GOLCAR

Golcar Providence Methodist’s Men's Fellowship met at the church. The curate Rev H Gwinnet gave a talk and slide show on The Hands of Hope Charity, who help at the House of Hope in Haiti to educate children. Mr Peter Booth chaired the meeting.

Sunday morning worship was led by Rev Pam Ward at Golcar Providence Methodist. His sermon was on the theme of Journey. Lessons were read by Mrs B Hallas and Mrs S Pearson. Mr Granville Brook was the pianist. Coffee was served after the service followed by the church annual general meeting.

The monthly meeting of the Mothers’ Union was held in the community room at St John’s Church on Tuesday March 8. Committee member Sheila Ribbons opened the meeting with prayers and welcomed Margaret Laycock as the speaker. Margaret spoke with enthusiasm about her 50 years in physiotherapy, starting with her training in Manchester and finishing in private practice. The supper ladies were Dorothy Holden and Miriam Myers.

The Rev Canon Martyn Crompton welcomed the congregation to the parish communion service at St John’s Church. The readings were given by Sue Boulder from Genesis 12 verses 1-4 and Betty Taylor, Romans 4 verses 1-5 and 13-17. Martyn gave the gospel reading from John, chapter 3 verses 1-17, titled Jesus taught Nicodemus, on which he based his address. Prayers were led by Anne Crosland and Ann Norton was the organist. Sunday Club and Sunday Youth had been listening to the story of Nicodemus and had prepared a number of questions to test the congregation’s knowledge of the Bible.

The Golcar Baptist charity quiz raised £267.15 for the White Knights who transport blood and medicine out of hours.

The service on Sunday was conducted by the Rev Mike Smith, the organist was Calinda Stockhill and the servers at communion were Anita and Geoff Ramm.

LINTHWAITE

One of the Methodist Thursday Fellowship members, Ian Baxter, spoke about Oberammergau, recalling three visits that he and his wife Lesley had made over the years. He illustrated his talk with slides and cine film. Maureen Stead was in the chair and Jenny Sutherland played the piano. The secretary reminded members that the last speaker of the year would be Ted Duggam MBE and that the AGM would be held on Thursday April 7.

Mr Richard Hoyle conducted morning worship at Linthwaite Methodist Church.He told the children of how Samuel chose David to be King and that we should always listen to what God says to us. They then left for Sunday School with their teachers, Andrea Morley, Dianne Loftus and Joanna Ambler. Richard preached the sermon on Patience, telling how we should never run out of patience with mankind, be it active or passive patience. Readers at the service were Maureen Stead and Jenny Sutherland and AV by Peter Stead.

The morning service at Christ Church was led by the Rev Roger Nelson who preached and prayed, celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by David Hynd and Ann Leigh, and the organist was Derek Horne.

The evening service was led by Margaret McQuillan who read lessons and gave a blessing. Ann Leigh preached an prayed and the organist was Rhona Jepson.

MARSDEN

On Sunday morning worship at the United Church Marsden was led by Mr J Frances Horton. The bible readings were by Jean Broome and Richard Wooffenden. The organist was Marjorie Boothroyd. After the service tea and coffee was served.

At a later service David Harris baptised Isaac Scott Evans, son of Sadie Cooper and Jason Evans.

All Age Communion at St Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday was led by the vicar, the Rev Geoff Garside. Alison Fisher gave a talk to the children about God giving his only son for us. She demonstrated this by showing articles from home that may be easy or difficult to give up – the most difficult to give up being your child to save the world. Alison Gibson gave the readings from Genesis chapter 12 and Romans chapter 4. The Gospel from John chapter 3, was read by Licensed reader, Joan Biggs. Carolyn Hansom and Elizabeth Knight and Andrew Stead assisted the vicar at the Communion. The organist was Ian Hunt.The sidesmen were Susan Everill and Jean Pennington. Coffee was served by Noreen Carr, Cynthia Batley and Audrey Armitage.

A service of Holy Communion was held on Tuesday.

A Table Top Sale will be held today (Saturday) in the Parochial Hall from 9am until 12.30pm.

Marsden Information Point will relocate into Marsden Library and Information Centre, in Marsden Mechanics Hall on the opposite side of Peel Street. There will be no disruption to the service for customers, who will be able to access all the information they require within the new location. There will be new longer opening hours and a more integrated efficient service all under one roof. From Tuesday March 29 the new opening hours will be:Mondays: closed; Tuesdays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm; Wednesdays: 1.30pm to 7pm; Thursdays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm; Fridays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm; Saturdays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm; Sundays: closed. There will be surgeries offering advice on a range of topics, including drop-in housing surgeries with Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing on Tuesdays from 11am to noon; Citizens Advice Bureau surgeries from April 4 funded by the Cuckoo’s Nest Charity Shop, on Friday mornings by appointment only and monthly Legal Clinics on the first Wednesday of the month from 5pm to 6pm by appointment only. Library services will continue as normal with Storytimes for the under 5s now on a Wednesday afternoons. A full Library and Information service will be available, including all council enquiries, applying for a Kirklees Passport with the facility for having photographs taken; help with Blue Badge applications and bus passes. Residents and visitors will find information on local events, including local maps, walking and cycling guides and public transport information, including the sale of Day Rover tickets. The very successful Marsden and Slaithwaite calendar will continue with photograph entries due by May 7. For tourism enquiries Marsden Visitor Information will have its own email address: marsden.visitorinformation@kirklees.gov.uk and the general email for the Library and Information Centre is marsden.lic@kirklees.gov.uk There will be one contact telephone number: 01484 222555. All staff and services will be based together offering a full service to the customer.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphians on Sunday Kevin Charlesworth presided and Stephen Leng from Macclesfield spoke. His subject was “The God of the second chance”

On Tuesday evening at 7.30pm the Sisters class met, Keziah Paul presided and Barbara Spencer gave a talk on God’s Covenants. The next Sisters class will be in two weeks time, when the subject is “David – chosen by God”.

At the Bible class on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm, Paul Rose presided when Mark Tonge`s subject was, “ Moses, Gods prophet.” The Bible seminar group met on Thursday evening , continuing their detailed study of the book of Daniel. The discussion was led by Martin Spencer. On Sunday March 27 at 6pm , Malcolm Cross is the speaker, his subject will be “ God exists, so stop worrying!”. Visitors are most welcome.

PARKWOOD

A pleasant Wednesday afternoon meeting was held at Parkwood Methodist Church. Guest speaker was Connie Pearson with poetry and verses of bygone days. In the chair was Jean Johnson, pianist Kenneth Rothery. Refreshments were served by Bettie Sykes and Barbara Beevers. Secretary was Freda Lloyd.

A community breakfast was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Saturday morning, organised by Anne and Graham Ivy and family and Sandra McSweeney. In the evening a beetle drive was held organised by Reene Wyatt, Elaine Oldham and Pat Battye, with a pie and peas supper and hot dogs.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning. Guest preacher was Andrew Marchington and bible reader Gill Ritchie. The ceremony at the Lenten Cross by Mary Rothery and Margaret Noble, placed the symbols of the bowl and towel at the foot of the cross along with bible readings. Pianist was Rhianydd Booth. Sound system by Joe Lloyd. Coffee was served after the service by Margaret Noble and Audrey Holdsworth.

SLAITHWAITE

Thursday Slaithwaite Good Companions saw Hilary Ellis welcome the speaker Keith Saunders of Linthwaite, who told about his trek to Venezuela to climb the plateau of Roraima with a group of about 25 others, plus porters. Together with the Kukenan plateau this was the area where Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle based his story of the Lost World. He showed as many slides of the trek, much of the flora is to be found in no other place. The scenery was truly awesome and much of it very dangerous to trek. He was thanked by Patricia Parkinson for great afternoon. There were birthday celebrations for Hilary Ellis and the pianist was Maureen Weaving.

St James Parish Church was the venue for the family concert given for the second year by Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, starting at 4pm. This was an excellent concert under the baton of Benjamin Ellin. This was well attended and lots of children were present. The conductor chose a young boy from the audience to come out to take part not knowing he was to conduct the warm up of Rossini’s William Tell Overture. Nine-year-old Henry Fox was the boy who performed really well to much applause. A special brass section performed a Sonata by Gabrielli. The guest soprano Rhianydd Beaumont, now a local lass living in Slaithwaite, sang the Mozart Exultant, Jubilata – an absolute joy to hear. About 20 children joined in the Toy Symphony, playing toy instruments. The concert ended with Dvorak’s symphonic variations. Together with the great acoustics in this lovely church makes it an event to remember. The orchestra was led by Michele Northam. To finish off the afternoon there was a wonderful buffet and get-together.

St James Parish Church Holy Communion service was led by Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. Services are back to normal after the weeks of studying the Ten Commandments. The lessons from Romans Chapter 4, The Example of Abraham, was read by Raymond Denton. The Holy Gospel from St John Chapter 3, followed by the address, about Jesus and Nicodemus, was given by the Rev Robin who also led the prayers. The organist was Alvi Whitehead.

W I Members from other groups joined Slaithwaite ladies at the community centre on Wednesday evening. Gill Walker introduced Graham Porter, the writer of a weekly gardening article in the Huddersfield Examiner. Members were invited to illustrate various ways to make the most of a small garden, and Gill was voted the best and was presented with a gardening manual. Graham judged the best hyacinth bulb in bloom as the one grown by Wendy Bamforth. Refreshments were served by the rota ladies.

The March ecumenical service was at Linthwaite Methodist Church and led by Mr Ian Baxter who spoke on the Creation, after a reading from Genesis by Linda Nuttall. In his prayers Ian remembered the people of Libya and New Zealand before a time of open prayers for the Colne Valley. Linda accompanied the hymns and after the service coffee and biscuits were enjoyed.

Sunday worship at the Methodist Church was led by Mr Adrian Burton of Netherton. The bread and wine were laid on the Cross and the Lenten reading given by Mary Mercer. The Old Testament lesson from Jeremiah was read by Karsten Svensgaard and verses from Mark’s gospel by Wendy Blackburn - The story of blind Bartimaeus. The words based on the passage ‘Come In Faith To Jesus’ were used by Adrian as the basis for his sermon. There was a time of reflection and meditation while listening to Do Not Pass Me By sung by Ginny Owens, and Rachel Wybrew was the accompanist for the hymns.