News and views from the Colne Valley
May 23 2009 By Express and Chronicle
MILNSBRIDGE
At Milnsbridge Christadelphians midweek Bible class Mr P Barratt from Milnsbridge led a discussion on the Bible readings for the day. On Sunday evening Mr G Davis from Sutton Coalfield led a talk entitled Why Bread and Wine?
PARKWOOD
A drop-in lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday. The menu was cottage pie, mixed vegetables, syrup sponge, apple and plum crumble, ginger sponge, tea or coffee, organised by Linda Murray, assisted by ladies of the church. A community breakfast was held on Saturday morning organised by Jean Bedford, assisted by Reene Wyatt and Sandra McSweeney. In the afternoon Huddersfield Young Singers Little Voices presented a concert, conductor and pianist Joe and James Lewis, followed by afternoon tea. Some £210 was raised for choir and church funds. A dedication service by the Rev Peter Bedford around the new rose garden of remembrance was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning, with a guard-of-honour of all the uniformed organisations. Thanks were expressed for the hard work and generosity of Stuart Collier, Derek Bieby, Craig Nixon and Colne Valley Garden Centre, followed by a procession into church for morning worship, with the Rev Peter Beford, plus visual aids of Brownies in Napal and Scout groups from Yorkshire helping to build a hostel and school in Napal. Long service awards were presented to Richard Jackson, Steve Bull and Phyllis Bieby, by Phillip Hayhirst. Refreshments and a faith lunch was served after the service by Sandra and Phil McSweeny and ladies of the church to a group of sponsored walkers from Churches Together in the lower Colne Valley for Christian Aid, starting from Parkwood and finishing at St Thomas’s Church, Longroyd Bridge.
SLAITHWAITE
The Good Companions met last Thursday introduced by Hilary Ellis. Pupils of the Bernadette Heys School of Dance were the entertainment, nine tinies aged three and under showed off their ballet exercises and dance and were delightful. They were thanked by Patricia Parkinson. Pianist was Maureen Weaving. The St James’ Parish Church holy communion service was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton and Jean Clayton. Two visiting vicars in the congregation were welcomed, The Rev David Clarkson who was one time curate at St James’s and Mrs Clarkson and the Rev Vivian Parkinson, who had attended the church from childhood until marriage and his wife Maz. The lesson was read by Dorothy Mellor, prayers by Margaret Ingham, the music group led the singing, the pianist was Hiroko Townsend and the organist was Alvy Whitehead.
Gordon Ellis was the leader of the Methodist Bible Group which met in the church on Monday evening. The group discussed aspects of the story of Peter and the Roman captain Cornelius.
Worship at the Methodist Church on Sunday morning was led by Mrs Christine Shaw, of Longwood, Psalm 34 was read jointly at the start and Christine theme for the service was Loving and Forgiveness. Jacqueline Mitchell read from Jeremiah and Shirley Scott read form St Johns Gospel. The organist was Margaret Stephenson.
In the afternoon churches in the circuit came together at Slaithwaite under the network banner to dedicate the Easter offerings 2009 which are given for the work of the Fund for World Mission. Wendy Blackburn led the service and the speaker was the Rev Joanne Archer-Siddal who spoke about our journey through life, which was often hard and painful as well as having times of joy. The readings were by the Women’s Fellowship Committee members, Pauline Gee, Maureen Weaving, Bessie Whitwam and Betty Robshaw. A floral display depicting the theme of the service The Way was made by Maureen, the pianist was Shirley Scott and thanks were expressed by Mrs Sheila Packett. Refreshments were served before the service.
