BIRDSEDGE

The Wii Games Night caused confusion: was it the Women’s Institute or World War 2? Wake up Birdsedge! This was a quiet evening with the overall winner being Callum. Bradley was the runner up and only two points behind. This was a pleasant evening away from the television.

The children’s film morning was cancelled due to lack of support.

Today, Saturday, will be a Birdsedge Live evening. Ring 606230 for details and tickets. Refreshments and the bar will be available.

The Luncheon Club went well with plenty of take-outs. The next one will be March 4 – and will feature a warming beef stew with vegetables followed by rhubarb crumble and custard. Ring 606533 for take-out orders delivered locally, or any queries.

The next Hospice Support Group fund-raiser will be a Beetle Drive on Saturday March 6 at 6.30pm in the Village Hall.

Sunday’s church service was cancelled due to the large amount of snow dropped in the early morning. Tomorrow’s service will be followed by a light lunch and the AGM.

The Annual Birdsedge Festival will be held on Saturday July 10 this year. A Beer Festival will take place on Friday July 9. Arrangements are already under way with the next meeting being held on Wednesday March 10 at 8pm in the hall bar. Anyone willing to help at these events will be very welcome. For craft stall application forms ring 606533 or email sorcashley@aol.com.

CLAYTON WEST

Clayton West Men’s Society held their ninth meeting of the season. Mr G Carr was the speaker for the evening, his subject was Local Wildlife, starting with moorland habitat of the animals, birds, flowers and insects, how they are dependent on each other but also how we depend on the moorland. Mr Carr's talk took members through the wooded valleys to low lying wetland and the different wildlife found there. The society had a most enjoyable evening enhanced by excellent photography. The society meets at the URC,everyone is welcome. Meetings are at 7.30pm on Fridays and the next meeting will be March the 5 where the subject will be Cruising Canaries, presented by Rev Nick Percival.

DENBY DALE

On Monday the Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel Prayer and Bible Fellowship was led by Robert Nuttall. On Tuesday the first of the Lent meetings organised by the Churches Together committee was held.The leader was Cynthia Nuttall. The Sunday School party was held on Friday after having to be postponed twice because of snow. The Monthly Family Service on Sunday morning had to be cancelled due to heavy snow. The evening service was conducted by Robert Nuttall who spoke about the season of Lent.

EMLEY

Eucharist for Ash Wednesday at Emley Parish Church was celebrated in the evening by Rev Christine Bullimore. Rev John Marsh played the piano and gave the sermon. He suggested Lent was not only a time for fasting it was a time for learning more about faith in God, by bible reading , prayer and being open to the Spirit of God. The three Ps – Perception, Presence and Power – are useful tools to increase our faith in God during Lent. The hymns Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind, Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us, Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord and I Will Offer My Life In Spirit And Truth were sung – an appropriate beginning for Lent.

There was a good attendance on Sunday morning, in spite of the weather, for Worship for All, which was led by Rev Christine Bullimore. A short drama by Chris, Martin and Evelyn about giving things up for Lent led into the talk by Evelyn Barrow. Paul Renshaw played the organ. Coffee was served at the end of the service.

KIRKBURTON

Curate, the Rev Robert Chambers, led a special evening service for the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday. Reader Janet Roberts preached the sermon. Readings were given by churchwarden John Keighley and Mrs Roberts. Mr Chambers and Mrs Roberts made the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the worshippers with the ashes from the last year’s palm crosses and this was followed by communion. Doreen Barraclough was the organist.

The Rev Graham Whitcroft welcomed the congregation to Sung Eucharist in All Hallows Parish Church for the first Sunday of Lent. He read the prayers of Intercession and in his sermon he took for his theme The Devil. Mike Steele gave the reading for the day from the tenth chapter of the Epistle of St Paul to the Romans and read about the Temptation of Jesus from the fourth chapter of the Gospel of St Luke. Mr Whitcroft was assisted at the distribution by the Rev Robert Chambers. Mrs Jean Sutcliffe performed the duties of sidesman and took up the collection. Doreen Barraclough was the organist. After the service, Mr Chambers served refreshments to the worshippers. In the evening members of the congregation joined the young people for their monthly contemporary act of worship, Synaxis, at The Hub .

The Burton Friendship Group met for their meeting at The Hub and enjoyed and pleasant afternoon for Shrove Tuesday. Hazel Ramsay, Mary Slack and Jean Sutcliffe made pancakes which were served with a variety of fillings and Sandra Spivey supplied the tea. The raffle prize was won by Mrs Norah Heeley.

SHELLEY

On Tuesday February 16 members and friends of Shelley Over 60s celebrated Pancake Day in the Village Hall. Many thanks to all those involved in making the event a success. The club returned to the hall for their regular meeting on Thursday when the whist high of 89 was won by Vera Wilkinson and the low of 66 by Margaret Laycock from seven tables. The bingo line was won by David Matthews and the full house by Edith Brookes. Birthday greetings were given to Valerie Metcalfe and Audrey Adair. Raffle prizes were won by May Elliott, Rene Biggin, Elaine Shaw, Mary Hobson, Anne Matthews and Eunice Ramsden. New members Pauline Workman, Nina and Len Worby, Audrey and William Adair and Margaret and David Vickers were also welcomed.

STOCKSMOOR

Stocksmoor Bridge Club results for Thursday February 11. North/south: 1 P Pogson and A Stephens, 2 M Bailey and A Mitchell, 3 J and M McGee; east/west: 1 M Deyand R Makings, 2 And M Hirst, 3 P Turner and M Kenworthy. Thursday February 18. North/south: 1 M Sandell and S Hancock, 2 P Pogson and A Stephens, 3 A and M Hirst; east/west: 1 J Shaw and E Tullie, 2 J and M McGee, 3 M Dey and R Makings.