coffee was served by J Bradbury, J Ward, E Fisher, N Carr and cakes were by D Lodge, M Smithers, and A Armitage. Junior Church members served hot cross buns and made Easter cards after the service.

The monthly luncheon was an Easter special buffet, organised by Joan Gee and Mable Smithers. Money raised is for the church fabric fund.

Elaine Nixon led morning worship for Mothering Sunday at the United Church, Marsden. Children of the Junior Church made gifts for their mothers. The reading was given by Bryan Cowgill and organist was Christine Gledhill. Coffee was served afterwards.

On Sunday March 16 – Palm Sunday – the United Church will host a special all-family service. It will start at 10.30am in the church car park, when a donkey called Molly will be there to remind everyone of the first Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The service will then continue in church – without Molly – when members of the Junior Church will lead worship with the Rev Sue Pegg. Everyone is welcome and tea and coffee will be served afterwards.

MILNSBRIDGE

A new group called Little Fishes is now running at Milnsbridge Baptist Church.It is a small and very friendly group of children and their parents.The session offers play, craft, stories, songs and friends. Everyone is welcome with their pre-school child for lots of fun activities. It runs every Tuesday term time, from 10-11.30am and just asks for a voluntary donation of 50p per family.

Mr K Charlesworth of Milnsbridge was speaker at Milnsbridge Christadelphians’ Midweek Bible Class when he led a discussion on the Bible readings of the day. On Sunday evening Mr G Smith of Milnsbridge spoke on the subject The Scarlet Threat of Salvation.

Brenda Richardson and Yvonne Armitage called the bingo at last week’s Milnsbridge Over 60s club meeting. Raffle prizes were won by Jean Chaplin, Mary Bush and Irene Bone. And for a nice change from the norm, the group also enjoyed a cream tea.

A family service for Mothering Sunday was held at Milnsbridge Baptist Church last weekend. All the children handed out daffodils for the ladies of the church. The service was taken by the Rev Mike Roberts. The reading was from ecclesiastes 3. Coffee and biscuits were provided at the end of the service.

PARKWOOD

The scouting organisations of Parkwood Methodist Church have refurbished inside and out their scout hut. On Saturday morning a re-opening ceremony was held with the Rev Keith Reid, a former scout member, and his wife Jennifer guests of honour. Displays of photographs and centenary celebrations, plus refreshments, were enjoyed by all present.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Mothering Sunday morning service at Parkwood Methodist Church. Guest preacher was Brenda Ellis and Lenten cross reader Jean Johnson. Phil McSweeney placed the purple robe and crown of thorns on the cross. Bible readers were Enid Coulson and Renee Wyatt, who also distributed bunches of daffodils to all the ladies in the congregation, assisted by Rainbow Lucy McLintock. The choir sang For The Beauty of The Earth, conducted by Gareth Beaumont. Organist was Kenneth Rothery and coffee was served by Margaret Noble and Christine Johnson.

A Spring Fair with various stalls will be held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday March 15 between 10am-2pm. All welcome.

SLAITHWAITE

Mothering Sunday service at Upper Slaithwaite Church was led by Jeanette Seed and Margaret Cook was the pianist. Flowers were distributed by the children to ladies of the congregation and coffee was served afterwards.

Pianist Granville Brook entertained at a meeting of Slaithwaite Good Companions. He was introduced by Maureen Weaving and thanked by Pauline Ayre.

Sunday’s Mothering Sunday service at St James’ was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. Callum David Fitzpatrick, son of Shane Joseph Fitzpatrick and Claire Ann Smith, was baptised. The lesson was read by Dorothy Gledhill and Pat Parkinson offered prayers. Flowers to ladies of the congregation were distributed by the children. Alvi Whitehead was the organist and, after a coffee break, a short Communion service was held.

On Tuesday last the Women’s Fellowship met in the Methodist Church with Bessie Whitwam in the chair. She introduced speaker Mrs Cooksey, who gave a most interesting talk on Joseph Wood, born 1750 in High Flatts, who became a minister to the Quakers, travelling through Yorkshire, Cumbria and Derbyshire etc. She had brought along original diaries and notebooks, listing sermons and letters sent and received.

Mrs Sandra Dalton was in the chair for the Wesley Guild on Thursday evening. Mr Chris Hook of Scammonden was the speaker and he gave a very comprehensive talk on the Origins of Money. He brought along many ancient coins for members to examine. Supper was served by the committee ladies.

The Mothering Sunday service at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev Sue Pegg, assisted by a slide presentation by husband Mel. Marie Wybrew, Gavin, Sam and Rachel acted a schoolroom sketch on Mothers. The Rev Sue baptised Emily Grace, the daughter of Martyn and Michelle Short, and Abigail Ann, Adam Martin Stewart, Jarvis Jack William and Ami-Lee Christine, children of Paul Randall and Helen Jane Wilkinson. Sandra Dalton gave the Lenten reading and organist was Wendy Redfearn.

The fourth of the Lenten Bible Study meetings was led by the Rev Sue Pegg in the Methodist vestry.