BROCKHOLES

The Rev Tim Moore led worship and administered the sacrament at the Methodist Church when Mr Paul Grant read the lesson and the organist was Mr Keith Garside.

Family communion at St George’s Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes, who also baptised Ethan Lewis Crow, the son of Sarah and Evan. Helen Dickinson read the lesson and Roger Kenworthy was the server. Music was provided by the music group and by organist Verena Wood.

HEPWORTH

Parish Eucharist was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday morning by the Rev Keith Griffin. The reader was Jim Selkirk and the organist was Jane Robertson. Sunday School was led by Chris Fletcher and Rebecca Battye. Members of the congregation sang Happy Birthday to Alex Battye who was six on Sunday. Coffee and birthday cake were served after the service.

On Wednesday, a service of Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes was held in Holy Trinity Church to mark the start of Lent. The service was led by the Rev Keith Griffin and regular congregation members were joined by visitors from other churches in the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry.

The weekly prayers were held on Friday in church. Friday also saw the first of six Come to Lunch dates during Lent. Diners enjoyed a light lunch of soup and bread, followed by tea and cake, served in the church’s meeting room between noon and 1.30pm.

HOLMBRIDGE

Three's Company, entertainment and free refreshments for the elderly, was organised by Carolyn Burley.

The Camera Club met for a talk on taking panoramic images led by Phil Hack.

Midweek communion at St David’s Church was led by the Rev Nick Heaton when the lesson was read by Ian Gold. Friday evening prayers were led by Carolyn Burley.

During the week, the Monkey Business, free lunch and Over 60s Club and the Tumble Tots group all held their meetings.

Parish Eucharist at St David’s Church was conducted by the Rev Nick Heaton when lessons were read by Judi Bamforth and the Rev Geoff Bamforth, who also led intercessions. The chalice was administered by Ian Macdonald and the crèche and junior church were led by Ben and Helen Cooper. The organist was Eddie Purcell.

Evensong was conducted by the Rev Geoff Bamforth when the pianist was Audrey Brook.

HOLMFIRTH

Holmfirth Methodist Church enjoyed their monthly Breakfast Service on Sunday Morning. Following the meal, all-age worship was led by Kath Beetlestone. To coincide with Fair Trade Fortnight, Kath posed the question from the Book of Micah: ‘what does the Lord require of you?’ The congregation heard how, despite the recession, national Fairtrade sales had risen 40% in the last year – moving from ‘nice but niche’ to mainstream. Angela, Sally and Andrew performed an amusing but poignant railway carriage based drama about a man who was so comfortable in his seat that he failed to ‘change’ and ended up missing his connection. Whilst everyone enjoyed Fairtrade snacks and fruit, Pam and Maya dished up some ‘Bible bites’ which were subsequently discussed in small groups. With the emphasis on cotton production this year, flags were decorated to support the Fairtrade Foundation’s ‘longest ever bunting’ record attempt. At over two and a half miles, it will take 12,500 flags – one for every cotton farmer in Mali and Burkina Faso. Following prayers for individual farmers, Sally read a meditation to encourage change in shopping habits and supporting the principle that ‘transforming trade, transforms lives’.

HONLEY

Harold and Brenda Dabbs presented an excellent show of slides taken in the Western States of North America at a meeting of the Probus Club in the community centre. Acting chairman Jim Taylor proposed the vote of thanks.

Family communion at St Mary's Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes. Charles Kaye read the lesson and intercessions were led by Pat and Cliff Green. The organist was Vernon Briggs.

The speaker at the meeting of St Mary's Mothers’ Union was Mrs Christie Whitehead, who spoke about the origin and work of the Christian African Relief Trust. Alison Dean proposed the vote of thanks and worship was led by Jean Chadwick.

MELTHAM

The Women’s World Day of Prayer was celebrated at St Bartholomew’s on Friday March 5, led by Mary Crawshaw and Pat Beastow. Ladies from all churches and denominations in the Meltham area supported and took part in this wonderful service, which was written by the ladies of Chile. Lay reader Hesta Deacon gave a talk and Jean Collison played the organ. The theme was How Many Loaves Have You?

On Sunday a service of all ages was held at Meltham Methodist Church, organised by Christine Rolls. It was a Churches Together service and celebrated the Year of the Bible. The atmosphere was informal and the power point presentation was excellent as the congregation learnt about the Bible, enjoyed a quiz and refreshments. It was wonderful for people from all churches in Meltham to join in the singing and worship and the reading about the Bible, said the Rev Judy Kenworthy. Thanks go to the Rev Peter Rolls for leading the service, to readers, to Simon Ball for accompanying the hymns and all those involved in the refreshments and in organising such an uplifting service.

SCHOLES

Scholes Methodist Church’s 150th anniversary celebrations are to go with a bang tonight, Saturday, with a Firework Extravaganza in the Scholes School football field on Oak Scar Lane from 6.45pm. Visitors to what is expected to be the best display ever seen in the area are advised to bring a torch. It is advisable to keep pets indoors.

Last Sunday the congregation were welcomed to Scholes Methodist Chapel by the door stewards, Barbara Ainley and Gladys Taylor. The serviceŠ was led by Superintendent Minister Laura Hardy the theme being Leading up to Lent. Peter Lockwood read the Bible readings from Psalm 8 and Paul’s letter to the Phillipians chapter 2. The organist was Barbara Horn and Christine Lockwood served coffee and biscuits after the service.ŠOn Monday this week the Ladies’ Circle met to hear a talk by Jane Armitage entitled Working as an Overseas Rep. The Church Council met on Wednesday this week and the choir held a choir practise in preparation for this weekend’s anniversary service.Š

A band night on Friday March 18 at Scholes Cricket Club will raise funds for Hepworth United FC Under 10s and 15s.The band are called Age of Paranoia and have been playing the local pubs for a few years. They play Jam, Green Day, Arctic Monkeys , Kaiser Chiefs and a few classic older songs of a similar genre. Everyone is welcome and tickets are still available at £5 each.

UPPERTHONG

The weekly prayer breakfast on Tuesday was held at the home of the Dawsons.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Mothers’ Union groups of Upperthong and Netherthong held a meeting at St John’s Church when the speaker was Capt Mike Smithers, of the Church Army.

A spirituality forum was held on Wednesday in the meeting room.

The Rev Val Clarke led communion on Thursday at St John’s Church. Lunch followed in the meeting room.

Early communion on Sunday was conducted by the Rev Di Ellerton, who also led family worship when the subject of her address was The Lost Sheep. The organist was Peter Travis. Refreshments were served afterwards by Hilary Roberts.

WILSHAW

The Rev Judy Kenworthy led a service of morning worship at St Mary’s Church on Sunday. The theme of the talk was The Transfiguration and the music group accompanied the hymn Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace. Liz Pearson was the organist. Hilary Livingstone read the lessons and Peter Pearson was sidesman. The congregation supported the World Women’s Day of Prayer in Meltham on Friday.

WOOLDALE

The service on Sunday at Wooldale Methodist Free Church was led by Mr Steven Turner. whose reading from Judges was about Samson and Delilah. He talked in his sermon of Delilah and how she managed to get out of Samson what gave him his strength, and was happy once she knew the truth – that it was his hair that gave it to him. The organist was Mr Peter Coldwell.

The family service at the Methodist Church was led by Terry Frost when the organist was Nigel Morris. Coffee and biscuits were served afterwards.