CROSLAND MOOR

Twenty-three members of the Association of Christian Fellowship from St Barnabas' Church, Crosland Moor, enjoyed their annual Christmas dinner at the Toby Carvery. A vote of thanks was expressed by Mavis Armitage to Kathleen Pratt the secretary, who had organised the evening.

St Barnabas' Church Choir enjoyed their annual Christmas dinner at Crosland Heath Golf Club. They were joined by the Vicar, the Rev Martin Parrott, organist Dr G Hallas and husbands and wives. After dinner carols were sung.

Crosland Moor Mothers' Union members and St Barnabas' Church Choir members jointly hosted a morning of carols, Mulled wine and mince pies were served in the parish hall. There was also a raffle and a sales table.

GOLCAR

Jesus is the Heart of Christmas was the theme of the service at Providence Methodist Church, led by Mrs L Bishop. The Junior Church performed the Nativity story. James and Grace Beevers read the lessons from Luke 1, Verses 26-30 and Luke 2, verses 1-7. The prayers were given by Mr Andrew Marchington and Mrs Margaret Israel was the organist. The Carol Service held in the evening was led by the Rev Pam Ward. Readings were given by various groups within the church. Items were sung by the church choir and Huddersfield and Ripponden Brass Band played. Margaret Israel was the organist. Afterwards seasonal cakes were served in the schoolroom by members of the Friendship group.

Cannon Martyn Crompton welcomed the congregation to the Eucharist at St John’s Church and the curate the Rev Harry Gwynett led the service. The first reading from Two Samuel chapter 7 versus 1-11 was given by Helen Davis and Sue Bolder gave the second reading from Romans 16, 25-27. Martyn gave the gospel reading from Luke 2 and in his address he spoke about relationships and in particular the debt we owe for our special relationships with our mothers and the freedom we have in our relationship with God. Prayers were led by Richard Lodge and the organist was Ann Norton. Sunday Club had been following the story of the Christmas journey and with the aid of tambourines gave a lively rendition of Jingle Bells. In the evening the congregation were welcomed with music by Arien Sound and by the Rev Canon Martyn Crompton to a carols by candlelight service. Carols were interspersed with readings by church members. Margaret Laycock was the pianist. Afterwards coffee and mince pies were served in the community room.

Today, Christmas Eve, there will be a carol singing round the Christmas tree service at 5.30pm and a midnight EucharIst starting at 11.30pm. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, the Holy Eucharist (BCP Said) is at 8am and a joint service with St Mark’s Church at St John’s at 10am.

LINTHWAITE

Members at the Linthwaite Methodist Thursday Fellowship Christmas meeting were entertained by Philip Horn who spoke about A Funny Thing Happened... The stories related to his travels during 40 years as an amateur magician. Philip also amazed the gathering with several tricks. Jackie Calverley led the opening devotions with Christmas carols. Jenny Sutherland played the piano and seasonal refreshments were provided by Margaret Moriarty and Lesley Baxter. The secretary reminded members that the first meeting of the New Year would be on Thursday January 5 when Peter Stead would give an illustrated talk entitled A Trip Down the Mekon.

At Linthwaite Methodist Church the third candle of Peace was lit by the Stead family comprising of grandparents Peter and Maureen, along with daughter Joanna and grandson Conner. The appointed preacher was Mr Matt Smith who told the children the story of Jesus’s Christmas Party which involved the whole congregation and fascinated the young people as he took them along the Christmas story. The children then left for Junior Church which was led by Diane Loftus, Joanna Ambler and Andrea Morley. Mrs Lesley Baxter read the lesson from Luke 1 v26-38 Mary’s response to Gabriel’s Announcement. Matt then spoke about God’s Plan in each of us. Organist was Mrs Linda Nuttall and Will Morrison and Peter Stead operated the AV.

Linthwaite Methodist Church held a very special carol service – special in many ways, with members of the congregation reading and taking the service to the next stage. The guest band was Linthwaite Brass Band who brought very special memories to a delightful service. All readings were from the New International Version of the Bible and the service flowed from reading to carol without announcement. The congregation were privileged to hear the brass band play the traditional Colne Valley Christmas hymn Burnage Villa and the one dear to the heart of Linthwaite Methodist Church Hark What Mean Those Holy Voices! This all culminated with members of the Junior Church and other church members depicting a tableau of Jesus our Lord’s birth in a stable, while Rhiannon Mehlis along with Emily and Olivia Brook sang a very emotional version of O Holy Night. (See picture above). We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful brass band and talent in our church. We wish each and every one a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. If you and or your children would wish to join us in 2012 our services start at 9:30am. For more information go online at: www.linthwaitemc@ co.uk

At Christ Church a service of nine lessons and carols was led by the Rev Martin Parrot who read a lesson, prayed, celebrated holy communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were also read by Peter and Debbie Linsell-Fraser, Christine and David Hynd, Roger Fielding, David Cartwright and Margaret McQuillan, who also preached. Evening service was led by the Rev Martin Parrott who preached and prayed and gave a blessing and the organist was Derek Horne.

LONGWOOD

On the fourth weekend of Advent, at St Mark’s Church, the festive season began, on Friday evening, with the annual Carols by Candlelight service. Despite the failure of the church heating system, a last minute hiring of a powerful LPG blower, provided warm air making it more comfortable. In an announcement, church warden David Verlander, explained the evacuation procedure of the building, in an emergency via the two exits. For the first time this year the service was led by two vicars, parish priest Canon Martyn Crompton and curate the Rev Harry Gwinnett. The service sheet with pictures and words was projected onto the big screen by a Power Point operated by Charles Ross. Philip Turner was the organist, together with an augmented choir which included some members of St Mark’s Players. The fair-sized congregation were greeted on arrival with Christmas carols recorded by the World famous Cory Brass Band, setting the festive atmosphere. Following the greeting, from Martyn, the first carol Oh Come all ye Faithful laid the foundation for a very happy evening. Silent Night and The First Noel were followed by a Gospel reading by Olive Houghton, which led to the choir singing The Angel Gabriel Came. Next was the second Gospel reading, by David Verlander. O Little Town of Bethlehem was followed with another Gospel reading by Joan Morton. This was followed by While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night. The third Gospel reading was by Mark Gregory. We Three Kings was sung before the Rev Harry read prayers and everyone joined in for the Lord’s Prayer. Once in Royal David’s City was followed by Judith Pearson reading a poem The spirit of Christmas with background music of Auld Lang Syne. Ding Dong Merrily on High was followed by Martyn giving the Blessing and inviting everyone to delay their departures to enjoy the mulled wine and mince pies which were available, at the west end of church, served by ladies of the church. The final carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing brought the enjoyable service to an close.

The festive season at St Mark’s continues with the Chris tingle Service today, Christmas Eve, at 6pm. Parents and Children will all be welcome. Also, at 11.30pm tonight, there will be a Midnight Mass, with Eucharist when everyone, in addition to the regular church family, will be welcome to join this well-known celebration of Christmas, which includes carols. The Christmas morning service tomorrow will be a joint service at St John’s Church Golcar at 10am. There will not be a service at St Mark’s today, Christmas Day.

MARSDEN

Morning worship at the United Church on Sunday was taken by Mr Peter Hirst, who led devotions and spoke on the message of Christmas. The four advent candles were lit by Rachel Hemmingway. The First Christmas, a nativity play in costume, was acted by members of the Rainbow Guide group and the Beever Scout group. The story was told by Miss Jean Broome with the Gospel read by Rex Bamforth. Other readings during the play were by David Wilkins, group Scout leader, on behalf of the Beevers, Sarah Wayte, Rainbow Guide leader and Marjorie Boothroyd of the church. Music was provided by Marsden Junior Brass Band, conducted by their musical director Lucy Lamb and they also accompanied the singing of carols during the service. Mini Christmas cakes, made by the children and leaders of Junior Church, were distributed to each family in the congregation near the end of the service. Refreshments were served afterwards by Sheila Butters, Joyce Firth, Kathleen Jackson, Angela Kinder and Richard Wooffenden.

On Christmas Day there will be no service at the United Church but a joint service at Slaithwaite Methodist Church will be held at 10.30am.

Morning service of All Age Communion at St Bartholomew's Church was led by the vicar of Marsden, the Rev Geoff Garside, who gave the sermon and read the gospel from Luke chapter 1. The readings from 2 Samuel chapter 7 and Romans chapter 16 were by Geoffrey Holroyd. Alison Gibson gave the children's talk about the gifts of the Wise Men and what Christmas should mean to us. Ian Hunt was the organist. Prayers were offered by Carolyn Hansom. Sidesman was Dorothy Lodge. Coffee was served in the hall by Christine Garside and Jenny Mitchell. In the afternoon a service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held when they were joined by the members of the United Church. Mulled wine and mince pies were served afterwards. Services today, Christmas Eve - Christingle at 4pm and 6-30pm. Midnight Mass at 11-30pm. Tomorrow, Christmas Day 9-30am Holy Communion.

A New Year Lunch will be held in the Parochial Hall on Saturday January 7. 12-30 for 1pm. Admission by ticket only available from Carolyn Hansom Tel 01484-844660. Price: £10 including a glass of sherry.

MILNSBRIDGE

At the Milnsbridge Christadelphian's last Sunday Andrew Wilkinson presided at the evening Bible talk. Martin Spencer gave a power point presentation looking at The First Christmas. On Tuesday at 10.30am, the coffee morning reading group met to read and discuss the Bible readings for the day. Kevin Waterhouse led the discussion on Job chapters 25,26 and 27. David McEvoy led the discussion on Zachariah chapters 2 and 3 and The Epistle of Jude. Paul Siviter from Heckmondwike spoke on Jeremiah and his message to the Jews at the Bible class on Wednesday. Next Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Bible class , Paul Rose is to lead the daily readings discussion group. Visitors are most welcome to come to our meetings and services.

PARKWOOD

A drop in Christmas lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday with all the trimmings, organised by Barbara Rushforth, assisted by ladies of the church. There was also games and carol singing with pianist Naomi Sharp.

A community breakfast was held on Saturday morning at Parkwood Methodist Church organised by Freda and Joe Lloyd and team helpers.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning to the nativity service and Messy Church for the children, organised by Jez Hackett and helpers with arts and crafts. Naomi Sharp led the worship with Bible reader Sheila Swain. There was also a nativity drama by church members and the children. Pianist was Naomi Sharp. Coffee was served after the service by ladies of the church.

There will be a Christmas Day service tomorrow at Parkwood Methodist Church at 10.30am.

SLAITHWAITE

The St James’ Parish Church service of Holy Communion and baptism was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The little ones to be christened were Billy Joshua, son of Andrew Birkhead and Clare Walker, and Ruby Mae, daughter of Paul Andrew Roznowski and Rachael Elizabeth Whiteley. The address by the Rev Robin was What Do I Think about Christmas. A celebration of Holy Communion followed. Organist was Alvy Whitehead.

The Methodist carol service took place on Sunday afternoon. Slaithwaite band played items as the congregation arrived and accompanied the carols. Carrie and Jez Hackett lit the fourth advent calendar and offered the Advent prayer. After a welcome and prayers by Marie Wybrew the service took the form of nine readings and carols together with items by the choir and a sketch entitled Guardian Angels by Marjory, Sandra and Barbara. Marie brought the afternoon to a close with a talk on how angels might compare with the sopranos singing in the Messiah, before everyone blessed each other as they were leaving.