GOLCAR
The first meeting of the Friendship Group at Providence Methodist Church was AGM. Gillian Beever gave a secretary’s report and Gwen Iredale a treasurer’s report. Both staying in office for another year. The group’s 50th anniversary celebrations next year were discussed and there was a pie and peas supper. Sunday morning worship was led by the Rev Pam Ward. Baby Jacob Alexander, son of Lindsay and Steve Westmoreland, was baptised. Lessons were lead by Janice Swallow and Ian Day, Christine Healey offered prayers and Margaret Israel was the organist.
The SOCKS group of 11-16 year-olds, meet monthly (4.30-7pm) on Saturdays. for crafts, games, food and Christian teaching. The next meeting will be on October 17, at Providence Methodist. The Sunday service at Golcar Methodist Church was led by the Rev Chris Thompson, organist was Calinda Stockhill and pianist Chris Woodhead.
Marion Hall welcomed the congregation at St John’s Church and led the “Worship in today’s World” service. Margaret Laycock gave the reading. The address was given by Helen Bentley based on hypocrisy and members of the Sunday Club gave their own examples from everyday life of people being two-faced. Intercession prayers were led by Helen Davies and Anne Norton was organist.
The Rev Brenda Mitchell led the service in the afternoon when Cerys Carder, Martin Carder and Benjamin Gash-Higgins were baptised.
LINTHWAITE
Morning worship at Linthwaite Methodist Church was conducted by the Gideons. Linda Nuttall was organist and Peter Stead operated the AV equipment. John Morrison read the lesson.
The Ecumenical Service at Linthwaite Methodist Church on Wednesday morning was led by Ian Baxter and members from other churches in the valley joined in.
On Saturday Joseph Fitzpatrick and Ann Thornton were married by the Rev Jenny Honeyman, who also led an all age worship service on Sunday morning and gave a blessing. The lesson was read by Christine Hyde and Ian Blakely preached and prayed. The Rev Julian Perkins joined the congregation later and attended evening worship which was led by the Rev Jenny Honeyman who also read a lesson and gave the blessing. Margaret McQuillan preached and prayed and the organist was Derek Horne.
LONGWOOD
The Festival weekend was blessed with beautiful weather. Friday saw the opening, for three days, of the 16th Annual Art Show in the Mechanics Hall. More than 90 pictures including oils and watercolours, as well as 3D-decoupage, costume jewellery, hand-crafted greetings cards and other crafts were on display.
Saturday morning saw St Mark’s Church open for people to view the church treasures, including more than 15 unique stained-glass windows. Light refreshments were available. In the afternoon the curate from St John’s Golcar, the Rev Brenda Mitchell, baptised Sophie Ross. Sophie will be welcomed into the St Mark’s Church Family at tomorrow’s morning service, after which, in the parish and community centre Sophie will be honoured with a lunch, including christening cake.
Sunday morning Family Service at St Mark’s Church celebrated The Year of the Child 2009 when the Junior Church played a major part in the service and guest celebrant was the Rev Brenda Mitchell. The collect was read by Emily Jones and Hannah Jones read the Gospel. The young people chose the hymns and some of them took part in a presentation based on the Parable of the Sower, read the intercession prayers and took up the offerings and the collection. Joan Morton and Debbie Yates, the junior church leaders, told the congregation about the work the children have done over the past year and prizes were presented to all of them by Dorothy Heads. The children were: Hannah and Emily Jones, Lotti and Sophie Ross, Samantha and Steven Yates, Rosie and Grace Turner, Caitlin Banneman, Isaac and Sidney Latham and Freya Gregory. Music was proved by Phil Turner and his Music Group together with the children with their percussion instruments. Server was Chris Jones and the power point, for the big screen was operated by Mark Gregory. The Young Church and friends are going by coach to Silcoates School in Wakefield, next Saturday to join a Diocesan Celebration of The Year of the Child 2009 which will close with a celebratory communion service by The Bishop of Wakefield.
The highlight of the weekend came on Sunday afternoon with the 136th Annual Longwood Sing. An innovation was the opening carol O Come All Ye Faithful which was followed by hymns and choruses. Children from Crow Lane School sang and the address was given by Steve Bagshaw. An additional item was a thank you by Carrie, sister of the late Adrian Sudbury, whose bone marrow appeal was this year’s chosen charity supported by the sing. The organist was Dr G Lockwood and other music was provided by Golcar Band. The Sing Chairman, Charles Ross, said he was delighted with the success of this event.
MARSDEN
Morning worship on Sunday at the United Church was the Harvest Festival, led by Mrs Judith Robinson. The young people of Junior Church brought potted plants to the service and these were distributed afterwards. In addition to the normal offertory members of the congregation made gifts of money to the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal. The organist was Chris Cook. Tea and coffee were served after the service. A Scarecrow Festival will be held on Saturday, September 26. The Church will be open from 10am-12noon to see the scarecrows and there will be other childrens activities, with coffee and cakes served. On Sunday, September 27 there will be a scarecrow family service led by Rev Jo Archer-Siddal.
Reserved Communion at St Bartholomew’s was led by Geoffrey Holroyd and organist was Dennis Brook. Reader was Elizabeth Knight and prayers were read by Carolyn Hanson. Sidesmen were Dorothy Lodge and Alison Whitehead and coffee was served by Joan Ladbrook, Mary Horn and JeanPennington.
On Saturday the church was open all day to visitors as part of Heritage Day. In the afternoon there was a concert by Unity Voices.
A Family Ceilidh will be held in the parochial hall today (Saturday) from 7-11pm, featuring Enoch’s Hammer. Tickets, £7.50, include supper.
Harvest Festival at St Bartholomew’s on Sunday September 27 will be in support of the Christian African Relief Trust.
Choral Eucharist at 10am on Sunday will feature Vierne’s Messe Solonelle and Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine. at 4pm Evensong there will be performances of Stainer’s Hail Gladdening Light, Harker’s Responses, Dyson in D and Balfour-Gardner’s Evening Hymn.
MILNSBRIDGE
At the midweek Bible Class Mr P Rhodes from Milnsbridge gave a talk on the subject Numbered by God.
On Sunday evening Mr A Shuttleworth from Stockport gave a talk on Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus.
PARKWOOD
A Pleasant Wednesday afternoon meeting was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday. Guest speaker Kenneth Rothery spoke on Famous People and their Music. In the chair was Jean Johnson. Refreshments were by Becky Sykes and Mary Rothery.
On Saturday afternoon a welcome to Mr David Harris and family as a life co-ordinator at Parkwood Methodist Church was celebrated with entertainment by church members and a faith meal.
Mary Rothery welcomed the congregation to church on Sunday morning. Guest preacher Mr John Blamires a member of the Gideon Bible Society. Organist was Kenneth Rothery. Coffee was served after the service by Renee Wyatt and ladies of the church.
SLAITHWAITE
Slaithwaite Good Companions met on Thursday when Patricia Parkinson introduced Josephine Daker who entertained with a selection of poems, some serious, others very humorous. Jonah and the Grampus and how to avoid the flu. She also sang accompanied by her husband Arthur. A lively afternoon and she was thanked by Patricia Parkinson. A concert was held at St James Church, an evening with Mark Denton and friends singing songs from the shows to raise money for the Christian charity “Caring for Life”. It was a great success with eight talented singers from local music societies performing Mark’s favourite songs from Irving Berlin, Lloyd Webber and Sondheim. Tim Wilkes accompanied some of the singers on the piano. He also played the foot-tapping music of Scott Joplin. Great entertainment and the group are willing to sing for other charities to raise funds. Ring Mark on 07743827925. St James Parish Church Holy Communion service on Sunday was led by the Rev Robin Townsend assisted by Raymond Denton. The lesson was read by Chris Dunkeyson, address and prayers by the Rev Robin, singing led by the music group, pianist Hiroko Townsend and the organist Alvy Whithead.
The Methodist Women’s Fellowship meeting on Tuesday last was led by Betty Robshaw, who offered prayers. A poem on Friendship was read by Barbara Clay and a welcome was given to Marilyn from Anchor Staying Put, the local home improvement agency for the over 60s, who told what help was available and how to best apply. Tea and cakes were served at the close.
On Wednesday morning the Ecumenical Churches Together held their annual coffee morning at the Methodist Church. Friends from six Colne Valley churches supported the effort. There was a card stall, cake and bring-and-buy and £268 was raised for Kirkwood Hospice.
The Methodist morning worship on Racial Justice Sunday was led by David Spencer of Lindley. The Call to Worship was from Psalm 24, a reading from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians was given by Roger Mitchell and Beryl Smith read from Saint Luke’s Gospel. The organist was Wendy Redfearn.
