BIRDSEDGE
The Birdsedge Village Hall Luncheon Club went well with one prospective new helper after a request went out through the Village Voice magazine. There had been a change in the menu to chicken when the weather improved so the next club will be served stew and maybe dumplings followed by plum tart.
Cumberworth under 7s played Hade Edge on Saturday – unfortunately Hade Edge couldn’t raise a full team. Plenty of football was played and lots of bacon sandwiches were enjoyed. Next week is the turn of the Under 8s.
Some 150 walkers took part in the Huddersfield North Scout Association’s annual Night Hawk event. The school room was used as a checkpoint, providing facilities and bacon sandwiches.
Birdsedge First School held their Harvest Festival in the church on Thursday.
The Harvest Festival was taken by Pat Wood. Pat started by describing how harvest festivals used to be. They would last a good week starting by cleaning the church then decorating it with all harvest/autumn plants. Now that the seasons for food have been lost because of global availability this time of year doesn’t seem so important. There are still harvests of fruit and vegetables in this country and many homes will make and preserve things for the whole year ahead. God harvests his people for ever as in the hymn Amazing Grace. There are many people around the world who need our excesses - that is why we give to CART. We need to keep thinking of these people all the time.The next service will be taken by James Greig of the Leprosy Mission. Stamps and collectables which have been gathered together will be handed over to him.
The annual Autumn Fair to raise money for continued building improvements will be today, Saturday, from 11am, when coffee and lunches will be served.
CLAYTON WEST
On Wednesday October 5 Clayton West WI met when Batley Audio Visual Club were the speakers and their members showed a selection of short films which were beautifully made, taking everyone on a journey through many countries. They were very interesting and enjoyable to watch. This was followed by refreshments, a raffle and there was a sales table as well. The next meeting will be on Wednesday November 2 when there will be a craft evening making angels.
Parish Communion at All Saints was celebrated by the Rev Joy Cousans on Sunday. Joining the congregation were members from St. Augustine’s, Scissett. This was a service to celebrate a period of fund-raising for church development. The Rev Joy spoke to the children about sharing and particularly about the difficulties of sharing which often demanded negotiation. Readings were prepared and delivered by Alex Collins and Mavis Brooke from Philippians 4 (verses 1-9) and Matthew 22 (verses 1-14) respectively. The Rev Joy used the passage from Philippians for her talk. Difficult and exciting times are ahead for All Saints’ which will need both prayer and agreement and which will also be referred back to the congregation, she said. The future will need foresight if development is to comprehensively cater for the needs of generations to come. Prayers for the wider world were written and shared by Jayne Stanley and Stephanie Spence. During the distribution of communion the choir sang John Rutter’s arrangement of God Be In My Head. At the end of the service, refreshments were served by Marjorie Brown and Carol Vidal. Celebratory bookmarks crafted by Greg Spence were handed out to all individuals.
The Harvest Thanksgiving service at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev David Priestnall.The church was beautifully decorated and gifts of food were given by church members, and organisations that use the church premises during the week. These to be taken to the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield Methodist Mission to be distributed to those people in need. This was also Back to Church Sunday and old members, friends and neighbours were welcomed to join the celebration. Lucie Froggatt read the New Testament lesson from the gospel of John about the vine and its branches. David spoke of how we are always part of God and need to continue to grow and bear fruit in his service and put our trust in him. Stewards were Betty Booth and Maxine Lodge and flowers for the communion table were a gift from Emily Flack. A retiring collection was taken to send to the Methodist Relief and Development Fund to help in sending aid to people in East Africa. After the service everyone enjoyed coffee, biscuits and a time of fellowship. Then many members and friends stayed on for a lovely lunch prepared by the ladies of the church.
Last Tuesday the afternoon fellowship’s theme was also Harvest, led by Beryl Holt. Hymns and readings followed the thoughts of Harvest. Refreshments were served after the meeting.
EMLEY
A Coffee Cakes and Coins event was organised at St Michael’s Church by Denise Battey on Saturday morning with the help of young people in church. They made a five wide row of coins – total unknown at present. Delicious cakes and coffee were served.
On Sunday morning the Rev Laurie Brooks celebrated Holy Communion. Jill Marsh led the service, Jayne Ryder and Evelyn Barrow read the bible, Malcolm Jessop played the organ and Dennis Roughsedge led prayers. The children showed photographs of the previous day’s events. Coffee and cakes were served.
KIRKBURTON
Mrs Sue Whitcroft welcomed the congregation to All Hallows Parish Church for a service of Sung Eucharist on the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. The leader was the Rev Robert Chambers and the preacher was the Rev Graham Whitcroft who took for his theme Who Do We Worship? Who is God?. Mrs Whitcroft led the Prayers of Intercession and Mrs Hilary Berry gave the readings from the sixth chapter of the Book of Isaiah and from the 16th chapter of the Gospel according to St Matthew. The chalice and paten were taken to the altar by Mrs Margaret Haigh and Mrs Phyl Taylor and Mr Chambers was assisted at the distribution by pastoral ministers Mrs Betty Cross and Mrs Mary Chambers. Mr John and Mrs Gail Marshall performed the duties of sidesmen and took up the collection. Mrs Doreen Barraclough accompanied the singing and, after the service, Mrs Joanne Smith and Mrs Jean Sutcliffe served refreshments to the worshippers. In the evening the Rev Geoff Clay led a service of evensong.
SHELLEY
Shelley Over 60s members held their weekly meeting in the Village Hall last Thursday. The bingo line was won by Marjorie Johnstone and the full house by Edith Brookes. No-one had the first three numbers on one card so the prize was carried forward. The whist high of 91 was won by Dorothy Jessop and the low of 62 went to Harry Rose from eight tables. Members who celebrate a birthday this week are Dorothy Isles, Christine Kent, Meg Dunford and Peter Holloway (70). Raffle prizes were won by Lilian Armitage, Marion Kelly, Jo Morrison, Malcolm Mills and John Walker.
SKELMANTHORPE
John Orton was the preacher for Sunday service at the Wesleyan Reform Church. John also played the organ. Holy Communion was held and the steward was Susan Wright.
Harvest Festival was celebrated last Sunday at Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church. Dr Alison Caswell led the worship. The congregation were invited to wrote down what constitutes a Harvest, then Alison collated them all and the final conclusion was that was: creation is productive and we have a part to play and God is constantly at work. The steward for the service was Anne Wadsworth and the music group accompanied one of the hymns. Christine Senior was the organist. Refreshments after the service were served by Arlene and Chris Gaunt. On Monday night there was a church council shared by the Rev David Priestnall. The events of the past year were discussed and commented on and plans made for the next 12 months.
STOCKSMOOR
Stocksmoor Bridge Club results for Thursday September 29: North/South – 1 M Sandell and S Hancock, 2 D Cliff and C Bolland, 3 T and M Hirst; East/West – 1 M Russell and E Covell, 2 J Daniel and L Mallinson, 3 M Hicks and A Dowlen.
Thursday October 6: North/South – 1 M Dey and M Sandell, 2 P Turner and M Kenworthy, 3 P Pogson and A Stephens; East/West: 1 J Daniel and L Mallinson, 2 M Hicks and A Dowlen and T and M Hirst.
