BIRDSEDGE

The Luncheon Club went well in the church hall. The next one on Thursday next week, back in the village hall, will be serving meat-and-potato pie with vegetables and apple strudel.The annual Plant Sale will take place on the Coronation Garden on Saturday. Throughout the morning refreshments, including bacon sandwiches and cream teas, will be served inside the hall. There will be a cake and home produce stall selling locally made cakes and preserves.

Leslie Sullivan took the family service. Although the congregation wasn’t as big as the week before, a good sound message was given. Leslie told the story of the 10 virgins. After Jesus told his followers ‘I am always with you’ he ascended into heaven. It must have been very confusing for the people around him even after the angels had re-assured them. What next? The End of the Age. IITimothy 3 ‘Godlessness in the Last Days’ reads like current attitudes of people. As was suggested about the recent lack of people voting, apathy abounds. We don’t know the day or the hour of the end of time but ‘Are you ready?’ Believe Matthew 28 v20 ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ The service next week will be taken by Paul Hinchcliffe.

CLAYTON WEST

The morning service at the Methodist Church was led by Peter Holt, local preacher and a member of the church. He led the thoughts of the congregation as he spoke of Jesus meeting two believers on the road to Emmaus, who only recognised him as he broke bread during the meal they shared, and their joy that he was still alive. In our lives we can show him to others in the way we behave and things we say. Maxine Lodge read the story from St Luke and Jean Heath a passage from the apostle Peter. Stewards were Diana Hunt and Maxine Lodge. A gift of flowers for the communion table was from Kathleen Green. After the service coffee and biscuits were served by Rosalyn Beevers.

Rev Joy Cousans led the service of Parish Communion on Sunday. This was a joint service with the parishioners of St. Augustine’s Church, Scissett. Readings were prepared and delivered by Jonathan Newcombe and Owen Ryder from Acts 2 (vv436– 41) and the Gospel of Luke 24(vv13 – 35) respectively. Rev Joy had already spoken to the children at the start of the service about never ‘walking alone’. This theme was continued in her talk to the adults: in effect, Christians are rarely alone... problems can be sorted out through talking to others or thinking things through logically. It is often never apparent that God has helped sort things out until opportunity is taken for a time of reflection. During the distribution of communion, the choir sang the anthem – O Taste and See, written by Ralph Vaughan-Williams and conducted by Jonathan Newcombe, who was also the organist. Refreshments were served for all by Marianne Taylor and Jayne Stanley after the service.

The Upper Dearne Valley 5 churches are holding a film evening at St. Michael’s Church, Emley – the film to be shown is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. All are welcome on May 21st. at 7pm

EMLEY

Rev Roy Clements celebrated Holy Communion on Sunday morning at St Michael’s Church. Bible readers were Carol Lee and Rachael Saunders, Graham Russell led prayers and Angela Griffiths played the piano. The Interregnum period will end on June 23 when Dr Rev John Marsh will be licensed as priest-in-charge along with the Rev Ann Young, as assistant priest.

On Friday next week (May 20) an Abba Tribute Group will give a concert in church at 7.30pm and will include fancy dress competition, sing along and light refreshments and a raffle. Bring your own wine. Tickets £8 from M Lee 01924 840019, J Ryder 01924 848352, K Moorhouse 01924848113.

KIRKBURTON

Mrs Sue Whitcroft welcomed the worshippers to a service of Sung Eucharist in Kirkburton All Hallows Parish Church on the Second Sunday after Easter. The service was led by the Rev Graham Whitcroft and Mrs Whitcroft led the prayers of intercession. Mrs Gwen Lodge gave the readings for the day from the first chapter of the First Epistle of St Peter and the story of the road to Emmaus from the 24th chapter of the Gospel according to St Luke. In his sermon, Mr Whitcroft took up the theme of the Gospel reading and explored how Cleopas shared the journey and a meal with Jesus. Mrs Pauline Pinder and Mrs Lorraine Lockwood took up the chalice and paten and Mr Whitcroft was assisted by reader, Mrs Janet Roberts and pastoral minister, Mrs Mary Chambers, at the distribution. Mrs Rachael Atkinson played the flute while the worshippers came forward for the communion. Mrs Janet Jessop and Miss Melissa Schindler were sidesmen and took the collection. After the service, Mrs Margaret Haigh, Mrs Pauline Pinder and Mrs Edie Brookes served refreshments to the congregation. In the evening, the Rev Robert Chambers led a service of Evensong. Mrs Doreen Barraclough was the organist for the day.

SHELLEY

Shelley Over 60s met at the Methodist Hall last Thursday due to the Village Hall being used for elections. The whist high of 90 was won by Anne Matthews and the low of 68 by Wendy Kettlewell from seven and a half tables. The bingo line went to Audrey Taylor and the full house to Jean Jessop. Birthday greetings were given to Kathleen Proctor, Ruth Sheffield, Barry Wilson and Joyce Tyas. New members Kathleen Fletcher and Dianne Briggs were also welcomed to the club. Raffle prizes went to Jean Eskrett, Fred Huddle, Joan Horne, Harry Rose, Sheila Spencer, Dorothy Greensmith and Barry Jessop.

SKELMANTHORPE

It was the Sunday Club anniversary at Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church last week. The service was conducted by lay preacher Mrs Samantha Forster who talked about Steps and Journeys. Samantha invited members of the congregation to write a concern for a prayer on a cut-out footprint. During the service Barbara Casson presented Callum Wadsworth (aged 11) with a Bible. Barbara then gave a talk about how children in the past received a Bible at the age of 15 and spoke of her own experience of this – including a family history of her father and grandfather, receiving their Bible at that age. The Bible lesson was dramatised. The music group accompanied all of the hymns. Ailsa Horton was the steward and coffee was served after the service by Ruth Brogan and Maureen Taylor.

STOCKSMOOR

Stocksmoor Bridge Club results for Thursday April 28. North/South: 1 M Sandell and K Morley, 2 M Hicks and J Pearson, 3 P Turner and M Kenworthy; East/West:1 J Daniel and L Mallinson, 2 M Dey and R Makings, 3 D Swaine and P Wright.

Thursday May 5. North/South: 1 P Pogson and A Stephens, 2 M Barrow and C Brett, 3 E Pearson and K Morley. East/West: 1 J Smith and D Hirst, 2 M Russell and E Covell, 3 C Kaye and L Tempest.