ALMONDBURY

A full church at All Hallows enjoyed a Mothering Sunday service in which the children played a large part, leading the prayers and reading lessons. They enjoyed listening to the story told by the curate, Mark Watkins, about a strange creature with a shell hard like a turtle’s and a face like a ‘person-creature’ which felt unloved but came to accept himself and be accepted by others when a young girl befriended and grew to love him The congregation joined in, unbidden, the strange song sung by the creature at intervals during the story.Bunches of daffodils were distributed by the children to all the carers, mums, dads and others in them congregation.

At sung Evensong, organist John Foster gave the inaugural performance of a moving Elegy, written by Robert Cockcroft, in memory of Bob Hallsworth and Brian Jenkinson, both stalwarts of Almondbury Church Choir, who had both died in 2008.

CLAYTON WEST

Churches Together in Clayton West and Scissett met together for morning worship at the Methodist Church. The service of Holy Communion was led by the Rev David Priestnall. Stewards were Betty Booth and Maxine Lodge, who also assisted at communion. The organist was Jane Hobson. Readings for Lent from Lamentations and the gospel of Mark were given by Les Barber and Peter Holt. A dialogue reflecting on the last journey of Jesus and its influence on our lives was led by Lucie Froggatt and Beryl Holt. Prayers of intercession were given by Wendy Barber.Flowers were a gift from Anne Crowe. After the service everyone enjoyed fellowship, and coffee was served by Rosalyn Beevers.

DENBY DALE

The Churches Together Lent Meeting was held at Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel on Monday evening and the leader was Irene Richardson.The children’s Friday club met on Friday Evening.

On Sunday morning the members of the Sunday School started their preparations for the special Easter Sunday Family Service.

Phil Hartshorne from Dodworth was the preacher on Sunday evening. He spoke about prayer and being ourselves when talking to God. The pianist was Robert Nuttall.

The Spring Fair will be held on Saturday from 10.30am to 1.30pm. There will be stalls, refreshments and light lunches.

EMLEY

Passion Sunday was enjoyed by members of St James’, Flockton and St Michael’s with a joint Communion Service on Sunday morning in Emley Parish Church.  The Rev Chris Bullimore led the service, Sophie Ryder and Michael Clough read the Bible, Malcolm Jessop played the organ, Dennis Roughsedge led prayers and Malcolm Tracey gave the sermon. Coffee was served at the end of the service.

KIRKBURTON

There were two services in All Hallows Parish Church last Sunday –  Passion Sunday. Mrs Phyllis Taylor and Mrs Margaret Beaumont welcomed the congregation to Sung Eucharist led by the curate, the Rev Robert Chambers. Mrs Joanne Smith gave the reading from St Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. Mr Chambers read from the Gospel according to St John. Mr Chambers baptised Elena Mae Green and Joseph Barraclough and, in his sermon, he took for his theme, Baptism and The Cross. The chalice and paten were taken to the altar by Mrs Sandra Delamere and Mrs Alex Bintcliffe. Mr Chambers was assisted at the distribution of the sacrament by Mr Tibbott and readers, Mrs Janet Roberts. Mrs Rachel Atkinson and Mrs Janet Jessop were sidesmen taking up the collection. Worshippers then enjoyed refreshments served by Mrs Pauline Pinder and Mrs Christine Rangeley. Evensong was led by pastoral minister Mr Malcolm Tibbott.  His theme wasThe Last Supper. Mrs Dot Ward read from the Gospel according to St Matthew and Mrs Beryl Hunt read from St John. Mrs Doreen Barraclough was organist for the day.

Members of Burton Friendship Club met in The Hub, the former Salvation Army Hall, for an informal afternoon and played Card Bingo organised by Mrs Hazel Ramsay. Raffle prizewinner was Mrs Betty Gosney. Refreshments were served by Miss Sandra Spivey and Mrs R Healey.

SHELLEY

Shelley Over 60s Club held their meeting in the village hall last Thursday. The bingo line was won by Lilian Armitage and the full house by Audrey Taylor. The first three numbers on one card was won by Rose Colburn who received the princely sum of £2. The whist high of 92 was won by Gordon Burgin and the low of 67 went to Wally Usher. Members wished a happy birthday to Kathleen Code and welcomed Marion Swift as a new member. Raffle prizes went to Colin Littlewood, Kathleen Stevenson, Harry Rose, Ted Blythe, Audrey Taylor and Amy Wormesley.The winner of the monthly minibus draw was no 142 – Joan Horne. There will be a concert on Monday April 6 at Shelley Parish Church, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, by the U3A Ladies’ Choir.

BROCKHOLES

Trevor Jones led worship at the Methodist Church when the fifth symbol was laid on the Lenten Cross. The organist was Robert Booth.

Parish communion at St George’s Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes, who spoke on Choices. Suzanne Dufton read the lesson and the server was Rosalind Watt. Verena Wood played the organ.

Following the service and a faith lunch, the annual meeting at St George's Church was held. Margaret Kenworthy and Rosalind Watt were re-elected churchwardens. The sidespeople were also re-elected. Members heard that vacancies remained to be filled on the parochial and diocesan church councils. Reports were received from groups within the church as well asBrockholes School.

HEPWORTH

Making his final appearance at Hepworth Church on Sunday morning, before taking up a new appointment in Sheffield, the guest preacher was the Rev Ian Wallis. Communion was celebrated by the Rev Keith Griffin, the reader was Cheryl Roberts, and prayers were led by Jane Selkirk. The organist was Jane Robertson.

Seventeen members of the community turned up for the first big churchyard clean-up of the year on Sunday morning. The sun shone as they laboured and their efforts were rewarded with burgers and sausages from what must be the first barbecue in the parish this year.

School children from the Junior and Infant School walked up to Hepworth Church on Friday morning for their annual Easter service. In preparation for Palm Sunday and Holy Week, the children were presented with palm crosses by the Rev Keith Griffin.

HOLMBRIDGE

The Camera Club attended an audio visual presentation given by Edmund Spavin.

Midweek communion at St David's Church was led by the Rev Geoff Bamford. Lessons were read by Ian Gold. Meetings of the Monkey Business, Over 60s and Tumble Tots groups were held during the week. Friday evening prayers were led by the Rev Geoff Bamford.

Parish Eucharist at St David's Church was conducted by the Rev Geoff Bamford when lessons were read by Helen Woods and John Parker. Thelma Nelson led intercessions and the chalice was administered by Helen Woods. The creche and junior church were led by Jpyce Smith and the organist was Jean Chadwick.

HOLMFIRTH

Holmfirth Christian Centre's worship was led by Elyjoy and the team. It was a family/youth service and the children joined in, dancing to Dancing Generation. Becky Gooch then did a drama about SOAP with Harry (alias Pastor Ian Gooch) – Scripture, Observation, Application, Pray, a powerful message about how important it is to read the bible everyday and applying it to daily life. Becky then spoke about Rest, taking time to spend time with God in quite time. The service was brought to a close by the children supported by Elyjoy and Becky singing Saviour King.

Wednesday was spent watching a DVD titled Three Days That Changed The World, and looking at how to speak to people about Jesus – the most effective tool being personal testimony. The evening finished with tea and coffee.

The Fifth Sunday of Lent was celebrated at Holmfirth Holy Trinity with 10.30. Parish Eucharist, the Rev Keith Griffin presiding. He was assisted with the chalice by Linda Smithers and Linda Whitaker led the Intercessions. Brian Shaw read from Jeremiah and Alan and Vicky Winpenny served refreshments after the service.

HONLEY

Dean Henry Stapleton celebrated parish Eucharist at St Mary's Church. The Rev David Barnes gave the address and Diana Griffiths led intercessions. The organist was Michael Clarke.

A Lent meeting on Transforming Lives was led by the Rev David Barnes. Lent lunches were served in the parish room on Thursday.

MELTHAM

Meltham Churches Together will hold their annual walk of witness through the centre of Meltham on Good Friday, April 10. The procession will leave the Methodist Church in Millmoor Road at about 11.30am and walk down Station Street to Morrison’s Supermarket. The route then goes up Huddersfield Road to the centre and then back to St Bartholomew’s Church on Greens End Road, arriving between 12.15-12.30pm.

NEW MILL

After two years in charge, Mr D C Skells will step down as chairman of New Mill Probus Club. Gordon Wilkinson of Holmfirth will take over after the AGM on Tuesday April 7. At the same meeting, the club will present New Mill Club with six folding catering tables for community use. A sandwich lunch will follow.

UPPERTHONG

Midweek communion at St John’s Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes. Lunch followed in the meeting room.

Family communion at St John’s Church was led by the Rev Di Ellerton, who was also the celebrant. The reader was Peter Cole. Lay reader Martin Woodhead read the gospel and preached the sermon. Val Shuttleworth led prayers and assisted with the chalice. Peter Travis played the organ. Coffee and biscuits were served by Bil Brown following the service.

WOOLDALE

The service on Sunday at Wooldale Methodist Free Church was led by Granville Dews, who gave an illustration of the word Easter . His readings were taken from Jeremiah and John. In his sermon he talked of the preparation of Easter – if we give something up for Lent we should endure the hardship of it to understand how it was for Jesus in the wilderness. the organist was Peter Coldwell.

The Rev Laura Hardy led Sunday service at the Methodist Church. The organist was Sue Ogden.

GOLCAR

The Sunday service at Golcar Baptist Church was conducted by the Rev Chris Hawley, from Longley and Lowerhouses Community Church. The organist was Calinda Stockhill, the pianist was Chris Woodhead and the reader was Connie Pearson.

The early service in the Royal Infirmary Hope Chapel was led by the Rev Pam Ward. Lessons were read by Nancy Meadows and David Knight. Frank Meadows was pianist. The service at Golcar Providence Church was led by Andrew Marchington, lessons were read by Sheila Pearson, Stewart Culpan and Barbara Hallas, Chris Pearson was organist.

St John’s Church was the venue on March 26, 27 and 28, for a pantomime, written, produced and directed by Sue Starr, entitled "Strictly Pantomime" and performed by the St John players. A very topical story for today was the recession has struck and our favourite pantomime characters are out of work. The solution is to re-train at fairy odd mothers acting workshop. A brilliant cast of 12 children and 16 adults sang, danced and faced challenges hoping to salvage their pantomime careers. Margaret Laycock was the musical director and the backing group was piano - Ann Norton, clarinet - Gail Smith, saxophone - Judith Cruickshank, percussion - Sandra Quarmby. After the Saturday evening performance a vote of thanks was given by the vicar Cannon Martin Crompton to all involved in the show, including the teams involved with lighting, sound, make-up and props, and to Linthwaite Methodist Church for the loan of costumes.

Cannon Martin Crompton was the leader of the parish communion for lent service at St John’s Church. Also giving the gospel reading and preaching. The old and new testament readings were given by Roger Hanson. Stephen Barraclough led intercession prayers. Sunday Club and Sunday Youth had planted seeds and are now waiting for the seeds to grow, as a sign of new life. Ann Norton was the organist. There is no service at St John’s next Sunday morning, April 5, but there will be a procession from Jubilee Square at 10am down to Providence Methodist Church where a joint service will take place at 10.30am. A Taize service will be held at St John’s in the evening at 6.30pm.

LINTHWAITE

The Passion Sunday morning service at Linthwaite Methodist Church was led by Rev Deborah Hopkinson on the theme of Christ’s Suffering. Readers were Mrs Hilary Baxter, Mrs Peggy MacKay and Mrs Margaret Tennant, who read various verses from the bible relating to the time of when Christ was betrayed up to his Crucifixion. Mrs Linda Nuttall was the organist.

Linthwaite Methodist’s Psalm Sunday Service at 10.30am will be led by Mr Stuart Rudd, and at 6pm there will be a Songs Of Praise Service led by the Rev Jo Archer-Siddall.

The Sunday morning service at Christ Church, Linthwaite was led by the Rev David Wilding, who, preached, prayed, celebrated Holy Communion and gave a blessing. Lessons were read by David Hyde and Ann Leigh and the organist was Rhona Jepson. The evening service was led by the Rev Jennie Honeyman who also read a lesson and gave a blessing. A lesson was also read by Margaret McQuillan and Anne Leigh preached and prayed. The organist was Derek Horne.

LONGWOOD

Longwood village activities over the past few weeks have included a popular Mothers Day Family Service at St Mark’s Church, conducted by Parish Priest Rev Jim Hunt. A capacity congregation included representatives of the uniformed services and leaders. Music was provided by Philip Turner, his music group and choir, who also performed All Things Bright and Beautiful, as arranged by John Rutter. Jim was assisted in his address by members of the uniformed organisations and congregation talking about their mothers. A special display, on the Lady Chapel altar, by Phyllis Kaye was used to encourage the lighting of candles in memory of people’s mothers and young Beavers, Scouts and Guides distributed posies of flowers and cards to mothers in the congregation. The children also joined the Music Group to play Give Me Oil In My Lamp. The service concluded with the Blessing and was followed in the Parish Centre with another Lent Lunch of soup, rolls, tea, coffee with biscuits.

On Sunday morning at St Mark’s Church, Rev Jim Hunt, assisted by Chris Jones led sung Eucharist. Philip Turner was the organist and Rev Jim led singing. Bible readings were by Dilys Eastwood and Phyllis Kaye. For his sermon Jim chose to reflect on St Ignatius’ method of understanding readings by imagining the sounds and smells of the time they were written. Margaret Haigh presented intercession prayers before the young church and leaders Joan Morton and Charles Ross joined the service. The children showed Jim the green section (representing the serpent) and blue (love) of a rainbow they hoped to complete for next week. The service concluded with Jim publishing, for the third time, wedding banns for Matthew Ivor Johnson, and Helen Mosby as well as Matthew Craig Jagger and Louise Nicol Elvidge. Jim also announced the Lent lunch of home-made soups, fresh rolls, tea, coffee and biscuits would follow in the Parish Centre for the last time this year.

MARSDEN

Morning worship on Sunday at Marsden United Church, was led by Mr J Francis Horton. Bible readings were by Margaret Casson and Norman Diaz. The organist was Christine Gledhill. Next Sunday worship for Palm Sunday will begin in the church car park with a donkey there.

Holy Communion at St Bartholomew's Church was led by Geoff Clay, the organist was James Harker, the reader was Dennis Brook and prayers were by Joan Biggs. The sidespeople were Brian Mitchell, Bunnie Lonnen and Margaret Hall. Coffee was served by Joan Gee, Joan Bradbury and Mabel Smithies, followed by the AGM, the chair was the Rev Clay. 42 people were present. Churchwardens were David Fisher and Elizabeth Knight, the Deanery Synod was David Core, Geoff Holroyd and Carolyn Hansom. The new PCC was Pat Burgess, Audrey Armitage, Joan Biggs, Alison Gibson, Diane Beaumont and Elsie Lingard. Thanks were given to Jan Benn, retiring secretary, and Jenny Mitchell. Bell ringers are needed, contact D Fisher on 01484 325176.

MILNSBRIDGE

Milnsbridge Christadelphians met on Wednesday when Mr D Stonely from Heywood gave a talk on "The House of Prayer for All Nations" based on Isaiah 56. On Sunday evening Mr T Griffiths from Sale gave talk on "Earthquakes and the Return of Jesus".

Mrs Richardson and Mrs Bush called the bingo at Milnsbridge Over 60’s. There were birthday greetings from Mrs Dorothy Sykes and Mrs Margaret May. The raffle prizes were won Mrs Joan Hirst, Mrs Hazel Hinchliffe and Mrs Audrey Watmuff.

PARKWOOD

A pleasant Wednesday afternoon meeting was held at Parkwood Methodist Church, with guest speaker Mr Joe Lloyd on Photography. In the chair Jean Johnson, pianist Kenneth Rothery, refreshments were served by Barbara Beevers. A Spring Fair was held on Saturday at Parkwood Methodist Church with church and charity stalls, also refreshments all day. The sum of £460 was raised for church funds. Marion Lloyd welcomed the congregation to Parkwood Methodist Church on Sunday morning, with guest preacher Mrs Judith Robinson, organist Kenneth Rothery, the whip and text reading were placed on the Lenten cross. A faith lunch was held after the service.

SLAITHWAITE

Slaithwaite Good Companions met on Thursday welcomed by Joan Dransfield. The speaker was Mrs Dorothy Foster who entertained with poems she had written and with amusing visual aids. A real fun afternoon. She was thanked by Hilda Haigh and the pianist was Pat Muirhead. The Sunday service at St James’ Parish Church was a Holy Communion service led by the Rev Robin Townsend, assisted by Jeanette Seed, layreader and Raymond Denton. The lesson was read by Alison Parkinson. The address by Simon Parkinson, the theme being "The Passion". Prayers by the Rev Robin, the pianist was Hiroko Townsend and the organist was Alvy Whitehead. A Lenten meeting at St James’ Church shared with Slaithwaite Methodist Church led by the Rev Robin Townsend, with the theme "Transforming Lives" and this week it was "Working with God in your Community". This was the last week of the series.

An Own Arrangement Day was held by the Methodist Women’s Fellowship Group on Tuesday. Pauline Gee was in the chair and led prayers. Members enjoyed a Beetle Drive and afternoon tea was provided by Barbara Clay on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

The Wesley Guild was held on Thursday evening. Roger Mitchell was chairman and introduced the speaker Marjorie Crowther who told the story of the 20th century missionary Gwen Ash, who worked in Africa. Roger thanked her for a very interesting evening And the Christian service committee ladies served supper.

The service at the Methodist Church on the 5th Sunday of Lent was led by the Rev Joanne Archer-Siddal. The whip was laid on the Cross and the Lenten readings were by Roger and Jacqueline Mitchell. The theme of the sermon was Lift High the Tree and Beryl Smith read from St John’s Gospel. The service included Holy Communion and the organist was Wendy Redfearn.