GOLCAR

Gina Fielding gave an update on the Forget Me Not Trust Children's Hospice at Providence Methodist Church. The evening was organised by the Men’s Fellowship and Peter Booth led devotions and welcomed and thanked Mrs Fielding. Refreshment's were served afterwards .

Sunday service at the Providence Methodist Church was led by Rev Roger Nelson. Sheila Pearson welcomed Mr Nelson along with the congregation to the Holy Communion service. Mr S Culpan read the first lesson from Hebrews and Mrs S Pearson read from Mark. The organist was David Austin. Coffee and biscuits were served afterwards. The Christmas Tree Festival will be on Friday December 7 6-8pm and on Saturday 9.30-4pm . There’s a chance to have breakfast with Santa Saturday 9-11am. Stalls and food served. On the Sunday morning service will be at 10.30am and Memorial Service at 3pm.

Marion Hall welcomed the congregation and led the World Service at St John’s. Readings were given by Nore Beaumont. In her address Margaret Laycock spoke of the many ways each of us can help others. Prayers were led by Betty Taylor and Ann Norton was the pianist. Sunday Club enacted the story of the poor widow who gave two small coins which were all she had.

LINTHWAITE

Thirty members of Linthwaite Methodist Church Thursday Fellowship enjoyed their annual meal at the Bulls Head, Linthwaite. Molly Shepherd led the singing for grace and Mairi MacKay organised a table quiz. Thanks were expressed to the Secretary for organising the event. David Brierley is the speaker in two weeks time when his subject is Peru and Ecuador.

Deaconess Gill Atkinson-Heck led morning worship at the Methodist Church, with ‘Hands’ as her theme for the Service. Sue Haigh read from Isaiah ‘Comfort for God’s People.’ Adrian Calverley read from Mark which tells of Jesus healing many people, by laying his hands on them – which formed the basis of Gill’s sermon. The children returned from Junior Church and told the congregation that they had been learning about Jesus in the Temple through the animated video ‘Friends and Heroes.’ Worship next Sunday at the Methodist Church will be led by Rev Jo Archer-Siddall who will launch Angel Week, when members of the congregation are secretly an ‘Angel,’ to someone else.

MARSDEN

Francis Horton led worship at the United Church on Sunday morning and also served Holy Communion . He based his address on the Kingdom to Come. Bible readings were given by Carl Butters and Brian Boothroyd. Marjorie Boothroyd was the organist and refreshments were served afterwards by the scout leaders.

An All Age Worship service was held on Sunday at St Bartholomew’s, led by the vicar, the Rev Geoff Garside. The vicar told the children a story 'Grandma's Teacup' illustrating that whatever we have done wrong if we make amends God still loves us and forgives us. The Junior Church children then continued their work on the theme Creation. The vicar then preached the sermon. Readings from Daniel and Hebrews were by Carolyn Hansom. Geoffrey Holroyd read the Gospel from St. Mark. Prayers were offered by Alison Gibson. John Wilson was the organist. Joan Bradbury has resigned after many years as verger, a post she shared with her late husband, John. She was warmly thanked by the vicar and churchwarden, David Fisher for all her service as verger and also the many tasks she still undertakes. She was presented with flowers by churchwarden Carolyn Hansom.Sideswomen were Pat Purcell and Jean Pennington.Coffee was served by Joan Bradbury, Glenys Ward, Mabel Smithies and Julie Corps.

PARKWOOD

A drop in lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday, organised by Sheila and Robin Whittam, assisted by ladies of the church. A craft fair was held at the church on Saturday, with stalls and refreshments all day, organised by Elaine Oldham and Reene Wyatt assisted by church members and raised over £1,200 for church funds.

Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation on Sunday morning when preacher was Naomi Sharp, bible readers Jean Johnson and Christine Noble, steward Ann Ivy and pianist Kenneth Rothery. Coffee was served by Margaret Noble and Liam Johnson. On Sunday there will be 10.30am Messy Church for the children and at 6.15pm The Messiah.

SLAITHWAITE

Community Spirit charity shop once again supported much of the payment for the carriage of 360 boxes filled for Operation Christmas Child. This was carried out at Slaithwaite Methodist Church, led by Elma Cotley and Christine Parkin and volunteers. A meal was held at the Monsoon Indian Restaurant to help raise funds to fill the boxes and dedicated people who devote much time knitting caps, scarves and gloves. A big thank you goes to those who took part. Community Spirit has given its support since the shop opened 13 years ago. This year the boxes are for the children of Bosnia.

Margaret Cook welcomed visitors to Good Companions, when Pauline Wood spoke about Marsden park and its history. This year it celebrates its centenary and originally featured bandstand, bowling green, place to promenade, a temperance drinking fountain and a park-keeper’s lodge. About 1985 the lodge closed and the park became neglected. Friends of Marsden Park in 2007 applied for Lottery Open Spaces funding, and have been able to bring it back to its former glory and provide a play area. A summer weekend and a Christmas event are special each year and now a Junior Friends of the Park is being established. A centenary book is available, priced £5. Pauline was thanked by Patricia Parkinson, and the pianist was Margaret Cook.

St James Parish Church Holy Communion was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The lesson from Deuteronomy was read by Raymond, the Holy Gospel from St Mark by the Rev Robin. The address was about sharing our faith. Prayers were led by Peter Brown and the organist was Alvi Whitehead.

The Wesley Guild met on Thursday evening. Roger Mitchell was in the chair and led prayers. He introduced the Rev Stephen Day who gave a talk on the workings of the Huddersfield Mission and what might be a typical day for him in his work as minister there, and the part the Mission cafe plays which is now open in the evenings as well as daytime.

Gift Day service at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev Jo Archer-Siddal. “What is God’s Gift to us?” was the theme of her talk. Slides on the children’s activities were shown and the service included Holy Communion. The organist was Roger Mitchell. After the service members enjoyed a faith lunch which was organised by Sandra Dalton and Hilary Turner. Birthday wishes were sung for Bessie Whitwam.