GOLCAR

The service at Golcar Baptist on Sunday was a combined service of the local churches. The Rev Chris Thompson conducted the service, the organist was Calinda Stockhill, the pianist was Chris Woodhead and the readers were Gillian Beevers, from Golcar Providence and Betty Taylor from St Johns. The address was given by the Rev Martyn Crompton and the communion servers were Mary Sykes, Connie Pearson, Dave Howard and Geoff Ramm.

LINTHWAITE

Members of Linthwaite Methodist Church joined Marsden United Church for Sunday morning worship. Mrs Margaret Moriarty was speaker at the Thursday Fellowship at Linthwaite Methodist Church when she spoke about her World Tour when she visited Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and San Francisco. The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 3 at 2:30pm when the speaker will be Ann Leigh with a talk entitled My House is Falling Down.

Chairlady saves the day! When the speaker failed to turn up to Linthwaite Methodist Church Thursday Fellowship meeting last Thursday afternoon chairlady Mrs Margaret Moriarty stepped in and talked about her holiday to Australia and New Zealand with her husband Brian in 2006. All present agreed that they would like to hear the "illustrated version" at another time. Jenny Sutherland played the piano and refreshments were served by Molly Shepherd and Doreen Liversidge.

At Christ Church on Wednesday the Colne Valley churches met for an ecumenical service led by Ann Leigh. The Rev Jenni Honeyman read a lesson and gave a blessing. Organist was Rhona Jepson. Refreshments were served. On Sunday morning the Rev Roger Nelson led the service, preached and prayed, celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by David Hyde and Margaret McQuillan. Organist was Rhona Jepson. The evening service was led by Ann Leigh who read a lesson and gave a blessing. Margaret McQuillan preached. Organist was Derek Horne.

LONGWOOD

The Sung Eucharist Service, at St Mark’s Church last Sunday was led by curate the Rev Harry Gwinnett. The organist was Phil Turner and the server was Chris Jones. Before the opening prayers Harry greeted the congregation with comments about the snow of Saturday possibly having deterred some of the regular congregation for the service last Sunday. He also reminded everyone that the first in a series of discussion programmes with the title of the Y Course will be held at St John’s Church Golcar on Tuesday evening. Everybody would be welcome and a meal would be served before the meeting at 6.30p.m. The first hymn Christ is our Cornerstone was followed with the service in the handbook. Bible readings, from Leviticus and Corinthians, were read by Mark Gregory and Margaret Haigh. Following the singing of The Gloria Harry read the Gospel and then continued with his sermon, delivered from the lectern, and based on the Gospel which was part of the Sermon on the Mount, and in particular the Eye for an Eye which in modern day terms could be interpreted as nipping a problem in the bud. Turning the other Cheek could also be interpreted as feeling the back of a hand. He ended by saying that Jesus’ message was that the oppressed became equal and that there are no divisions between God’s people. Following the Creed Judith Pearson presented intercession prayers and these were followed with the sharing of the peace at which point the service was joined by Sunday school and their leader Joan Morton. During the Offertory hymn, the bread, wine and prayer basket held by youngsters Lottie and Sophie, were taken from the west end of church to the altar. Communion was taken and the final hymn“O Jesus I have promised brought the service to an end and Harry gave the blessing.

MARSDEN

All Age Communion at Marsden St Bartholomew’s Church, was led by the Rev Geoff Garside. The children of the Junior Church lit their candle and continued their activities in Church. The lessons were read by Christine Garside from Leviticus 19 and 1 Corinthians 3. The vicar read the Gospel from Matthew chapter 6. Ian Hunt was the organist. Prayers were offered by David Fisher. Andrew Stead was the Server and Carolyn Hansom and David Fisher assisted at the Communion. Sidesmen were Enid and David Ackroyd and Audrey Armitage. There was no coffee served as the hall was in use by the YAD staging their pantomime.

On Sunday morning the United church held a joint service with Linthwaite and Slaithwaite Methodist Churches. The Rev Mike Smith led a joyful worship and communion was served to a full church. The Rev Jo Archer-Siddal and family including their new arrival Miriam Eve were present, much to the delight of the congregation. Mrs Marjory Boothroyd was the organist and coffee was served after the service together with cake from Miriam Eve’s baptism at Linthwaite Methodist yesterday.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphian's last Sunday David McEvoy presided and Andrew Whittaker from Heywood gave a talk entitled Dealing with Demons. Martin Spencer presided at the Bible class on Wednesday at 7.30pm. When Kevin Charlesworth spoke about Parables of Forgiveness. The seminar group met on Thursday, led by James Walker. Tomorrow (Sunday) at 6pm Andrew Fenner from Ormskirk will give a talk on The Gospels - Four Books, One Message.

PARKWOOD

A pleasant Wednesday afternoon meeting was held at Parkwood Methodist Church. Guest speaker was Freda Lloyd on William Wordsworth, in the chair was Jean Johnson and the pianist was Kenneth Rothery. Refreshments were served by Barbara Beevers and Betty Sykes. A community breakfast was led on Saturday morning at Parkwood Methodist Church organised by John and Elaine Oldham assisted by Renee Wyatt, Jean Johnson and Gill Ritchie.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning. The preacher was David Harris, church-life coordinator the Bible reader was Iris Harris and the organist was Kenneth Rothery. Visual aids were by Joe Lloyd and Anne Ivy. Coffee was served after the service by Elaine Oldham and Enid Coulson.

SLAITHWAITE

A service was held at Kirkheaton Parish Church to celebrate Valentines Day and National Marriage Week, as part of a series arranged by the Mothers Union across the World. Monica Dodds, diocesan president said marriage and faithful relationships are very much part of what the Mothers Union is all about. The Rev Richard Steel, Rector of Kirkheaton invited any couple married 60 years or over to apply to a special invitation to the service. St James Parish Church Mothers Union, Slaithwaite had one such couple, Edith and Charles Gaunt who are in their 66th year of marriage, and their branch leader applied on their behalf. Edith said what a wonderful service it was in a packed church, open to everyone and they happened to be the longest married couple and were invited to cut the special cake with 12 other couples sharing the day. The service was followed by a light lunch at the parish centre.

Slaithwaite Good Companions met last Thursday. Hilary Ellis introduced her husband Gordon who did a series of quizzes for us, good fun and keeping our brains active. He was thanked by Maureen Weaving who was also the pianist.

St James Parish Church Holy Communion service conducted by the Rev Robyn Townsend assisted by Raymond Denton. After there were hymns and prayers and the J John film this week was the fourth commandment: remember to observe the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy or stop driving yourself crazy. This commandment is all about our time, a gift from God. Some, as in The Old Testament Days stick to the principals laid down, the majority wish to honour God and give time to him and then have time to themselves. This was followed by more prayers and Holy Communion and the organist was Alvy Whitehead.

It was members evening at the Slaithwaite WI when they met at the community centre for their February meeting. Gill Walker introduced fellow committee member Jane Barff who demonstrated her artistic ability in watercolours. Jane welcomed visitors to her studio. The raffle was won by Sandra Dalton.

The Methodist Bible study group met on Monday evening, Gordon Ellis was the leader. Members read Chapter 3 of Genesis and chapter 9 of St Johns Gospel and discussed Jesus healing the blind man using clay on his eyes over the two Bible passages.

The February Ecumenical service was held at Christ Church, Linthwaite and was led by Ann Leigh. The Rev Jenni Honeyman read from the first book of Kings, the story of the widow who gave her last meal to a stranger and Ann challenged us on our attitude to strangers. Prayers were said for the valley and the church ladies served coffee and biscuits.

Members of the Methodist Church travelled to Marsden United for a United Service on Sunday. The preacher was the Rev Mike Smith an included Holy Communion. Coffee and celebration baptism cake provided by the Rev Jo and Ed Archer-Siddal and family were enjoyed after the service.