GOLCAR
The Sunday service at Golcar Baptist Church was conducted by the Rev Chris Thompson and the organist was Calinda Stockhill, pianist was Chris Woodhead. The service included communion and this was served by Connie Pearson and Hilary Lindsay
On Tuesday, May 12 Dorothy Holden opened the meeting of the Mother’s Union at St John’s Church, and welcomed the curate the Rev Brenda Mitchell as speaker. Brenda gave an interesting talk illustrated with slides and photographs about her recent visit to Israel. A vote of thanks was given by Dorothy. The supper ladies were Dorothy Quarmby and Margaret Thompson. The Rev Brenda Mitchell welcomed the congregation and led the parish communion service at St John’s Church. Readings were given by Marion Hall and Helen Walinkse-Kielle. Helen Bentley gave a gospel reading from John 15 and based her talk on the words Love and Obey. Sunday Club had talked about friends and made a friendship bracelet while Sunday Youth looked at the disciples and studied their personalities. Anne Norton was the organist.
L@INTHWAITE
Morning service at Christ Church was led by the Rev David Wilding, who preached, prayed and celebrated holy communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by Margaret Hunter and Margaret McQuillan. Evening service was led by Rev Jenni Honeyman, who also gave a blessing. Lessons were read by Margaret McQuillan and Ann Leigh, who also preached and prayed. The organist was Rodney Pearson.
The morning worship at Linthwaite Methodist Church was led by the Rev Jo Archer-Siddall, who also celebrated Holy Communion. Ali Dwyer read from Luke 20, and Linda Nuttall was the organist. The annual church meeting followed the service, which included reports from various aspects of the church life from the tennis club to the players to the Sunday school.
LONGWOOD
St Mark’s Church on the sixth weekend of Easter, was the scene of much activity. There was a peal of church bells on Saturday on the occasion of the wedding of Karen Fearn and David Richard Scrivener, which was conducted by parish priest the Rev Jim Hunt. Karen entered the church to the strains of the Hornpipe from Handel’s Water music, played by Niki Hart and church organist Philip Turner. Karen and David left the church to more music by Handel – The Entry of the Queen of Sheba and the church bells pealed again.
On Sunday morning the sung Eucharist was also led by the Rev Jim Hunt, assisted by David Verlander as server. The organist was Phil Turner. Bible readings were by Dorothy Heads, from Acts and Judith Pearson read from John. For his sermon Jim chose the theme of Choice, which led from schooldays when teams were chosen, and up to adult life when people became involved in making decisions, including such things as choosing a partner and the place of love in everyones’ lives. A choice of Faith, and the Love of God was also an issue. In conclusion Jim advised that everyone was loved by God and should always bear this in mind. Following the Nicene Creed, Jim presented Intercession prayers, after which the young church, with their leader Joan Morton joined the service. The service concluded with Jim giving the blessing and several announcements including notice that the Ascension Thursday Service, this year, will be a joint event by the churches in the Deanery and be held at Christ Church, Linthwaite. He also announced that St Mark’s will also have a bric-a-brac stall, on June 4, at the Huddersfield Piazza, so any donated items would be welcome.
On Sunday afternoon a sponsored walk, on behalf of Christian Aid week, was held by churches in the Lower Colne Valley Group. Starting with a lunch at Parkwood Methodist Church, the walkers tramped to St Mark’s, in torrential rain, where a rest and refreshments were provided before proceeding to Milnsbridge Baptist Church until they eventually arrived at the Friends Meeting House, in Paddock to conclude. Despite the weather, everyone was in good spirits.
MARSDEN
Family communion at St Bartholomew’s Church was led by the Rev Geoff Clay, organist was James Harker, reader Alison Fisher and sidesman Bunny Lonnon. Coffee was served by Pat Burgess, Alison Fisher, Evelyn Laidlow, and Glynis Ward. On June 18, it’s the Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day at Hey Green Hotel, tickets are £35 from hotline 07826273960. Reception at 12noon, buffet lunch, full afternoon tea, big screen TV, auction and prizes for the best dressed lady and others.
On Sunday at the United Church, morning worship was led by Alan Jones, the Bible readings were by Carl Butters and Norman Dias. Thanks to all who helped during Christian Aid week were expressed by Jean Broome. The organist was Christine Gledhill.
MILNSBRIDGE
At Milnsbridge Christadelphians midweek Bible class Mr P Barratt from Milnsbridge led a discussion on the Bible readings for the day. On Sunday evening Mr G Davis from Sutton Coalfield led a talk entitled Why Bread and Wine?
PARKWOOD
A drop-in lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Wednesday. The menu was cottage pie, mixed vegetables, syrup sponge, apple and plum crumble, ginger sponge, tea or coffee, organised by Linda Murray, assisted by ladies of the church. A community breakfast was held on Saturday morning organised by Jean Bedford, assisted by Reene Wyatt and Sandra McSweeney. In the afternoon Huddersfield Young Singers Little Voices presented a concert, conductor and pianist Joe and James Lewis, followed by afternoon tea. Some £210 was raised for choir and church funds. A dedication service by the Rev Peter Bedford around the new rose garden of remembrance was held at Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning, with a guard-of-honour of all the uniformed organisations. Thanks were expressed for the hard work and generosity of Stuart Collier, Derek Bieby, Craig Nixon and Colne Valley Garden Centre, followed by a procession into church for morning worship, with the Rev Peter Beford, plus visual aids of Brownies in Napal and Scout groups from Yorkshire helping to build a hostel and school in Napal. Long service awards were presented to Richard Jackson, Steve Bull and Phyllis Bieby, by Phillip Hayhirst. Refreshments and a faith lunch was served after the service by Sandra and Phil McSweeny and ladies of the church to a group of sponsored walkers from Churches Together in the lower Colne Valley for Christian Aid, starting from Parkwood and finishing at St Thomas’s Church, Longroyd Bridge.
SLAITHWAITE
The Good Companions met last Thursday introduced by Hilary Ellis. Pupils of the Bernadette Heys School of Dance were the entertainment, nine tinies aged three and under showed off their ballet exercises and dance and were delightful. They were thanked by Patricia Parkinson. Pianist was Maureen Weaving. The St James’ Parish Church holy communion service was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton and Jean Clayton. Two visiting vicars in the congregation were welcomed, The Rev David Clarkson who was one time curate at St James’s and Mrs Clarkson and the Rev Vivian Parkinson, who had attended the church from childhood until marriage and his wife Maz. The lesson was read by Dorothy Mellor, prayers by Margaret Ingham, the music group led the singing, the pianist was Hiroko Townsend and the organist was Alvy Whitehead.
Gordon Ellis was the leader of the Methodist Bible Group which met in the church on Monday evening. The group discussed aspects of the story of Peter and the Roman captain Cornelius.
Worship at the Methodist Church on Sunday morning was led by Mrs Christine Shaw, of Longwood, Psalm 34 was read jointly at the start and Christine theme for the service was Loving and Forgiveness. Jacqueline Mitchell read from Jeremiah and Shirley Scott read form St Johns Gospel. The organist was Margaret Stephenson.
In the afternoon churches in the circuit came together at Slaithwaite under the network banner to dedicate the Easter offerings 2009 which are given for the work of the Fund for World Mission. Wendy Blackburn led the service and the speaker was the Rev Joanne Archer-Siddal who spoke about our journey through life, which was often hard and painful as well as having times of joy. The readings were by the Women’s Fellowship Committee members, Pauline Gee, Maureen Weaving, Bessie Whitwam and Betty Robshaw. A floral display depicting the theme of the service The Way was made by Maureen, the pianist was Shirley Scott and thanks were expressed by Mrs Sheila Packett. Refreshments were served before the service.
