BIRDSEDGE

A quiet Quiz Night was won by Wonky Donkey Ding Dong. Most of the players enjoyed the choice of curry, chilli, sticky toffee or pineapple upside down puddings. Some of the regulars were away on their holidays.

The Car Boot sale was also quiet, the still traditional event can’t compete with Grange Moor’s first of the season. Cracking weather made for an enjoyable event raising funds for the village hall.

All systems are go for the Birdsedge Festival on July 9, to be held on the school field to the rear of the village hall from noon. It will be free admission this year – see www.birdsedge.co.uk for details.

The church service was taken by Richard Hoyle. He read Psalm 34 v 8 ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’. He discussed all our senses for the young people. Tasting an exotic fruit drink was good but tasting the Lord is a challenge for us all. For the adults he talked about the Holy Spirit being a guide, comforter, counsellor, advocate and spirit of truth – John 16 v 5-16. God encourages us to take up the Holy Spirit into our daily lives. Mike Smith will take tomorrow’s service.

CLAYTON WEST

A warm welcome was given to the Archdeacon of Halifax, Robert Freeman and his wife Chris, who had been invited to join Morning Worship. The service was led by Raymond Parker. Readings were prepared and delivered by Kathryn Hullah and Gillian Hamer from Genesis 22(vv1 – 14) and the Gospel of Matthew 10(vv 40-end), respectively. The service was given over to questions and answers regarding the Archdeacon’s role in the Church of England, with questions posed by members of the congregation. Enlightening answers were received from the Archdeacon whose visit to Clayton West, All Saints’, is likely to be his last as he is to take up the post of Bishop of Penrith in the Autumn. Small gifts were presented to the Archdeacon in recognition of the support given to All Saints’ in recent years. Prayers for the wider world were written and led by Jayne Stanley and Stephanie Spence. Music for the service was provided by both Jonathan Newcombe and Gillian Hamer. Choir members contributed to the service in singing John Rutter’s arrangement of For the Beauty of the Earth. Refreshments were served for all by Marjorie Brown and Margaret after the service.

The High Hoyland churchyard clear-up was successful in that it attracted help from the community of High Hoyland as well as Clayton West parishioners. There are two more opportunities – July 17 and August 7th – to continue this work. On both afternoons from 1.30pm, a team will operate in the churchyard, clearing another overgrown section to achieve some semblance of order. Additional help would be much appreciated.

DENBY DALE

At Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel Robert Nuttall led the Fellowship meeting on Monday evening. Loving our neighbour was the theme of Sunday morning’s Sunday School. Andy Wilcock spoke about the Power of the Holy Spirit at the service on Sunday evening. The pianist was Robert Nuttall. The recent Collection in Denby Dale and Cumberworth raised a record amount of over £1,780 for Christian Aid. Chris Wainwright held a coffee morning in the Methodist Church on Saturday morning which raised over £420 to be divided between Denby Dale Methodist Church and Holy Trinity Denby Dale

EMLEY

St Michael’s Church Emley is open each Wednesday from 10am until 4pm.

Holy Eucharist was held on Sunday morning celebrated by the Rev John Marsh, newly licensed priest in charge and the Rev Anne Young, newly licensed associate priest. Graham Russell and John Ryder read the bible, Dennis Roughsedge, churchwarden, led prayers and Malcolm Jessop played the organ. The Rev John and Rev Anne jointly gave the talk with emphasis on faith in today’s society and the importance of the tasks as Christians we face now. We need to start with prayer, learn more about the bible, share our faith with others, they said. Come Back To Church Sunday in September is an ideal opportunity for us all. Six year old Oscar Smith read out a list of changes he would like. Refreshments were served at the end of the service.

On Friday July 8 folk singer Lorelei Loveridge will play sing and talk about her experiences whilst travelling the world. She is famous in Canada as a song writer as well as a drama and English teacher and she is well known in the folk world. The performance will be in church at 7.30pm tickets £4 including light refreshments.

KIRKBURTON

Pastoral minister Mrs Betty Cross welcomed the worshippers to a service of Sung Eucharist in All Hallows Parish Church on the first Sunday after Trinity. The service was led by reader Mrs Janet Roberts and the Rev Robert Chambers was the preacher. Mrs Roberts read the prayers of intercession and Mr Chambers took for the theme of his sermon Spreading the Good News. Mrs Rachel Atkinson gave the readings for the day from the sixth chapter of St Paul’s letter to the Romans and from the tenth chapter of the Gospel according to St Matthew. Mrs Pauline Pinder and Mrs Christine Rangeley took up the chalice and paten and, at the distribution, Mr Chambers was assisted by Mrs Roberts and Mrs Hilary Berry. Mrs Shirley Lingwood and Mr Dennis Goring performed the duties of sidesmen and took the collection. Mrs Doreen Barraclough was the organist. After the service, Mrs Dot Greenwood served refreshments to the congregation. In the evening pastoral minister Mrs Betty Cross led the monthly service of Encounter. Churchwarden Glyn Phillips gave the Meditation and took for his theme Amazing Grace. Mrs Pauline Pinder gave the reading from the third chapter of the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians and Mrs Cross led the prayers. Music for the service was provided by the Church Music Group

SHELLEY

Shelley Over 60s members held their weekly meeting in the Village Hall last Thursday. The whist high of 92 was scored by Dora Sanders and the low of 62 went to Vera Wilkinson from seven tables. The bingo line was won by Linda Brauner and the full house by Gordon Burgin. There was no winner for the first three numbers on one card, so the prize carried forward to the next meeting. Members celebrated the birthdays of Shirley Sandon (80) and Mollie Waterworth. Raffle prizes were won by Robin Small, Eunice Ramsden, Edith Brookes, Vera Wilkinson, Molly James and Jean Porter.

SKELMANTHORPE

The preacher at Skelmanthorpe Wesleyan Reform Church on Sunday was Tony Hudson from Huddersfield. The organist was John Orton. Refreshments were served afterwards by Susan Wright.

Last Sunday at the Methodist Church, the reader at the service was Mrs Lucie Froggatt who read a sermon by a Methodist Minister, which illustrated God’s love for his people. The readings, given by Margaret Taylor and Dorothy Waddington also illustrated the same theme. The first reading by Margaret was from the Book of Hosea who welcomed his wife back into his family after she had disgraced herself. The second reading by Dorothy was the story of the Prodigal Son, who was welcomed back into the fold of his family after he returned from trying a different kind of life. Both of the readings illustrated God’s love for his people. The music group accompanied one of the hymns and Christine Senior was the organist. The steward for the service was Dorothy Waddington.

STOCKSMOOR

Stocksmoor Bridge Club results for Thursday June 16. North/South –1 P Pogson and A Stephens, 2 M Russell and E Covell, 3 P Turner and M Kenworthy; East/West – 1 J Shaw and E Tullie, 2 C Kaye and L Tempest, 3 N Stott and C Wilkinson.

Results for Thursday June 23. North/South – 1 J Pearson and J McGee, 2 P Pogson and A Stephens, 3 M Bailey and A Mitchell; East/West: 1 J Shaw and E Tullie, 2 C Kaye and L Tempest, 3 J Daniel and L Mallinson.