BIRDSEDGE

The Village Hall Band Night was well attended even though one band dropped out when the singer was stricken with a bad throat. It was a good opportunity to play in front of an audience and practise for their appearance at Birdsedge Festival. A young lady singer joined in at the last moment and impressed the audience.

Soccer Start’s first day went down well. Classes started at 9.15am and then hourly for three classes. Cumberworth Juniors struggled to keep warm due to the lousy weather and therefore took even more enjoyment than usual in the bacon or sausage sandwiches provided by the Birdsedge Hall Committee.

The annual Senior Citizen’s Party will take place in the hall on Sunday, February 12, from 4pm. Miscellany will provide the entertainment – back again by popular demand. Transport can be arranged by ringing 01484-606533. No individual invitations are going out this year, but anyone in the village of pensionable age is very welcome.

Tom Wood took the worship service. He read 2 Corinthians 12 verses 1-10 – Paul’s vision and his ‘thorn’ – a complicated passage. He continued with the theme ‘The unlimited possibilities of prayer’. There were lots of biblical quotes of which Jeremiah’s seemed the easiest: ‘Prayer is simply calling on God’. The next service will be on World Leprosy Day, taken by Tom Wood. The AGM will take place after the service on February 12 and a light lunch will be provided.

Both the church and village hall benefited this week from a Volunteering Leave scheme, just started this year by HSBC. Much-needed clearing and tidying up work was done in both buildings’ gardens.

CLAYTON WEST

Morning worship at All Saints Church on Sunday was led by Wynn Leake using the framework of a Celtic Service. Readings were prepared by Kath McDaid and Jane Newby. The visitor was Canon Jane Clay who talked to the congregation about ‘celebrations’ and ‘care’ in the multi-faith environment at New Hall Prison. Refreshments were served after the service by Barbara Gill and Ann Bunn. A monetary donation after the service will be directed towards flowers for all the inmates on Mothering Sunday. Next Sunday’s service is at the URC – timed at 11am and will be followed by a Faith lunch – to mark the Week of Christian Unity.

Morning worship at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev David Hall, circuit superintendent from Penistone. He began by showing a DVD, Called by God, showing various people using their talents in response to God’s call and how they served the community in many different ways. He spoke later to say that we all have something to offer in God’s service and we need to listen for his call. He said we should follow the example of the early disciples described in the readings from the scriptures. Lucie Froggatt read from the gospel of John and David read from the gospel of Mark. Stewards were Diana Hunt and Maxine Lodge and the gift of flowers for the communion table was from Josie Jebson. After the service Jane Woodcock served coffee and biscuits.

The monthly coffee morning was held last Saturday in aid of church funds. The home-made cake stall and book stall were popular, as was the bacon sandwiches cooked and served by Beryl Holt. A busy schoolroom enjoyed the fellowship and conversation.

KIRKBURTON

Mrs Maureen Etchells and Mrs Michaela Schindler welcomed the congregation to All Hallows Parish Church for a service of Sung Eucharist on the third Sunday of Epiphany. The leader was the Rev Robert Chambers and the preacher was the Rev Geoff Clay who took for his theme, The Meaning of the Miracle of Changing Water into Wine. Mrs Theresa Quarmby led the Prayers of Intercession and Mrs Sue Whitcroft gave the readings from the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation and from the first chapter of the Gospel according to St John. The chalice and paten were taken to the altar by Mr John Marshall and Mr Norman Berry and Mr Chambers was assisted at the distribution by Mr Clay and pastoral minister Mrs Mary Chambers. Mrs Wendy Crookes and Mrs Pat Ellis performed the duties of sidesmen and took up the collection. Mrs Doreen Barraclough accompanied the singing and, after the service, Mrs Edie Brookes and Mrs Margaret Haigh served refreshments to the worshippers. Shortly after noon, Rosie and William Devitt were baptised and welcomed into the fellowship of the church. Tomorrow, Sunday, there will be no service in All Hallows. Worshippers are invited, instead to attend a special Cluster Service at St Paul’s Church, Marsh Lane, Shepley, starting at 11am.

SHELLEY

It was a busy afternoon when Shelley Over 60s held their weekly meeting in the village hall last Thursday. The bingo line was won by Kathleen Proctor and the full house was shared by Ted Blythe and Phillip Beel. Kathleen Proctor and Jean Jessop had the first three numbers on one card and they shared the prizemoney. The whist high of 87 was won by Dora Sanders, and the low of 66 went to Marjorie Johnstone from eight tables. Birthday greetings were sent to Sheila Taylor, Nancy Teal, Fred Duczenko and Nancy Lear who received a bouquet of flowers on reaching her 90th birthday. Thanks go to her for the cake and sherry. Raffle prizes were won by Jean Jessop, Eunice Ramsden, Vera Wilkinson, Elaine Shaw, Ken Cassinelli and Joyce Tyas. On Wednesday January 18, members enjoyed the pantomime Robin Hood, starring Billy Pierce at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford.

SKELMANTHORPE

On Sunday last at Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church, Ailsa Horton, the steward for the service, introduced the preacher, Dr Ian Morris, of Cawthorne. Dr Morris read the gospel lesson from the New Testament and talked about the oral traditions of handing down the gospel stories to each generation, which began long before the written word. He emphasised the essence of the teachings of Jesus as being very important. Kenneth Haigh and Christine Senior read the Bible lessons about the covenant between God and his people. The music group accompanied one of the hymns and the organist was Frances Priestnall.

STOCKSMOOR

Stocksmoor Bridge Club results from Thursday January 12 are: North/South – 1 P Pogson and A Stephens, 2 E Pearson and K Morley, 3 T and M Hirst; East/West – 1 D Cliff and M Dey, 2 J and M.McGee, 3 S Clegg and C Pilling.

Thursday January 19: North/South – 1 E Pearson and K Morley, 2 S Clegg and C Pilling, 3 M Sandell and S Hancock; East/West – 1 P Turner and M Kenworthy, 2= J and M McGee and J Smith and E Tullie.