Monday, October 10, 2011

Huddersfield District news for use E&C Saturday, 8 Oct

The Village Hall Quiz Night was a success with plenty of supper. The quiz winners were The 4 Ps. Colum Sands will be performing on tonight, Saturday. Ring 606230 for details.

The Sunday service was taken by Tim Lee, one of the founders of Jigsaw Kids Ministries in the Philippines. The junior’s address was about it being better to build your house on rock rather than sand – with an improvised example – God’s word being the rock. The first reading was from Matthew 13 verses 31-35 – ‘the mustard seed’. As the mustard tree grew large from something very tiny so has Jigsaw grown, both with God’s help and from prayer, he said. In the eight years that it has been going there have been traumas including fire, floods and hurricanes. Whenever there have been problem times God has wrought a miracle to keep things going. There are now four centres, each with over 500 children, run mainly by local people. The second reading was Psalm 113 – Praise the Lord.

The Harvest service will be on Sunday when goods for CART will be collected. The annual Autumn Fair to raise money for continued building improvements will be on Saturday October 15 from 11am.

The 10th Anniversary Coffee Morning with lunches for the Hospice Support Group is to be held in the Village Hall from 11 am on Saturday October 22. The group is very pleased to have raised £868.45 in the third quarter. Many thanks go to everyone who has helped and supported the events, especially in the current economic situation. Much is being made from the generous contributions of fruit and vegetables from the very good growing season. Christmas cards are now available.

CLAYTON WEST

The Harvest Festival and Back to Church Sunday were celebrated together at All Saints’. The service was led by the Rev Joy Cousans who introduced the service by talking to the children about the reactions they might show when receiving a present. The gratitude anyone demonstrates is the same as the responses made to God for this time of year – the growth of a huge variety of foods which we harvest in the natural world. Readings were prepared by Trish Bond and Raymond Parker from Exodus 33 (verses 12-23) and the Gospel of Matthew 22 (verses15-22) respectively. Prayers for the wider world were written and delivered by Wynn Leake.During the distribution of communion the choir sang John Rutter’s arrangement of All Things Bright And Beautiful.Gifts of tinned foods and toiletries were received and will be directed to the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield for distribution within the area.Visitors and regulars at the service were fully appreciative of the imaginative widow displays on the theme of ‘We plough the fields and scatter’.Coffee for all after the service, was served by Gail Banks and Jean Newby. The service tomorrow, Sunday is a joint service with members from St Augustine’s Church, Scissett - and to which all are welcome. During the service there will be a celebration of the variety of talents which members of All Saints’ readily have displayed.

DENBY DALE

Robert Nuttall led the prayer and fellowship on Monday evening at Zion Wesleyan Reform Chapel. The members of the Friday club enjoyed an evening of outdoor games.

On Sunday morning the members of the Sunday School continued preparations for the Harvest Festival to be held on October 23. Robert Nuttall led Sunday evening worship when he spoke about the Fruits of the Spirit. The Bible was read by Cynthia Nuttall who also acted as the steward at The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.Howard Copley from Mexborough will be the visiting preacher for Connexional Sunday at 6pm.

EMLEY

On Wednesday afternoon children from Emley First School attended St Michael’s Church for a Harvest Thanksgiving Service. They had made a beautiful display of gifts. It was all hands on deck by church members on Saturday morning when additional decorations were added.

On Sunday morning the Harvest Thanksgiving Service was led by the Rev John Marsh. Gifts of produce were taken up to the altar during the singing of We Plough The Fields And Scatter. Fresh goods will be sent to Women’s Refuge and dried goods to CART and will be shipped to Africa. A new song – Everywhere Around I Can See The Hand Of God – was enjoyed by all. Oscar Smith asked questions about God’s gifts to us and how we can share them. Jesus helped people by turning their sorrow to joy, reaching out to people lives with help support and forgiveness. It is up to us to carry on his work, in today’ society, he said.. Gill Marsh led prayers and Malcolm Jessop played the organ. A light lunch followed and donations were sent to Water Aid. In the evening a service of Holy Communion was held. Tickets for the Yorkshire Evening on Friday October 14 at 7.30pm are still available.

KIRKBURTON

There were two services in All Hallows Parish Church last Sunday. Mrs Susan McPherson gave a warm welcome to the congregation when they attended the annual Church 4 All family service and celebration of the harvest festival. The church was decorated for the occasion with foliage and displays of garden produce together with the traditional harvest loaf. The service was led by the Rev Geoff Clay and the harvest gifts of dried and tinned foodstuffs – later donated to the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield – were received during the opening hymn. Mrs Lorraine Lockwood led the prayers of intercession and Mrs Karen McCann gave a reading from the third chapter of the letter of St Paul to the Philippians. During the service Mrs Katherine Metcalfe, speaking on behalf of Highburton Brownies, asked the worshippers if they would help them support the ‘Mary’s Wheels Backpack Project’. This charity, set-up to provide children in war-torn and famine afflicted countries with one meal a day in their schools, has now launched an appeal to provide them with backpacks containing basic educational materials, clothing and toiletries. Mr Clay gave the talk and took for his theme The Work of the Tear Fund. Mrs Pauline Pinder and Mrs Joy Elson, along with her grandchildren Joshua and Jessica, performed the duties of sidesmen and took up a collection of £224 for the Tear Fund. The music for the service, with a mixture of traditional harvest hymns and new songs, was provided by organist Mrs Doreen Barraclough and Mrs Jean Selby and the Church Music Group. The congregation enjoyed refreshments after the service served by Mrs Wendy Crooks and Mrs Pat Ellis. In the evening there was a celebration of Holy Communion. The leader and preacher was the Rev Robert Chambers who took for his theme Christ the Corner Stone. There was a meditation by churchwarden Mr Glyn Phillips. Mrs Pauline Pinder gave the reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians and Mrs Shirley Lingwood from the 21st chapter of the Gospel according to St Matthew. Pastoral minister, Mrs Betty Cross assisted Mr Chambers at the distribution of the sacrament.

SHELLEY

Shelley Over 60s members held their weekly meeting last Thursday. The bingo line was won by Sylvia Deeley and the full house by Edna Glover. The prize for the first three numbers on one card went to Mary Hobson who received £1. The whist high of 90 was won by Malcolm Mills, and the low of 64 went to Kathleen Proctor from eight tables. Birthday greetings were sent to Wilma Peel, Ann Parton and Marleen Fairbank. The winner of this month’s minibus draw was no. 346. Raffle prizes were won by Joyce Tyas, Joan Horne, Jean Peck, Sheila Morris, Sheila Taylor and Dorothy Jessop.

SKELMANTHORPE

Mr Tony Hudson, of Huddersfield, was preacher on Sunday at the Wesleyan Reformed Church. Mr John Orton was the organist.

On Sunday last at Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church, the service was led by Stuart Merry. The theme of the service centred on the parable of the vineyard and the tenants, comparing and contrasting the principles and standards of living in this parable with current attitudes and behaviours, which also flout and reject the morality in Christian principles that mark out a civilised society. Rose Merry and Ailsa Horton read the Bible lessons. The music group accompanied two of the hymns and Frances Priestnall played the organ.

On Monday last the Wives Group were given an interesting presentation about Mercy Ships by Dr John Rhodes and Mrs Iris Rhodes. Mercy Ships is an International Christian charity which began in 1978 with the purchase of a retired ocean liner. Since then a fleet of Mercy Ships have served, by invitation, in more than 150 ports in developing nations around the world, bringing hope and healing to the poorest people, providing health care at no charge. Dedicated volunteers include trained health professionals and many others who devote their time to the work of Mercy Ships. Dr Rhodes showed the group some slides which demonstrated the types of surgery performed on the ships, for example, cleft lip and palate correction, tumour removal and cataracts removal. These showed the difference made to the people whose lives had been transformed. The charity is totally dependent on donations and the generosity of people. For more information and stories about the work of Mercy Ships visit the website: www.mercyships.org.uk A vote of thanks was proposed by the hosts: Frances Priestnall, Anne Wadsworth and Lorna Green, who provided refreshments afterwards.