GOLCAR

Mrs C Heely welcomed and introduced Mrs E Nixon who led the Mothers Day service at Providence Methodist Church, Golcar. The theme of the service was "Gods Love". Mrs B Hallas read the lesson from John1 Chapter 3, Verses 11 and 16 to 18. Prayers were led by Christine, Ann & Thomas. The organist was Mr G Brook. After the service a special celebration was held to mark Mrs Minnie Winnpenny's 100th Birthday. Rev Pam Ward congratulated Mrs Winnpenny, a birthday Cake and gifts were presented on behalf if the church, by Sheena, Barbara and Gillian. Mr J Wimpenny responded on behalf of his mother and thanked everyone.

Canon Stephen Henry led the communion service for Mothering Sunday at St John’s Church and was the celebrant. The gospel reading was given by Margaret Shaw representing Girl Guiding UK. Canon Martyn Crompton gave the talk and Sylvia Hanson led the prayers with eight representatives of the youth organisation each giving a short reading. All the ladies in the congregation received a posy of flowers and the organist was Ann Norton. After the service a Mothering Sunday lunch was held in the community room.

LINTHWAITE

Morning worship at Linthwaite Methodist was led by Raymond Nichols who chose the theme of Relationships for his sermon. The readers were Linda Marshall and John Morrison and the organist was Linda Nuttall. The young people returned from Junior Church bearing gifts of daffodils for the ladies in the congregation in celebration of Mothering Sunday.

Linthwaite Methodist Thursday Fellowship visited China in the entertaining talk given by Mrs Jane Armitage from Honley. It was illustrated by slides, anecdotes and humorous stories and members were transported to another world. Iris Wood was in the chair with Jennifer Baxter on the piano. Tea and biscuits were provided by Jan Widdop and Margaret Sykes. The Secretary, Lesley Baxter, reminded the group that the last meeting of the year in two weeks time would be the AGM. It was agreed to also run a Bring and Buy Stall on that occasion.

An all-age Mothering Sunday Eucharist was led by the Rev David Wilding, who received flags from the uniformed organisations, celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by Shirley Haigh and Margaret McQuillan who also led prayers. The Junior Church children distributed bunches of daffodils. The evening service was led by the former curate the Rev Jenny Honeyman who preached and prayed and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by Margaret McQuillan and organist was Rhona Jepson.

MARSDEN

Worship for Mothering Sunday at The United Church Marsden was led by Mr J Francis Horton. He spoke to the children before they left for Junior Church and then involved the congregation in a quiz where all the answers included the word Mother. Before the end of the Service the children returned bringing with them a card and flowers they had made for their mothers and fresh Spring flowers which they distributed to all the ladies there. The organist was Marjorie Boothroyd and afterwards refreshments were served by Iris Galloway and Maureen Smith.

All-age communion was held on Sunday at St Bartholomew’s, led by the vicar the Rev Geoff Garside, who preached the sermon and offered prayers of intercession. Joan Biggs read the Gospel from Luke 2 v 33-35. Donald Lodge read the lessons from Exodus 2 v 1-10 and 2 Corinthians 1 v 3-7.

Ian Hunt was the organist. Sidespersons were Dorothy Lodge and Jean Pennington. Junior Church members made Mother’s Day cards and decorated buns and biscuits. Coffee was served by Joan Bradbury, Mabel Smithies, Glenys Ward and Evelyn Laidlaw. This Sunday there will be a Sung Eucharist at 9.30am followed by the Annual Vestry Meeting and the Annual Parochial Church meeting at 11am in church.

PARKWOOD

A pleasant Wednesday afternoon meeting was held at Parkwood Methodist church. Guest speaker was Sheila Armitage with a cake icing demonstration, of an Easter chick and bunny. In the chair was Jean Johnson, pianist was Kenneth Rothery, refreshment Betty Sykes and Margaret Noble, secretary Freda Lloyd. A community breakfast was held at the church on Saturday morning. Organised by Ann and Graham Ivy and family and Sandra McSweeney.

Marion Lloyds welcomed the congregation to Parkwood methodist Church on Sunday morning to a Mother’s Day service plus Messy Church all together. Guest preacher was Rev Jo Archer-Siddall and bible readings and activities for Easter. Pianist was Daniel Fields. All the ladies received a bunch of daffodils from the children, organised by Reene Wyatt and Enid Coulson. Coffee was served after the service by Sheila Armitage and Barbara Rushforth.

A Spring Fair will be held on Saturday, March 24, 10am-2pm.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphian's on Tuesday at 10.30am, the popular coffee morning reading group met.

On Wednesday evening at the Bible class, James Walker led the meeting. Predestination was the subject of the talk given by Allan McEvoy of Halifax Balmoral place. Services on Sunday were led by Kevin Waterhouse and organist was David Turner. The speaker was David Barnes from Walsall, whose subject for the evening talk was “Seven habits of effective Bible readers.”

The plan for the coming week is that Margaret Hardy from Halifax Salterhebble is to give a talk at the Sisters class on Tuesday evening entitled “The purpose of a talk” On Wednesday at 7.30pm , the subject for the Bible talk will be “The law of the Nazarite.” On Sunday 25th March at 6pm, “ Why the meek will inherit the earth” is the topic for the Bible talk.Visitors are most welcome.

SLAITHWAITE

A Lenten evening at St James Parish Church was held on Monday, led by the Rev Robin Townsend. The study being “A beleaguered church”.

Slaithwaite Good Companions met on Thursday, introduced by Hilary Ellis, the speaker was Keith Saunders, who showed us slides of his trekking in Nepal and Chile, raising thousands of pounds for various charities. He was thanked by Hilary and the pianist was Maureen Weaving.

St James Parish Church Holy Communion service was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Simon Parkinson. The lesson 1 Samuel chapter 1 was read by Peter Gilbert, The address by Rev Robin, on the basic elements of prayer. Prayers for Mothers Day led by Patricia Parkinson. Flowers were distributed by he children, this was followed by the Eucharist and the organist was Alvy Whitehead.

The Speaker at the Women's Fellowship on Tuesday last was church member Marjorie Crowther. That Reminds Me was the titled of her talk as she firstly read extracts from a letter that her late brother Donald had written to his mother when in the forces and his experience of the Dead Sea. This led to Marjorie's own experience during the main overseas holidays she made with friends told in her own humorous way. Pauline Gee was in the chair and led prayers. The Mothering Sunday service at the Methodist Church was led by Mr Michael Early, of Almondbury. The purple robe and crown of thorns were laid on the Cross and Mary Mercer read the Lenten reading.