GOLCAR

A coffee day was held at Holmfirth Parish Church. Lunches and afternoon teas were served and there was a cake stall, tombola, jewellery, bric-a-brac and books. The total proceeds was £864 for Providence Church funds. The Sunday morning worship was a joint service with St John’s. The Rev Pam Ward led the service, which also included communion. Baby Jack Ashley Green, son of Tracey and John, was baptised, Andrew Marchington led prayers, Maggie Cuss read the lesson and the Rev Brenda Mitchell gave the address. Granville Brook was the organist.

On Tuesday, October 13, the Mother’s Union met in the community room at St John’s Church. Leader Dorothy Holden opened the meeting with prayers and paid tribute to the work done by Eileen Denton as past secretary of the Mother’s Union who had died recently. An interesting and informative talk about Colours was given by Hilary Pollard – colours of autumn, colours mentioned in the Bible and well known saying involving a colour. The talk was illustrated with slides. A vote of thanks was given to Hilary by Dorothy.

A quiz evening was held at the Wheel, when the question were set by the Rev Chris Thompson and Mrs Helga Taylor spoke about the United Church’s Healing Ministry. This was the charity sponsored and £153.66 was raised.

The Sunday morning service at Golcar Baptist Church was conducted by the Rev Chris Thompson, the organist was Calinda Stockhill and the communion servers were Hilary Lindsay and Mary Sykes.

LINTHWAITE

The morning Service at Linthwaite Methodist Church was led by Brenda Ellis, Linda Nuttall was the organist and Peter Stead operated the audio visual equipment. Mrs Ellis talked to the children about the Time to be Different – like being a Christian – before they left the church to go to Sunday school with their teachers, Diane Loftus and Andrea Morley. Ali Dwyer read from Isaiah 53 v 4-12 The Suffering Servant, and Graham Hirst read the New Testament reading from Mark 10 v 32-45 The Sons of Zebedee. The theme of Mrs Ellis's sermon was Service of Others.

The Haydn Wood Music Festival will be held at Linthwaite Methodist Church from Thursday to Saturday November 5-7. A new class has been introduced for this the 50th Anniversary year which takes the form of a recital and will be held on the Thursday evening at 7pm. All the classes are open to the public and there will be a nominal charge.

LONGWOOD

On the19th Sunday after Trinity, sung Eucharist at St Mark’s Church was conducted by guest celebrant the Rev Steven Henry. The organist was Philip Turner and the choir procession was led by server Chris Jones and acolytes Freya Gregory and Emily Jones. Bible readings from Acts and Timothy were read by Linda Barker and Janet Watson. After reading the Gospel Steven gave his sermon based on the story of Luke the Evangelist, it being the Feast Day of St Luke. He explained how Luke was a well-learned man, a doctor with a travelling surgery, who ministered to everyone. Because of this fact Steven suggested that many hospitals nowadays are named St Luke’s. Following the creed, intercession prayers were presented by Judith Pearson. The young church, with their leader Joan Morton, joined the congregation at The Peace. Following Communion the service drew to a close with Steven giving the Blessing.

MARSDEN

Morning worship at Marsden United Church was led by the moderator of the Yorkshire Synod of the United Reformed Church, the Rev Kevin Watson. Bible readings were by Marjorie and Brian Boothroyd. The organist was Christine Gledhill, tea and coffee was served after the service.

Sunday Family Communion at St Bartholomew’s Church was led by the Rev Geoff Clay. Organist was James Harker, pianist Simon Crooke and reader Don Lodge. Sidesmen were Joan Bradbury and Dianne Beaumont and coffee was served by J Ladbrook and J Pennington. The service was followed by the Parish Meeting, where the ‘Transformation Plan’ to be presented to the Bishop in Wakefield Cathedral on November 1 was outlined. This will detail understanding where they are , a vision of where they should be, planning how to achieve God’s purpose, worship, pastoral care, prayer and spirituality and community service. Thanks were given to the care group for the documentation.

The Operatic Society performance of Little Shop of Horrors will be held in the parochial hall from next Tuesday to Saturday (start 7.30pm). Tickets (£8) are available from Duncan’s Barbers (01484-845311 shop hours only).

Alan Whiteley of Birkdale URC rounded off the Marsden organ concert programme in style on Saturday, with a programme which included Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Minor and work by Handel and Mendelssohn.

Marsden Royal British Legion will present the Yorkshire Avalanche Dodgers in concert at the Royal British Legion on Sunday November 15 (8pm). Tickets, priced £3, include supper and are available from Duncan’s Hairdressers, Warehouse Hill, Marsden (see number above) and from the British Legion. All proceeds go to the Poppy Appeal Fund.

MILNSBRIDGE

At Milnsbridge Christadelphians midweek Bible class Mr A Wilkinson, from Milnsbridge, gave a talk Lions in Scripture. On Sunday evening Mr R Capper, from Blackpool gave a talk The Gospel in the Parables

PARKWOOD

A drop in lunch was held at Parkwood Methodist church on Wednesday, organised by Barbara Rushworth. The menu was – meat and potato pie and vegetables, plumb cobbler, syrup sponge, ginger crumble, pear and peach flan, tea or coffee, assisted by members of the church. A community breakfast was held on Saturday morning organised by Elaine Oldham assisted by Renee Wyatt, Gill Ritchie and Jean Johnson. The congregation was welcomed to Parkwood Methodist Church on Saturday morning by Marion Lloyd, guest preacher was Mr John Mason, readers Mary Rothery and Gareth Beaumont, organist Kenneth Rothery. Coffee was served after the service by Pat and Albert Battey.

SLAITHWAITE

The Methodist Bible Study Group met in the church on Monday evening, readings from Psalms and other New Testament books were followed by discussion on The Peace of God. On Saturday the Rambling Group walked around Golcar and Longwood. The 14 members, plus two dogs, were led by David and Jeanne Whitwam. The Rev Joanne Archer-Siddal led Sunday worship at the Methodist Church, Gordon Ellis read from St Mark’s Gospel, the story of the two disciples asking the question of Jesus who would sit at God’s right hand. The service included Holy Communion. Organist was Shirley Prescott and Wendy Blackburn sold home-made cakes and preserves for church funds.

Slaithwaite Good Companions met last Thursday. Introduced by Hilary Ellis, entertainment was by the Mikron Group with Adrian, Rachel, Gemma and George. They started with Fairtrade, charting the Co-operative movement and The Rochdale Pioneers. They then performed It’s a Dying Trade about the Co-op funerals. This was followed by workers playtime and their latest Tales of the Thames about the frost fairies and the mudlarks. The Mikron players accompanied the Good Companions in their signature song and were thanked by Patricia Parkinson. St James’ Parish Church Holy Communion service was led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Raymond Denton. The lesson was read by Alison Parkinson, the address by the Rev Robin, from St Mark’s chapter 10. Prayers were by Dorothy Gledhill. The music group led singing. Pianist was Hiroko Townsend.