BROCKHOLES

The Wesley Singers, who are based in the Leeds Methodist District, gave a concert of Music, Mirth and Song, at Brockholes Methodist Church.

Sunday worship at the Methodist Church was led by Mrs Marina Woodhead, Lessons were read by Kath and John Gaukroger. The third symbol was laid on the Lenten Cross. The pianist was Mrs Eileen Littlewood. Mothering Sunday flowers were distributed to the congregation.

Family communion for Mothering Sunday at St George's Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes. Members of the congregation helped the vicar illustrate his address by discovering how much mothers and children or husbands and wives know about each other. Sue Clay read the lesson and Elizabeth Mosley was the server. Verena Wood was the organist. Daffodils were donated by Judi Gibbons and distributed to ladies present. Coffee and buns were served afterwards.

HADE EDGE

Hade Edge Methodist Chapel will host a special service on Sunday April 5 at 2.30pm. For this service the musical accompaniment will be provided from a different source. Three boys from the area who go to Holmfirth High School are going on an exciting expedition project to trek and also help at junior schools in Uganda in 2010. £3,000 each has to be raised for the three-week trip which is all part of the projects initiative and Simon Truly, Callum Girdwood and Joshua Garlick came up with the idea to offer their musical expertise. The chapel has given a donation and is organising a raffle to help start off their coffers as this is the first of many money raising activities which will have to take place. Help will also be provided by Stuart MacDonald a professional saxaphonist. The service will be led by Robert Booth followed by tea. Please come along and support the chapel and the three boys as an enjoyable afternoon is assured.

HEPWORTH

Last Friday, a Chocolate Bingo evening was held in the village hall. A light supper was served by Christine Kelsey and Lorraine Pollitt, and with bar facilities, a fun evening was enjoyed by everyone.

On Sunday, there was a larger than usual congregation at Hepworth Church for the Mothering Sunday service.The Rev Keith Griffin led the service, the reader was Lorraine Pollitt and prayers were led by Jane Selkirk.At the close of the service, the children distributed flowers to all the ladies in the congregation. The organist was Jane Robertson. Refreshments were served after the service.

The Mothers' Union held its Centenary Service in conjunction with the Deanery Lady Day Service in Hepworth church on Wednesday evening. MU Diocesan President, Margaret Stears, joined the congregation of over eighty people for the service which was led by the Rev Keith Griffin. The readers were Joan Warrender and Cheryl Roberts, prayers were led by Sheila Scholefield and the organist was Lizzie Hayward. The choir of Holmfirth Church sang the anthem Magnificat to a setting by Margaret Rizza. After the service, refreshments were served by the ladies of Hepworth Mothers' Union.

HOLMBRIDGE

Members of the Camera Club viewed ‘enhanced images’ at their recent meeting.

Midweek communion at St David’s Church was conducted by the Rev Geoff Banks when Ian Gold read the lesson. Friday evening prayers were led by the Rev Geoff Bamford. During the week, members of the Tumble Tots, Monkey Business and Over 60s groups held their meetings.

Parish Eucharist for Mothering Sunday at St David’s Church was conducted by the Rev Roger Nelson when Helen Woods read the lesson and Ian Gold led intercessions. The chalice was administered by Dorothy Parker and the creche and junior church were led by Judith Roberts and Anne Littlewood. The organist was Eddie Purcell. Daffodils were distributed to members of the congregation.

A meeting of The Gathering, a group for nine to 14-year-olds, was led by Mike Smithers and Carolyn Burley.

HOLMFIRTH

Mothering Sunday was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church with 8am Holy Communion and a 10.30am Mothering Sunday Service with Baptism. The friends and family of Charlie Poulain were welcomed to the church to celebrate Charlie’s baptism. Linda Whitaker read from Matthew and also led the Intercessions with the help of Maddison Poulain. The Rev Keith Griffin spoke of the special relationship between a mother and a child and the many cords of love and human kindness between our own families – through this God makes his relationship with us. Joyce Knight and Alison Kitch served refreshments after the service.

Holme Valley Civic Society welcomed Edmund Spavin of Holmfirth Camera Club to its March meeting to present another audio-visual show based on his photography. Furness Abbey in Cumbria, founded in 1127 AD by Savignac monks and soon to become a Cistercian monastery, featured in the first film sequence. A tour of the extensive red sandstone ruin of what had become one of the richest abbeys in England by the time of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in the late 1530s was accompanied by a modern piece of music based on Handel’s Sarabande. Blaenavon in South Wales was the subject of another film. The once thriving ironworks with its furnaces, water balance tower and workers’ cottages now lies silent and the Big Pit nearby, where coal for the inronworks was dug, has become a colliery museum. Elgar’s Sospiro accompanied photographs taken on a walk around Ullswater and, still in the Lake District, a cello piece by Faure provided musical accompaniment to a wide variety of views from both the valleys and the fells from where climbers were rewarded with a grandstand view of Langdale Pikes. Holme Valley Through The Seasons was very familiar. Using photographs chosen to appear in the camera club’s calendars in recent years, Mr Spavin transported his audience from Holme down to Honley in every season of the year. He was thanked by committee member Brian Hinchliffe forn the quality of phtographs and his choice of music. The next meeting of the Civic Society will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday April 16 in Holmfirth Civic Hall when Trevor Moody’s talk will be In The Footsteps Of The Brontes.

Holmfirth Christian Centre's praise and worship was led by Elyjoy and the team. Ian Sharland read from Deuteronomy and Pastor Ian Gooch spoke on Lessons for Life, speaking on honour and respect and how the church needs to be the example that the world can follow in honouring one another, authority figures and God. As it was Mothers Day, he then honoured the ladies by leading prayers for them. Becky Gooch led the children's group, Explorers, talking to them about their mums and practicing songs and dance routines for Sunday. The children decorated buns and gave them out to all ladies in the church. Wednesday was ‘power house prayer’ evening, when Paul Jackson led praise and worship. Individual groups organised prayers, with smaller groups praying for each other before tea and coffee were served.

The Mothering Sunday morning service at Holmfirth Methodist Church was led by the Rev Charlotte Lorimer asisted by the Junior Church staff. The congregation, including children and young people, were asked to see how many words they could make from the two words Mothering Sunday. Communion was shared during the service and flowers were given by the childen and young people to their mothers, and then flowers were given to everyone in the congregation. After the service coffee and biscuits were served.

HONLEY

The service for Mothering Sunday at St Mary's Church was led by the Rev David Barnes. The lesson was read by Janice Thewlis and intercessions were led by Jean and Leslie Chadwick. Jean Chadwick was also the organist. Children presented ladies with posies of flowers and coffer was served with simnel cake baked by Denise Radcliffe.

The Lenten course on Transforming Lives was held in the parish room. On Thursday, Lent lunches were served by ladies of St Mary's and Trinity churches.

NEW MILL

The New Mill Gala Committee will host its Gala Queen elect disco tonight (Saturday 28) at the New Mill Club from 8pm. Admission £1. The committee is looking for a new Gala Queen and attendants for the 2009 gala. Age categories are as follows: Gala Queen 11 years and over, two attendants 7 – 10 years, two attendants 4 – 6 years, and one pageboy 4 – 6 years. Criteria: Each child must live in New Mill or attend school/ community group within the village. The 2008 Gala Queen, Abigail Bray, will crown the new queen on gala day which will take place on Saturday June 20.

UPPERTHONG

Midweek communion at St John's Church was led by the Rev Geoff Banks. Lunch followed in the meeting room.

Family eucharist for Mothering Sunday was led by the Rev Geoff Banks, who read the gospel, preached the sermon and was celebrant. The reader was Hilry Broadbent and Graham Dawson led intercessions. Bill Brown assisted with the chalice and Ian Greenhalgh played the organ. Bunches of daffodils were presented to members opf the congregation and Sue Dawson served coffee and simnel cake at the end of the service.

WOOLDALE

The Mother’s Day service on Sunday at Wooldale Methodist Free Churchwas led by Robert Booth, who took his readings from Genesis and Mark. In his sermon he talked of the preciousness of our Mothers – in present, future and past. He spoke of those who were mothers now and those whose mothers were no longer with them, but how we hold on to past memories of happy times with them. He also mentioned the lead-up to Easter and being ready for the special time.All the ladies were presented with a bunch of daffodils and coffee followed the service. The organist was Peter Coldwell.

The Rev Laura Hardy led a service for Mothering Sunday at the Methodist Church. The organist was Sue Ogden. Coffee and biscuits were served afterwards.

The women’s monthly fellowship meeting featured a talk given by Robert Booth on growing up in Hinchliffe Mill. The monthly social meeting included a slide show by Laura Macdonald on The Antiopdes. A vote of thanks was proposed by Dilys Williams.

GOLCAR

The Ladies Forum met for their meeting and the speaker was Mrs Hilary Deakin. She gave a demonstration and then everyone was able to make a 3-dymensional card. The tea hostesses were Olga Whitehead and Audrey Stott. A quiz was held at the Wheel in support of the Drop-By Centre on Sycamore Avenue, which was followed by a talk on the charity by Sue Starr. A total of £117 was raised. A pea and pie supper followed. A family service was held on Sunday morning for Mothering Sunday conducted by the Rev Chris Thompson. The organist was Calinda Stockhill and the pianist was Chris Woodhead.

The Rev Cannon Martyn Crompton and the Rev Brenda Mitchell officiated at the Communion service on Mothering Sunday at St Johns’ Church. Brenda Steele presented flowers on behalf of the Mothers’ Union. The congregation included Sunday Club, Sunday Youth, Rainbows and Brownies. The Rainbow banner was carried by Amelia Wade, Cerys Roberts and Kaitlin Savage, and the Brownie flag by Kaitlin Humble, Annie Quarmby and Hannah Armitage. Brownie leader Margaret Shaw gave the Gospel reading. Sylvia Hanson led the prayers with the help of Sunday Club and Rainbow Rebekah Smith and Brownie Annie Quarmby. Daffodils were distributed during the service to all the ladies. Ann Norton was the pianist and organist.

At Golcar Providence Church Friendship group the speaker was Les Clarke who spoke about Proper Punch and gave a short performance of his Punch and Judy show. Sheila Pearson was the chairlady, Nancy Meadows was the pianist, the supper ladies were Gillian Beaver and Sheila Day.

A beetle drive and pancake supper was held in the school room arranged by the men, proceeds were for church funds.

On Mothers day the family service was led by Brenda Ellis, the readings were by Susan Brown and Janice Swallow, the children presented each of the ladies with a bunch of daffodils and Margaret Israel was the organist.

Please join us at Holmfirth Parish church on Saturday, April 4, 10am-4pm for coffee, lunches and afternoon teas.There will be cakes, tombola, bric-a-brac and book stall.

LINTHWAITE

An all age Mothering Sunday service was led by the Rev Julian Perkins, who celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Rev Jenny Honeyman preached and talked to the children. Prayers were led by the Mothers Union, Junior Church children and the Uniformed Organisations. Bunches of flowers were later distributed to everyone in the congregation. The Evensong service was led by the Rev Jenny Honeyman who read a lesson and gave a blessing. A lesson was also read by Derek Horne, and Margaret McQuillan preached and prayed. The organist was Rhona Jepson.

Rev Jo Archer-Siddall led the Mothering Sunday Family Service at the Methodist Church, when she preached on the history of Mothering Sunday and about being a mother. The whole church joined in the ‘Church Clipping’ ceremony when they all joined hands around the church and embraced it. The readings were from Hosea 11 (relating to looking after a child) read by Jan Widdop and Psalm 139 where Jenny Hill read about God knowing us all like as a mother knows a child. Rev Jo was also assisted by her puppet dog called Paddy. Gifts of daffodils were given out to every person in the congregation by the children. Linda Nuttall was the organist. Coffee and home made cakes were served after the service.

Iain Spencer of Longwood spoke to the Thursday Fellowship about being a Street Angel. Iain along with many others gives up his time through the night on Fridays and Saturdays to help people in Huddersfield Town Centre, who are unable through drink, drugs or some other reason to look after themselves and make their own way home. Help is given by talking to people, getting medical assistance or even arranging a taxi home. Jackie Calverley was in the chair and Mrs Dorothy Hirst was the pianist. The final meeting of this session will be held on Thursday April 2 with the AGM commencing at 2.30pm. This will be followed at 3pm by Heather Coupland talking about her book Don’t Cry Nana’– a beautiful moving story of her growing up in the Colne Valley in the 1950s.

Next week the Linthwaite Methodist Players are performing the classic comedy The Happiest Days Of Your Lives at 7.30pm between Thursday and Saturday April 2-4 at Linthwaite Methodist Church, Stones Lane, Linthwaite. For more details contact John and Pat Morrison on 842014.

MARSDEN

Worship on Mothering Sunday at the United Church was led by Mrs Christine Shaw, readings in modern language were by Jean Broome, Kathleen Jackson and Carl Butters. The organist was Christine Gledhill. Tea and coffee were served after the service.

Holy Communion for Mothers Day at St Bartholomew’s Church was led by the Rev Geoff Clay and organist was James Harker. Reader was Donald Lodge. Sidesmen were Elizabeth Knight, Elsie Lingard and Alan Muskett. Members of the junior church served coffee and also distributed flowers to members of the congregation.

MILNSBRIDGE

At Milnsbridge Christadelphians Midweek bible class, Mr J Walker from Milnsbridge gave a talk on Parables from Matthew 13. On Sunday evening Mr P Forbes from Glenfield gave talk on the Resurrection of Jesus, Cornerstone of the Gospels.

PARKWOOD

A drop-in lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday, the menu was meat and potato pie with mushy peas, bread and butter pudding, apple crumble or rhubarb crumble, tea or coffee. A community breakfast was served on Saturday morning organised by Freda Lloyd and her team of helpers. Marion Lloyd welcomed people to a Mother’s Day service on Sunday. Worship leaders were Freda Lloyd and Sandra McSweeney. Prayers Ilona and Lucy, Reene Wyatt and Liam Johnson. The choir sang an anthem What a Wonderful World, conducted by Gareth Beaumont. Organist Susanne Smelt. All the ladies in church received a carnation corsage presented by the Brownies. The crown of thorns and purple robe were placed on the Lenten cross. Coffee was served after the service by Christine Johnson and Margaret Noble.

SLAITHWAITE

The March Ecumenical Service was held at Christ Parish Church, Linthwaite on Wednesday morning and was led by the Rev Julian Perkins. His theme was "Working with God in your Community" and the congregation participated in the various activities. Refreshments were served before the service by the church ladies. On Saturday morning a fabric sale and coffee morning was held in the Slaithwaite Methodist Church. As well as cloth there was a card stall, a stall of tapestry wool's and other sewing items and the Fairtrade stall. The Mothering Sunday service was led by Mrs Jean Barraclough of Crosland Moor, the robe and crown of thrones were laid on the Lenten cross by Barbara and Karsten Svensgaard. The theme of the service was Snake and Ladders and the readings were by Mary Mather, Jenny Perkins and Hilary Ellis. Flowers were distributed to the ladies by the young people and Wendy and Barbara manned an Easter stall after the service. The organist was Margaret Stevenson. Maureen Weaving was in the chair for the WI meeting in the community centre on Wednesday evening. The speakers were Stanley Bamforth and Andrew Jones who spoke on Meat and Butchering, and showed slides illustrating the various cuts of meats. Andrew had brought along pies made at his shop for supper and larger pies and Cornish pasties were available to purchase, the money raised he kindly donated for WI funds. A very entertaining and tasty evening.

At Slaithwaite Good Companions last Thursday Hilary Ellis introduced her husband Gordon who had organised a series of quizzes for the afternoon. He was thanked by Patricia Parkinson. The pianist was Maureen Weaving. This was followed by a Committee meeting.

Mothering Sunday service was held at St James Parish Church, Slaithwaite, led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Jeanette Seed, the layreader. Mothers and Humour was the theme. The Rev Robin started off with a short quiz for the congregation with Mother included in each answer. Sunday school member Hannah Parkinson read the lessons from Samuel and Heather Croft gave the address, assisted by her son Stuart, during which two short humorous videos were shown, one being the things mums say to their children, and later at the end of her address he replies given to their mums. Prayers by Margaret Ingham, flowers were then distributed by the Examiner, the organist was Alvy Whitehead.

St James Parish Church shared the Lenten Service on Sunday with Slaithwaite Methodist Church at Carr Lane, led by Jo Archer-Siddall, the theme was Evangelism and sharing Faith.

BIRDSEDGE

Tom Wood took the Mothering Sunday worship service at Birdsedge Church. He read from Luke about the birth of John the Baptist foretold and in particular ‘He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth’. Tom then asked the young people if they were a ‘joy and delight’ to their mums? Members of the congregation shared memories of their own mums, one in particular was ‘mum knows best’ using the story of Esau and Jacob.Next week’s service will be a worship service.

The church will be holding a coffee morning with lunches and stalls on Saturday April 4 from 10.30am.

Birdsedge Hospice Support Group will be serving lunches and refreshments on Saturday April 18.

CLAYTON WEST

Morning Worship at All Saints Church on Sunday was led by Kath McDaid. The theme for the morning was the celebration of Mothers. Rev Joy told a story to the large number of children who were in church after the introductory hymn and sentences. Two readings from the Bible were delivered during the service by Gillian Hamer and Wynn Leake from Psalm 127 and Paul’s letter to the Colossians respectively. The congregation were treated to a short comedy sketch on ‘the behaviour’ of grandparents nowadays, presented by Joy and David Cousans and Kath and Brendan McDaid. The choir sang Mary Did You Know? by Lowry and Green (arr. Jaime Alderson); intercessions were written and presented by Jonathan Newcombe who was also the organist. Coffee was prepared and served by Gail Banks and Jean Newcy.

Morning worship for Mothering Sunday at the Methodist Church was led by Beryl Holt. Posies of daffodils were given to the ladies of the congregation by David, Beryl's grandson. Readers of the bible passages were Rosalyn Beevers and Wendy Barber. Stewards for the day were Joan Bond and Diana Hunt and the pianist was Jane Hobson.Flowers for the communion table were a gift from Diana Hunt. After the service coffee was served by Lucie Frogget

DENBY DALE

The churches together Lent meeting at the Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel on Monday evening was led by Ruth Bilton. On Sunday morning the special Family Service for Mothering Sunday was led by Alexandra Nuttall when she spoke about families, our own and the great worldwide Christian Family. Mollie Beever handed the Sunday School captaincy over to Lily Gilbert. Lily then presented all the ladies of the congregation with a small plant. The preacher at the evening service was Phil Kerr from Saltaire who spoke about putting our complete trust in God to guide us on every occasion. The pianist for the day was Robert Nuttall.

EMLEY

Lent groups were held on Tuesday at Emley Parish Church. The Church Council met on Thursday evening and on Friday evening a pie and pea supper with guest speaker Keith Hellawell was well attended and raised £550 for church funds. On Saturday morning a Sprouts Activity Workshop based on Mothering Sunday was enjoyed and parents joined the children in worship at the end of the morning.

On Mothering Sunday morning a Communion Service was celebrated by Rev John Marsh and led by Jean Senior. Bible readers were Katharine Moorhouse and Emily Dowse. Carol Clough led prayers and Malcolm Jessop played the organ. Rev Chris Bullimore gave the talk based on mother’s day, highlighting with the help of the congregation, a mother’s gift of forgiveness, love, nurturing, family support and hope, suggesting all this is still available from the church family today. Explorers showed their art work at the end and refreshments were served.

KIRKBURTON

Maureen Etchells and Michaelia Schindler welcomed the congregation to a special Church 4 All family service at All Hallows Parish Church on Mothering Sunday. The service was led by curate the Rev Robert Chambers and churchwarden, Glyn Phillips. Karen and Helen Phillips led the prayers of intercession and Mr Phillips gave the talk when he took for his theme: Mothering Sunday;  know your mother.   Dennis Goring gave the reading from St Paul’s letter to the Colossians and Mr Chambers read the words of Jesus to his mother from the Cross in the Gospel according to St John. Karen and Beth Cook took up the chalice and paten and Mr Chambers was assisted at the distribution by his wife Mary (pastoral minister) and Mr Phillips. During the servic e the children gave posies of daffodils and evergreens, made by Doreen Barraclough and Leslie Hannam,  along with special cards, to their mothers and the ladies in the congregation. Pauline Pinder and Joy Elson performed the duties of sidesmen and took up the collection. The music for the service was provided by Mrs Barraclough and the Church Music Group.Afterwards the worshippers enjoyed juice and coffee served by Margaret Haigh and Edith Brookes.

The Burton Friendship Club met for their weekly meeting at The Hub and welcomed their popular  guests,  Bill and Barbara Emsley,  who treated members to a musical afternoon. Mr Emsley acted as compere as his wife played a varied selection of popular music on her electronic accordion with which she was able to produce a whole range of styles and sounds from Hawaiian guitar to bagpipes. Sandra Spivey gave thanks. Mrs J Sutcliffe won the raffle and tea and biscuits were served by Mesdames Ellis and Calvert and Frank Whitaker.

LEPTON

Lepton Townswomen’s Guild held their annual general meeting in the Methodist Church. Officials and committee were re-elected en bloc. After the business meeting, a quiz was held. Mrs J Armitage won the raffle.

SHELLEY

Shelley Over 60s met in the village hall last Thursday when the bingo line was won by Vera Rothson and the full house by Betty Cassinelli. The whist high of 85 was shared by Audrey Taylor and Colin Littlewood with the low of 71 going to Kathleen Stevenson from six tables. The club were saddened to hear of the death of one of their members Colin Cartmell earlier in the week and held a minute’s silence in his memory. Birthday greetings were given to Robin Small and Wally Usher. Raffles were won by Mary Hobson, Lilian Armitage, Vera Wilkinson, Ted Blythe and Rene Biggin.

STOCKSMOOR

Latest results from Stocksmoor Bridge Club. Thursday March 12 – north/south:1 M Dey and R Makins, 2 P Pogson and A Stephens, 3 M Sandell and S Hancock; east/west:1 W and A Dowlen, 2 J and M Mcgee, 3 C Barrow and M Brett. Thursday March 19 –north/south: 1 D Cliff and C Bolland, 2 M Sandell and S Hancock, 3 M Hicks and J Pearson; east/west: 1 Jand M Mcgee, 2 M and L Cooper, 3 E Pearson and K Morley.

UPPER DENBY

An insight into the way of life of a Shetland Islander was given by Mrs A Greenwood at last Tuesday’s meeting of Upper Denby Women’s Institute. For the men, life involves fishing and cutting peat turves. Mrs Greenwood’s father, a volunteer crew member of the lifeboat, became coxswain and was awarded a silver medal. The women carried the turves in large wicker baskets on their backs and created their own style of knitting. Mrs Greenwood explained how life altered when the oil companies were based in Shetland and again when they moved top Aberdeen. Tourism and the visit of cruise ships have helped to ease the move in population. Members were shown slides of life and the changes, as well as examples of knitting and craft work. One thing that had not changed was the year-long preparation for the Up-Helly-Aa ceremony, held on the last Tuesday in January, when a replica Viking ship is burned. A vote of thanks was proposed by President Mrs J Roebuck. The competition for a piece of embroidery was won by J Roebuck with K Fletcher second and H Armitage third. Raffle prizes were won by B Mosley and M Marriott. The next meeting will now be held on Tuesday March 31, when the competition will be fora Money Box.

Denby First School received recognition of achieving 100% in the 2008 Key State One tests when headteacher Mrs Hissett and chairman of Governors Mr Pollick attended a ‘Celebration of Success’ ceremony at the Galpharm Stadium. The children in the junior school are took part in cycle training last week and the whole school went on an Easter Egg hunt in Margaret’s Wood. A magician visited school on Thursday.