BIRDSEDGE
There seems to be no requirement for a free children’s film morning in the village hall as there was no turn out for the film on Saturday morning. A small appreciative audience enjoyed Don’t Rock the Boat, about 60’s pirate ship days, in the evening.
Mad Agnes will be appearing at the hall on Sunday March 21. Ring 01484-606230 for details. Bar and refreshments available.
A Tea Dance will be held next Friday, March 26, from 11.30am. Cream teas and sandwiches will be available for lunch. Competent dancers would be very welcome to help refresh the current dancers’ memories.
The Mother’s Day church service was taken by Pat Wood. Christine Wilson talked about some of the famous mothers we know about. Michael read a passage from Matthew about the Faith of the Canaanite Woman and Andrew read Psalm 100 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth’ Tom expanded the story of the Canaanite Woman telling of how at first he couldn’t come to terms with the fact that Jesus denied the woman help. Her faith and determination as a mother got her the help her daughter needed to be healed. This weekend’s service will be taken by Paul Hinchliffe of Huddersfield.
CLAYTON WEST
Morning Worship on Sunday at All Saints was led by Jean Newby and Jayne Stanley. Readings were prepared and delivered by Alan Reardon and Joy Lane from the second of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians 1(vv3-7) and Luke 2 (vv41-52) respectively. Cathy Reardon spoke about the differences between Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday; how Mothering Sunday applies to the church. In the early days of the 20th century young people (usually in service) returned to their homes bearing gifts for their mothers; in previous centuries the whole congregation would return to their Mother Church – the oldest in the area - to celebrate Mothering Sunday. A church remains today a haven of peace, love, care and thoughtfulness for those who enter; parishioners transmit those same qualities of motherhood with whom they come into contact. Toward the end of the service the many young children in church gave out sprays of daffodils to all women who were present. Prayers were led by Wynn Leake. Refreshments at the end of the service were served by Margaret Morris and Christine Meredith.
Morning worship for Mother’s Day at the Methodist Church was led by Beryl Holt, a member of the church. She spoke of God’s unconditional love for us and this enables us to change our lives. Fred Green read a lesson from Corinthians and Wendy Barber the story of the lost son from Luke. Diana Hunt and Joan Bond were stewards, and also gave gifts of daffodil posies to all the women in the congregation. The pianist was Jane Hobson. Flowers for the communion table were a gift from Jillian Beevers. After the service Lucie Froggatt served coffee and biscuits.
Last Tuesday the afternoon fellowship welcomed Les Barber who spoke about a very special holiday to Florence in Italy. He brought photographs, books, and mementos for people to look at. Everyone enjoyed an interesting talk. Refreshments were served afterwards.
DENBY DALE
The prayer and Bible Fellowship at the Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel met on Monday evening. The leader was Robert Nuttall. The Churches Together Lent meeting was held on Tuesday evening when Cynthia Nuttall led the discussions. The Children's Club met on Friday evening. A Mother’s Day Family Service was held on Sunday morning. The service was led by Rhea Storr and the Bible reading was read by Dominic Storr. Readings about mothers in the Bible were given by Ruth Booth, Carol Mosley, Cynthia Nuttall and Jayne Storr. Lily Gilbert handed the Sunday School captain's badge on to this year’s captain Chloe Ellis. Chloe then presented Primula plants to all the women of the congregation. Pastor Susanah Youden was the preacher on Sunday evening when she spoke about Telling Everyone about Jesus. The pianist was Robert Nuttall. Refreshments were served after both services.
EMLEY
Lent Course Three – Gaining Wisdom – was held on Tuesday afternoon at 2 Northgate and in the evening in church. Sprouts and Roots met on Thursday evening.
On Saturday morning Simon Hosey and Diane Bassett were married at Emley Parish Church.
In the evening The Toggs – a tribute band – entertained a large audience with a wide range of songs of 60s music, playing guitars and keyboard. All enjoyed a steak pie supper and £580 was raised for church funds.
Mothering Sunday was celebrated in the parish church with a service of Holy Communion taken by the Rev John Marsh; Evelyn Barrow read the Bible, Kate Tordoff led prayers and Malcolm Jessop was organist. The Rev Christine Bullimore gave the sermon based on Jesus as the good shepherd who gave his life for all, our safety, freedom and protection for life. The children made Mothering Sunday cards and presented the congregation with a carnation. The service ended with A Mothering Sunday Liturgy. Refreshments were served.
LEPTON
Lepton Townswomen’s Guild held their monthly meeting in the Methodist Church, Mrs Joan Peel presiding. As it was the AGM, a new committee was elected. This was followed by an enjoyable quiz. Mrs Val Smith won the raffle.
SHELLEY
Shelley Over 60s members held their weekly meeting on March 4 in the village hall. The bingo line was won by Arthur Pollard and the full house by Lilian Armitage.The first three numbers on one card was not claimed and the prizemoney carried over. The whist high of 92 was won by Marjorie Johnstone and the low of 66 went to Alice Bryden from seven tables. Members celebrated the birthdays of Gladys Stringer, Fran Fieldsend and oldest member Fred Huddle, who has attained the marvellous age of 98. Raffle prizes were won by Madge Shaw, Edith Brookes, Marjorie Johnstone, Eunice Ramsden and Bessie Usher.
The Over 60s met again last Thursday when the bingo line was won by Bessie Usher and the full house by Marjorie Johnstone. The whist high of 96 went to Harry Rose and the low of 66 to Bessie Usher from seven tables. Raffle prizes were won by Alice Bryden, Rene Biggin, Rene Hewitt, Nancy Lear, Lilian Armitage, Dora Mettrick and Judith Crowther. Birthday greetings went to Rae Marriott, Mike Lockwood, Bernard Tattersall, Barbara Keaveney, Graham Collins, Jean Marsland and lastly to Vernon Secker for his 90th birthday.
SKELMANTHORPE
Carol Senior led the Mother’s Day service at the Wesleyan Reform Chapel. Members of the congregation gave readings and poems and they were presented flowers by Celia Pickles. The organist was John Orton.
The Rev Ann Sharratt conducted the Mothering Sunday and Skelmanthorpe Wives’ Group service at the Methodist Church. The theme was A Mother’s Hands. She asked the congregation ‘how many hands does a mother have?’ Answers included caring, love, learning, taxi, and gardener. The children of the Sunday school handed out sheets of paper with all the different suggestions on so people could see the results. The Rev Ann repeated the scenario asking ‘how many hands does God have?’ Some suggestions included: creator, caring, forgiveness, love, protector and also discipline. The point which came from this talk was about a mother’s love, care and protection of her children and God’s love was the same. A duet Show Me The Way was performed by Rose Merry and Anne Merry. Readings from Exodus – ‘The story of the Birth of Moses and his mother’s concern to keep her child safe’ and from Colossians – The Old Life And The New – were read by Sylvia Lodge and Bronwyn Boothroyd. The Skelmanthorpe Wives’ Group choir sang He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother. Christine Senior was the accompanist. The Mother’s Day flowers were made by Margaret Stephenson and distributed by the children of the Sunday school: Daisy Brooks-Taylor, Callum Wadsworth, Charlotte Elizabeth Daley and Ben Dodsley. The hymns on screen were a powerpoint presentation by Stuart Merry. The service ended with a resounding hymn which included a percussion band, including the children and Stuart Merry on drums, Rose Merry on recorder, along with the tambourine and shakers by members of the wives’ group. The organist was Frances Priestnall. Coffee was served afterwards by members of the wives‘ group.
STOCKSMOOR
Stocksmoor Bridge Club results from Thursday March 4: North/South – 1 M Sandell and S Hancock, 2 P Pogson and A Stephens, 3 M Barrow and C Brett; East/West – 1 P Turner and M Kenworthy, 2 M and L Cooper, 3 J Shaw and E Tullie. Thursday March 11: North/South – 1 M Sandell and S Hancock, 2 J Morris and W Sharman, 3 W and A Dowlen; East/West: 1 C Kaye and LTempest, 2 M and L Cooper, 3 M Russell and E Covell.
