GOLCAR

The choir opened the Harvest festival at Providence Church on Sunday. In memory of Malcolm Fairless they sung, How Great Though Art. Mr Day welcomed Liz Bishop who led the service. Readings were from Mathew and Galatians. Gillian Beevers and Mrs L. Bishop read the lessons. The theme was Harvest in Togo and a dvd was shown on the Methodist Relief and Development Fund. The harvest gifts were donated to Huddersfield Welcome centre. Coffee was served afterwards.

LINTHWAITE

Rev Ann Sherratt was the speaker at the Methodist Church Thursday Fellowship. Her talk was entitled UFO – which she explained stood for Un-Finished Objects. She shared with members her hobby of quilt making. Since starting 20 years ago Ann has made many beautiful quilts which she brought along to illustrate her talk. Margaret Tennant was in the chair and Jennifer Baxter played the piano. Molly Shepherd and Pat Morrison were in charge of refreshments. Linda Ingle will be the speaker in two weeks’ time, talking on Rags to Riches. The secretary encouraged members to cut out the Wish Project coupons from the Examiner and put in the jar provided for the next two months. These will be collected on behalf of Huddersfield Methodist Mission.

The Methodist Church had a great day of celebration which started with morning worship led by Rev Ann Sherratt who chose the theme of ‘A Church Working together,’ as her text. Rev Ann also presided over Holy Communion. Following on from a workshop the previous Sunday, Peter Stead, Ian Baxter and Lesley Baxter read a humorous playlet entitled The Prodigal Daughter, which was a modern slant on the bible story about forgiveness. Sue Haigh read from 2 Timothy 1 v 1-14, which talks of loyalty to the gospel. The Junior Church, led by Diane Loftus, Joanna Ambler and Andrea Morley watched a story on Friends and Heroes which led to discussion. After the service Sue Haigh prepared and served lunch in celebration of her special birthday. Donations went to church funds and treasurer, Henry Tennant proposed the vote of thanks to Sue.

Next Sunday at 9.30am the church will celebrate Harvest Festival, when the preacher will be Mr Michael Early. A continental style breakfast will be served after the service.

MARSDEN

Morning Worship at The United Church was led by Rev John Hardy. Ruth and Edward Sheldrake gave the Gospel and Epistle readings. Mr Hardy read from Habakkuk and then preached from his reading. He made the point that the old Testament is still relevant to present day life and prayer is essential too. The organist was Marjorie Boothroyd. Refreshments were served in the hall afterwards by Ruth and Edward Sheldrake. Preparations are being made for next weekend when it is the Marsden Jazz Festival. On Saturday morning there will be a Table Top Sale at the church from 9.30am-1pm. Refreshments will be served from 9.30 to 5.30 including cooked meals and hot snacks. At 2.30pm there will be a concert in church featuring the Kirklees Youth Jazz Orchestra. On Sunday morning at 10.30 there is our Annual Jazz Service led by Rev Ann Sherratt with music provided by the New Orleans Wiggle Jazz Band. Tea and coffee served afterwards.

MILNSBRIDGE

The subject at Milnsbridge Christadelphians’ Wednesday evening Bible class was Israel – Prince with God. The speaker was Mark Tonge from Heywood. The meeting was led by David McEvoy.

The Sunday services were led by Andrew Wilkinson, with the talk at the afternoon meeting given by Jeremy Kirby. There was a family tea followed by a talk on “Syria and Egypt shows God’s plan is working out” given by Pete Barrett.

On Tuesday morning the coffee morning Bible reading group will meet. At the Bible class on Wednesday evening starting at 7.30pm Kevin Waterhouse is to lead a daily readings discussion group. On Sunday October 14 at 6pm the subject will be “ Adult baptism- essential for salvation.”

PARKWOOD

A drop in lunch was held at the Methodist Church on Wednesday organised by Freda Lloyd, assisted by ladies of the church. An all age worship service with Messy Church for the children was held on Sunday morning. Preacher was Rev Debbie Hopkinson, assisted by Jeremy Hackett and pianist was Mr John Orton. Coffee was served by ladies of the church.

SLAITHWAITE

St James’s Parish Church Mother’s Union held their closing service, welcomed and led by Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The group was established in Slaithwaite 113 years ago. It was also a service of thanksgiving, and members of other Mother’s Union groups joined in. The banner was presented by Jean Clayton, prayers were given by Pat Parkinson, Jacqueline Haigh and Margaret Ingham. The Holy Gospel from St Luke Chapter 5, “Jesus calls the first disciples” was read by Pat. The address on that theme was given by Cynthia Osborne, the Mother’s Union president of the Wakefield Diocese. The offertory was taken for the Mother Union overseas. This was followed by the Eucharist. During the closing hymn, the banner was laid up on the altar and the organist was Alvi Whitehead. Afterwards in the church lounge Pat, the branch leader, read a letter from Ann Leigh, who had been a trustee for the deanery and now moved from the area, urging us to become Deanery members. Pat also read a poem written by Pamela Denton, secretary. Tea and cakes were served.

At the Good companions Bessy Whitwam introduced speaker, Rev David Bignall, Methodist Superintendent who spoke about life Haiti. Having lived there for some years with his wife, who is an engineer. He was thanked by Bessy and the pianist was Maureen Weaving.

St James Parish Church held a fundraising event for the Tower fund at Slaithwaite Cricket and Bowling Club on Saturday evening. It was a 60s and 70s night and the DJ was Ken. Dancing and quizzes were followed by a Sop supper. several lady members of the church.

St James Parish Church Harvest Festival and Holy Communion service, led by Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The Holy Gospel of St John chapter 4 from verse 5 “Jesus and the Samaritan Woman” was read by Dorothy Gledhill. The address by Rev Robin was about water, our cool clear water. Hannah and Jenny each with buckets of water walked round and round the church, to show how in water-scarce countries women trek miles for water, often contaminated. The bible teaches us that Jesus is the living water. Then the Harvest gifts were brought forward, these are to be taken to the Welcome Centre. Robin led the pryers, this was followed by the celebration of the Eucharist. The music for the harvest hymns was played by Marsden and Huddersfield Brass Ensemble.

The Women’s Fellowship met on Tuesday afternoon with Ann Walker in the chair, who led prayers and introduced the speaker, her neighbour Lisa Colton. In February this year Lisa and her partner adopted a brother and sister and so she was able to give her personal experience as she took us through the various stages of adoption. This was a new subject for the group and proved very interesting. Maureen Weaving was the pianist.

The Sunday morning service at the Methodist church was Harvest Festival, led by the four stewards. The church was dressed with a display of blankets designed and made by Ann Walker for dispatch to CART along with windows of fruit, farm produce, dried and tinned goods and a Godly Play display put together by various church groups. The Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy was by Ann Walker and Sandra Dalton gave the gospel reading, Jesus feeds the five thousand. Rachel Wybrew sang the song Harvest by John Rutter accompanied by Margaret Stephenson. The produce was sent to the Welcome Centre and gifts of money to MRF. Wendy Redfearn was the organist .