GOLCAR

The Rev Canon Martin Crompton and the Rev Harry Gwinett led the Mother’s Union Lenten Service at St John’s Church on April 2. Ann Norton was the pianist. Afterwards refreshments were served in the community room. A passover meal and service for Maundy Thursday was led by Martin and Harry in the church community room. On Good Friday morning, the churches of Golcar joined together for a an open air service in Jubilee Square. The accompanist was Liz Hardy. Organised by Diane Griffin with the help from Church members, a children’s activity day was held on Good Friday at St John’s. Twenty-eight children worked together in five groups. The theme this year was new beginnings. The craft activities included sewing bookmarks, decorating caterpillars and butterflies, making “grassheads men”, Easter nests and baskets and mobile rainbows. After a picnic lunch in the community room Richard Lodge finished the day off with a talk and songs with help from Margaret Laycock. On Easter Sunday the church was decorated with flowers for the Festal Easter Communion Service. The Rev Canon Martin welcomed the congregation and led the service. Readings were given by Richard Lodge and Karen Lock. Sunday Club and Sunday Youth had followed the theme of the Easter service and had made Easter gifts. A welcome and baptism service in the afternoon was led by the Rev Canon Martin Crompton.

The Easter Sunday Service at Providence Methodist Church was led by Mrs W Blackburn. Mrs J Swallow welcomed Mrs Blackburn and read Mark 16 verses 1-4 and Mark 16 verses 9-11. During the service the congregation placed flowers on the cross. Mr John Burt was the organist. Fellowship continued in the schoolroom.

LINTHWAITE

The Rev Jo Archer-Siddall led all age worship at Linthwaite Methodist, to celebrate the Resurrection in the form of ‘Messy Church’. The lectionary readings for Easter Day were read by Ian Baxter, Lesley Baxter and Henry Tennant. Jo asked the congregation to consider why we believe that Jesus rose from the dead for us all, was it because someone told us, because the news had stood the test of time or because we have or could experience it. Jan Widdop and Ian Baxter assisted with communion. Linda Nuttall played the organ and Peter Stead ran the audio-visual. A continental breakfast was served after the service with many of the congregation staying to share the food.

MARSDEN

Good Friday at the United Church commenced at 7pm with the serving of coffee and hot cross buns, followed by a service led by Ruth and Edward Sheldrake, who spoke of the crucifixion of Jesus. The congregation was joined by worshipers from the Parish Church and Linthwaite Methodist Church. Mrs Marjorie Boothroyd was the pianist.

Easter Day worship at the United Church was led to a packed church by Mr Francis Horton, who also gave the sacrament of holy baptism to Eric Lazenby, son of Sarah and Shaun Lewis and Penelope Jane, daughter of Kathleen and Dick Carter. Mr Horton then gave a short sermon on the resurrection of Jesus and finally served Holy Communion to the congregation. Mr Chris Cook was the organist and refreshments were served by Margaret and Barry Biltcliffe.

Easter Sunday at St Bartholomew’s was a service of Sung Eucharist preceded by a procession led by the vicar the Rev Geoff Garside. The vicar read the Gospel from John 20 v 1-18 and preached the sermon. The lessons from Isaiah 25 v6-9 and Acts 10 v34-43 were read by Carolyn Hansom. Joan Biggs offered prayers of intercession. Ian Hunt was the organist and Simon Crook played the trumpet accompaniment. Simon also directed the Children’s Choir, who sang during communion. At the end of the service the children were given Easter eggs. Sidesmen were Kevin and Pat Purcell. David Corps and David Fisher served coffee and sherry in the hall. The vicar and churchwardens thanked everyone for all the hard work done preparing services during the past week and cleaning and decorating the church for Easter.

CROSLAND MOOR

Members of the Crosland Moor Mothers’ Union celebrated Holy Communion in the Lady Chapel of St Barnabas' Church. The Rev Canon Stephen Henry officiated, assisted by server Andrea Rattigan, who also read passages from the Bible. Afterwards in the parish hall the members held a short business meeting chaired by the new branch leader Valerie Donoghue, who then introduced the speaker James Greig, a fundraiser for the Leprosy Mission. Mr Greig showed slides of the leprosy colonies in India and of the help being given by the workers at the Leprosy Mission. The presentation finished with a short video of some of the stories of leprosy sufferers. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Greig by Margaret Sigsworth and the hostesses for the morning were Andrea Rattigan, Alwyn Hallas and Nancy Jones. At the close of the meeting, members remembered their past branch leader Joyce Holdsworth, who only retired at the annual meeting in February, but sadly died in March.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphians the sisters’ class met on Tuesday evening. Margaret Stevenson led the meeting, Susan Hackett was the organist and the talk ‘Peter – Converted at Last’ , was given by Rita Dyson. The Bible class on Wednesday evening went ahead, although there were fewer in numbers attending due to the heavy snow disruption. Pete Barrett gave the first in a series of talks looking at Paul`s letters to the Philippians – Following Christ’s Example was the title. Next Wednesday April 11, Paul Rose is to continue the theme with the title ‘Pressing Toward the Goal.’ The class will start at 7.30pm. On Sunday the services were led by Pete Barrett. The speaker at the afternoon service was Paul Rose , who took his exhortation from Philippians chapter 2. Kevin Charlesworth gave the talk at the evening meeting, his subject title was ‘Hide and Seek’. The Sunday evening lecture subject for Sunday April 15 will be- ‘God`s Kingdom – What Will it be Like?’ The meeting will commence at 6pm. Visitors are welcome to all meetings and talks.

SLAITHWAITE

Slaithwaite Good Companions were welcomed by Patricia Parkinson. The speaker was Josephine Daker, who entertained with numerous poems and tales, she was thanked by Hilda Haigh.

The St James’ Parish Church evening service for Maundy Thursday, was led by the Rev Robinson Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The lesson from 1 Corinthians, was read by Raymond. The Holy Gospel from Mark 14 and the address, ‘The Importance of Holy Communion’ was given by the Rev Robin. Prayers were led by Margaret Ingham and this was followed by the Eucharist, then came the stripping of the alter, preparing for Good Friday. The organist was Alvy Whitehead.

St James’ Church service for Good Friday was led by the Rev Robin, who read all three lessons from Luke Chapter 23, and gave the address. The prayers were led by Peter Brown.

St James’ Easter Day service was led by the Rev Robin, assisted by Raymond Denton. After the first hymn there was a procession of witness around the village with hymns. Those who stayed behind in church heard music by Alvy. The Eucharist was then celebrated. The children gave out Easter eggs. This was followed by coffee and then there was a meat and potato pie lunch.

Easter services at the Methodist church were led by the Rev Jo Archer-Siddal, the cross was decorated with flowers for the Sunday morning service. The first three sections of chapter 20 of John’s Gospel were read by Maureen Weaving, Betty Robshaw and Gordon Ellis. The Rev Jo’s sermon was based on three reasons why she believes in the resurrection, that someone told her, that it has stood the test of time, and that she has experienced it. The service included Holy Communion when the organist was Roger Mitchell.