BIRDSEDGE

John Blamires from Gideons International took the morning church service, talking to the children about the five loaves and two fishes.The Gideons distribute 80 million New Testaments each year by 300,000 workers in 196 countries. He read Colossians 3 verses 1-17: ‘Rules for Holy Living’. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things’.

The Harvest Festival will be held on October 13 at 10.30am. Donations of dried and tinned goods can be handed in at Church and will be taken to CART (Christian African Relief Trust at Lockwood)

Next week’s service will be a Worship service.

The Lunch Club on Thursday October 3 will be serving cottage pie followed by lemon meringue pie.

The monthly quiz will be held on Friday Septembeer 27, 8pm. Curry or pie and peas are on the menu with sticky toffee pudding or lemon meringue pie and bar throughout.

The monthly Management meeting will be held on Tuesday October 1 8pm in the bar. Interested parties are very welcome. Volunteers who came forward at the AGM have been busy in the garden and areas around the hall, also helping with furniture setting out and putting away – many thanks to them.A Games Night on October 12 from 7pm is being arranged, watch out for details.

The Hospice Support Group family Beetle Night high scorers were Ruth and partner Peggy. A good night was had by all and £87 was raised for Kirkwood Hospice. Due to popular demand another beetle drive will be held on Saturday November 2 from 6.30. Light supper at half time and bar throughout. Adults £2, children £1; finishing time is usually around 8pm.

CLAYTON WEST

Morning worship at the Methodist Church was led by Frank Lukey from Penistone. He spoke about the relationship with God from the beginning of time, saying that Jesus came to earth as ‘one of us’. Lessons from John about the word of life – that God gave his only son – were given by Rosalyn Beevers and Jane Woodcock. Stewards were Diana Hunt and Maxine Lodge and the gift of flowers for the communion table was from Beryl Holt. After the service, coffee and biscuits were served by Jean Heath.

Last Saturday, the monthly coffee morning was held, featuring various stalls. Kathleen and Fred Green cooked and served bacon sandwiches.

EMLEY

On Sunday at the 9.15am Holy Communion service at St Michael’s, the congregation considered the difficult passage in Luke 16, in which Jesus appears to condone deceit from both estate manager and owner. It eventually was shown that Jesus was talking about “faithfulness” in small things as well as large. There was no evening service this week.

Regular services continue this week, with Holy Communion at 7pm on Tuesday; Holy Communion on Wednesday at 9am, followed by coffee in church; with “Tuesday @ 2” for babies, toddlers and their carers; Youth Groups in variety on Thursday evening, starting at 5pm. While the good weather holds, members have been enjoying the outdoor activities made possible by the agreement to use the school field.

There are two courses commencing this week – Moving On on Tuesday at 8pm in church for those who want to find out more about their faith as well as for those who are thinking about confirmation; a six-week course begins on Thursday at 7.30pm on rediscovering mission and re-imagining church, at St Thomas’s Church, Bradley.

Next Sunday, September 29, will be a Joint Service of Holy Communion at 10am. with sister church, St James,’ Flockton. There will be no evening service.

SHELLEY

It was a well attended meeting at the Village Hall, when Shelley Over 60s met last Thursday afternoon. The bingo line was won by Audrey Taylor and the full house by Maureen Deeley. Eunice Ramsden had the first three numbers on one card and received £4. The whist high of 94 was won by Joan Wray and the low of 63 went to Marion Kelly from 10 tables. There were 10 birthdays to celebrate this week – Malcolm McDonald, Diane Mayhew, Anthony Barrow, Margaret Lee, Hazel Robson, Philip Ramsden, Ken Richardson, Margaret Nixon, Jean Roebuck and Betty Cassinelli Raffle prizes were won by Joan Horne, Joyce Tyas, Lily Walker,Linda Brauner, Edith Brookes and Anne Matthews.

SKELMANTHORPE

A meeting of Skelmanthorpe Methodist Wives group was led by Jean and John Broadbent. Over several years they have been helping out in a village in Ethiopia, providing money from this country and making sure they have clean water, electricity and other amenities. Their talk was accompanied by slides and the evening was arranged by Ruth Firth, Vanessa Marsden and Pat Sanderson, who also provided refreshments.