BROCKHOLES

The Rev Laura Hardy led worship at the Methodist Church on Sunday when Mr Keith Garside was the organist.

Family communion at St George’s Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes, who spoke about a personal relationship with God through Jesus. Paul Coleman read the lesson and Rosalind Watt was the server. Verena Wood was the organist.

GATEHEAD

The Harvest Festival Service will take place at 3pm on Sunday, October 16 led by Rev Diane Hicks. Donations of dried or tinned goods will be gratefully received Saturday, October 15 between 2 and 3pm. The church is against supporting Christian African Relief Trust (CART).

HEPWORTH

The annual Harvest Thanksgiving service was held at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday morning. The service was conducted by the Rev Keith Griffin, prayers were led by Louise Vigor, and the reader was Lorraine Pollitt. Donations of harvest gifts were received by churchwarden Hilary Fletcher and these will be taken to the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield. After the service, the congregation moved up to the village hall where they enjoyed a Faith Lunch.

On Sunday afternoon, a Civic Service was held in Holy Trinity Church for Councillor Tom Dixon, chairman of Holme Valley Parish Council. Local councillors, their spouses and local businessmen attended the service which was led by the Rev Keith Griffin. The organist was Jane Robertson. Afterwards, members of the congregation adjourned to the village hall where they enjoyed tea, sandwiches and cakes.

HOLMBRIDGE

Tea at Three, free refreshments for the elderly, was held on Monday and was organised by Ian Gold and Margaret Tupling.

Midweek Holy Communion at St David’s Church was conducted by the Rev Nick Heaton when lessons were read by Ian Gold. It was followed by the Monkey Business group, the free tea and the Over 60s Club. Carolyn Burley led Friday evening prayers.

On Sunday morning, Worship Together for Harvest was held at St David’s Church. The Rev Nick Heaton led the service when lessons were read by Carole Heaton and intercessions were led by Carolyn Burley and Susan Barber. The organist was Eddie Purcell, who was accompanied on flute and guitar by Becky and John Burdon. Harvest gifts were brought to the service and will be distributed to the elderly and sick in the parish during the coming week.

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

HOLMFIRTH

Rev Val Clarke celebrated the fifteenth Sunday after Trinity with Holy Communion at 10.30am at Holy Trinity Church, assisted with the chalice by Sue Winter. Chris Headley read the lesson from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians and Val preached on Paul’s confidence in giving up everything in his old life to follow Christ, reminding us alsoŠ to press forward and strain to gain the prize of God's love in Christ Jesus. Sue and John Winter were the sides persons, Noel Clarke played the organ and after the service, Alan and Vicki Winpenny served coffee in the Gallery Room.

HONLEY

Family service at St Mary’s Church took the form of a harvest festival. The congregation brought harvest gifts which were presented during the opening hymn. Andrew Dean read the lesson and intercessions were led by members of the Junior School choir and the music group. Singing was led by the music group and the school choir, which also presented solo items accompanied by their teacher Mrs Sue Ogden. The service was led by the Rev David Barnes.

Parish Eucharist on Sunday evening was led by the Rev David Barnes. Pat Green led intercessions and the organist was Jean Chadwick.

MELTHAM

Meltham WI held their meeting on September 6, which was chaired by the President Barbara Sheard. The tea ladies for the evening were Eileen Ellis and Betty Coldwell. The speaker for the evening was Mr Chris Helme, whose talk was entitled All in a Day’s Work – 30 Years of Policing. This was a very interesting and humorous talk on his life as a policeman. He joined the force at a very early age and enjoyed what he did. The members enjoyed his talk very much.The vote of thanks was proposed by Glenys Sykes. The raffle organised by Ruth Hutson was won by Margaret Booth

UPPERTHONG

On Monday evening, a winter fair planning meeting was held, followed by a meeting to discuss the outcome of the recently held parish survey. The meeting was chaired by Capt Mike Smithers, of the Church Army and attended by Holme Valley parish councillor for Upperthong Clr Greg Cropper.

The Tuesday morning prayer group was held at the home of the Dawsons. Holy Communion on Thursday at St John’s Church was led by the Rev David Barnes, who was also the celebrant.

On Friday evening, St John’s Church held a harvest supper at Upperthong village hall. A two-course meal was served by the ladies of the church and entertainment was provided by Rod and Dave, John Senior and Les Hopkins. The compère was Graham Dawson. The proceeds of £600 will go towards church funds.

Early communion on Sunday was taken by the Rev Di Ellerton, who also held the harvest festival family service when gifts of food and educational items were presented for donation to CART. The reader was Sarah Drummond and hymn singing was accompanied by the Drummond family music group. Refreshments after the service were served by Ruth Schorah. Fresh produce was auctioned and raised £167, which will also go to CART

WILSHAW

On Sunday a good congregation attended the Harvest Festival service at St Mary’s Church. The theme was Water and the church supported Samaritan’s Purse Turn On The Tap appeal. The Rev Judy Kenworthy reminded everyone about how important water is in order for things to grow, to keep us clean and healthy and to quench our thirst. Liz Pearson and granddaughter Rebecca told how some people are forced to exist on dirty, disease-ridden water and do not enjoy a good lifestyle as we do. Louise Brook read the lesson and the music group accompanied some of the hymns. Thanks were expressed to the flower arrangers who worked so hard to decorate the church for the harvest. Gifts of fruit and flowers were distributed around the village and dried and tinned goods were taken to the Immediate Needs charity in Huddersfield.

WOOLDALE

Harvest festival worship at the Methodist Church was led by John Mason. Nigel Morris was the organist and coffee and biscuits were served afterwards.