CROSLAND MOOR

The Association of Christian Fellowship from St Barnabas’ Church organised a Charity Evening in the parish hall. The entertainment was provided by Cabaret 4 Caritas, a concert party under musical director Gordon Bamforth and producer Pat Graham. The appreciative audience was entertained with songs from the shows and a little magic. Refreshments were served during the interval and the raffle winners announced. The hostesses were Nora Blackburn, Maureen Hardy and Sheila Jaworski. The proceeds for the evening were for Caritas – a Huddersfield-based benevolent fund.

GOLCAR

Poor weather caused the annual hog roast to be held in the church and community room At St John’s Church on Saturday, July 16. A two-course meal was served by church members and entertainment was provided by singer Stacey Rhodes which made an very enjoyable evening. The proceeds were for church funds.

The Rev Canon Martyn Crompton led the fourth Sunday in Trinity service at St John’s Church and was the celebrant. Anne Crosland gave the first reading from Isaiah 44, verses 6-8 and Sue Bolder gave the New Testament reading from Roman 8 verses 12-25. The gospel reading from Matthew – the Parable of the Weeds – was given by Martyn on which Helen Bentley based her address. Prayers were led by Betty Taylor and Ann Norton was the organist. Sunday Cub had been talking about the feeding of the 5000 and had illustrated it by making pictures of Fishes and Loaves on paper plates. Sunday Youth had been looking at the Parable of the Sower in Mathew 13 and gave a lively presentation of a bird eating the seed that had fallen by the wayside.

Morning worship at Golcar Providence Methodist Church was led by the Rev R Nelson from Holme village. Mrs S Pearson and Mrs N Meadows read the lessons. Fellowship continued in the schoolroom.

Sunday morning worship at Golcar Baptist Church was taken by a group from the Grace Fellowship. Richard, Sarah and Heather provided music and the address was given by Paul McLoughlin. Church deacons David Howard and Connie Pearson were servers for communion. The monthly meeting of the church deacons was held on Wednesday evening.

LINTHWAITE

Morning worship for some members of Linthwaite Methodist Church started early at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, where Rev Jo Archer-Siddall led worship which was shared with the patients from the hospital. Linda Nuttall was the pianist. This was followed by a quick dash back to Linthwaite by Rev Jo and her flock, for morning worship during which Holy Communion was celebrated. The theme of the service was Planning for the future, so that the story can still be told. The congregation was asked to vote on whether the service should be changed to 9.30am – which would allow the Rev Jo to preach on a more regular basis, This vote was carried and will be started in October. In the afternoon several members of the church joined with others at a Circuit Service and refreshments at Huddersfield Mission during which they gave thanks and said goodbye's to Rev Alan Boyd, Mr David Harrison and Mr John Hattam as they are moving out of the district.

The morning service at Christ Church was led by the Rev Jenni Honeyman who celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Ann Leigh preached and prayed and lessons were read by David Hynd and Margaret McQuillan. Junior church children learned about Samson and the Lion and cut out lion masks. Evening service was led by Ann Leigh and Margaret Quillan who also preached and prayed. Lessons were read by Margaret McQuillan and Ann Leigh and Rhona Jepson was the organist. There was a coffee morning at Mrs Enid Taylor’s home which raised over £100 for church funds.

LONGWOOD

On Saturday afternoon several members of St Mark’s church family joined St John’s Golcar for their Hog Roast, inside Golcar Church because of the rain. Excellent food and atmosphere was enjoyed by all.

Sunday morning at St Mark’s was the scene for a Mothers’ Union sung Eucharist Service which was led by Rev Harry Gwinnett. The organist was Phil Turner, who, with a small choir accompanied the hymns. The first hymn Lord for The Years was sung whilst Michelle Gregory carried the MU banner through church to the Lady Chapel, where it rested throughout the service. Harry read prayers of penitence and forgiveness. Bible readings, from Solomon and Romans, were by Dorothy Heads and Dilys Eastwood. Harry then read The Gospel and introduced guest speaker Betty Barrens, Diocesan Project Manager for the Mothers’ Union. Betty delivered a very comprehensive talk about MU activities in the local area, which included many projects, particularly those involved with New Hall women’s prison, assistance for people who are refugees from foreign countries and others who are homeless as well as young girls who are either pregnant or young mothers already. This was a very informative talk and an insight into lives of whom are less fortunate than others. Intercession prayers were prepared and read by Olive Houghton with a special reference to Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers Union. The sharing of The Peace also marked the arrival of Sunday school, with Leader Joan Morton .The hymn Tell Out My Soul was followed by Communion where Harry was assisted by Pat Jessop as server. Before concluding, Harry read the banns of marriage for the third time for Gavin Campbell and Stephanie Knapton, and he also announced that the sum of money raised at the Summer Fayre last week now totalled £680. The service concluded with Harry giving the Celtic Blessing for everyone to sing. The service next Sunday, will be Family Worship with a guest speaker from The Gideon Society.

MARSDEN

The morning service at the United Church was led by Jean Broome. The theme centred around Christ, Communication and Caring. The readings were from Psalms and Corinthians and read by Ruth and Edward Sheldrake. The organist was Marjorie Boothroyd. Refreshments were served by members of the congregation.

Also this week, Jez Hackett from the United Church Marsden, was welcomed as the new Children's Outreach and Evangelism Enabler for the Huddersfield Pennine Circuit. He will cover the churches and areas of Outlane, Mount, Netherton and Parkwood.

All Age Communion was held at St Bartholomew’s on Sunday, led by the vicar, the Rev Geoff Garside. Alison Gibson gave an illustrated talk to the children saying how we all like to listen to stories and this was how Jesus told the people how to live their lives in a godly way by telling them stories (they are called parables). The parable in the Gospel was about the rich farmer sowing wheat but the enemy came and planted weeds amongst them, but he told his workers to let them grow together and sort out the weeds when the crop was harvested, thereby saving the good wheat. The Gospel from Matthew 13 v 24-30 and 36-43 was read by Joan Biggs who also offered prayers. Audrey Armitage read the lessons from Isaiah 44 v 6-8 and Romans 8 v 12-25. Ian Hunt was the organist.The children’s choir, led by Simon Crook, sang the Gloria and the Kyrie. Sidesmen were Dorothy Lodge, Enid Ackroyd and David Fisher. Coffee was served in the Hall by Mary Horn, Joan Ladbrooke and Jean Pennington.

The church has been open from Friday to Sunday for the Treasures Revealed festival. Visitors were given guided tours and refreshments were served.

Services continue on Tuesdays at 9.30am and the church will remain open until 3pm during July and August for visitors to look round, listen to readings and music, quiet meditation, or a chat and refreshments.

The Church Operatic and Dramatic Society are presenting their Summer Variety Show from Wednesday to Saturday July 27-30. Cabaret seating and licensed bar. Tickets £7 available from Duncan's Hairdresser, Warehouse Hill, Marsden. Tel 845311 (shop hours only.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphians on Sunday evening, Kevin Charlesworth presided. Several of the Sunday school pupils joined the audience to listen to the illustrated talk on God’s Promised Kingdom by Kevin Waterhouse. Kevin looked at the many signs in our world today to indicate the coming of the Kingdom, namely the wars, famine and earthquakes in diverse places. He looked at several Bible quotations from Revelations, Daniel, Matthew and Luke. On Sunday at 6pm Ben Staples is to speak on God’s Care For You.

The coffee morning reading group, led by David McEvoy, met on Tuesday to discuss Bible readings, .

The quarterly business meeting was on Wednesday evening. Kevin Waterhouse was president. James Walker is to lead the daily readings discussion group on Wednesday July 27, start 7.30pm. The project aid collection for the next four weeks is to be given to the Christadelphian Samaritans to give aid to the famine crisis in the Horn of Africa.

PARKWOOD

A community breakfast was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Saturday morning. It was organised by Elaine Oldham, assisted by Renee Wyatt and Jean Johnson.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning. Guest preacher was Mr Matt Smith, Bible readers were Christine Johnson and Ann Ivy, the organist was Mr Kenneth Rothery and visual aids were by Joe Lloyd and Ann Ivy. In the schoolroom downstairs a messy church morning was held for the children organised by John Hatton and Jez Hackett and the Rev Pam Ward with craft work and bible story. Coffee was served after the service by Margaret and Ken Fairclough.

SLAITHWAITE

St James Parish Church Mother’s Union attended a deanery quiet evening at the Westwood Christian Centre, led by the Rev Janet Sergeant, who talked about Mother Julian of Norwich, who lived in the 14th Century. Then there was a quiet time either indoors or outdoors, the views of the countryside being magnificent. Evening prayer was then celebrated, using the Iona Community version of worship. Refreshments were served at the end of the evening.

At Slaithwaite Good Companions the entertainment for the afternoon introduced by Margaret Cook was Sue and Phil of the Wayfarers Revival, also assisted by Malcolm in charge of sound. Members enjoyed country and western, folk and 60s music, with Phil also playing ukuleles. songs of Cliff, Elvis, the Seekers and others. The group enjoyed Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Annie’s Song, The Wild Rover and many others, finishing with a Ragtime singalong. They accompanied singing for the birthdays of Sheila Kaye, Margaret Ingham and Joyce Wood. During the afternoon members enjoyed a strawberry cream tea. Thanks were given by Pauline Gee. There will be no meetings for the next two weeks.

St James Parish Church service of Holy Communion and Baptism was led by Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The little one to be christened was five-month old Stanley Adam McAllister, son of Emily Jane and Andrew Robert McAllister and brother of Scarlett. The lesson Genesis chapter 28 v 10-17 Jacob’s Dream out of Bethel was read by Elaine Bradley. The address by Rev Robin about Jacob’s ladder. Bethel means the house of God and Jesus is the ladder leading to God, who promises to care for us. The Rev Robin also led the prayers, Holy Communion and blessings were celebrated and the organist was Alvy Whitehead.

Sunday morning worship at the Methodist Church was an “Own Arrangement Day” and was led by church steward Mary Mercer as a time of rejoicing, thanksgiving and praise. Psalm 100 was read together following the hymn All People That On Earth Do Dwell. John Scott read from St John’s gospel, chapter 8 and Barbara Svensgaard read Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, and Mary based her sermon on verses from this – “that God has given freedom to all those who believe and obey the Holy Spirit”. Prayers of intercession were led by five members of the Women’s Fellowship and the organist was Wendy Redfern.