THE LINK JULY / AUGUST 2017 With Linthwaite Methodist Church Website www.linthwaitemc.co.uk July 2 9.30am Mrs Sandra Oldroyd - Church Centre Anniversary 9 9.30am Revd Sue Burton including Holy Communion 16 9.30am Mr Matt Smith 23 9.30am Own Arrangements Songs of Praise 30 9.30am Revd Colin Vere including Holy Communion Aug 6 9.30am Mr Terry Frost 13 9.30am Mr David Joyce 20 10.30am Joint Service at Slaithwaite Revd Sue Burton 27 9.30am Gideons Anyone requiring a lift to and from Church, please ring John Liversidge on 842063 or 07903 747672 Minister: Revd Sue Burton 15 Priestley Grove, Taylor Hill, HD4 7RG Phone 300097 e mail suemburton@googlemail.com Dear Friends I thought I would take the opportunity to share with you part of the minister s report that I presented to the General Church Meeting on the 18 th June, for the benefit of those of you who weren t at the meeting. This has been another busy year, having taken on Marsden United Church last September, with support from Andrew Marchington (training for the ministry) and Suzanne Bridges, the circuit children s worker. I have to admit it s been a challenge on occasions getting my head around all the different aspects of the life of the four churches where I now have pastoral charge! I m continuing to enjoy my time with you, both on Sundays and in weekday activities. We continue to be a busy church, something that was recognised in our recent leaflet, to be given out to new residents in the area and also to have available for people from the different groups using our premises. Worship continues via the Sunday service, Messy Church and the devotional start to each Thursday Fellowship. I continue to be grateful for the input from our worship leaders, both organising and leading local arrangement services and contributing to other acts of worship. Messy Church continues to be a joy, and we are particularly looking forward to our first Messy Baptism, for Kayla Williams, on the 8 th July (from 4 p.m. with the Baptism at 5 p.m.) The Messy Church team would like to issue an open invitation to the Sunday congregation to join us on this special occasion. It s also been good to meet for worship with Slaithwaite and Golcar, and on August 20 th I m leading worship at Slaithwaite with a joint congregation from six Methodist churches in the area. A fruitful aspect of our worshipping together has been the opportunity for a joint choir, ably arranged and led by Linda, and we had a really good sing on Palm Sunday when we managed to get through 23 hymns in our Songs of Praise! We also look forward to hosting the circuit children s camp on the weekend of 30 th September to 1 st October, an opportunity to welcome children from around the circuit to our church. Two series of Bible studies (nothing heavy, but an opportunity for conversation on faith matters), have taken place (in Advent and Lent) and the format seems to work well for us. When people are very busy, as many of you are, it s not easy to find an additional evening to meet. The Colne Valley ecumenical services are now held once a quarter, but there are other ways for the churches to meet together and Community Cards provides an excellent opportunity to work together for a good cause (raising a lot of money for the Welcome Centre) and to enjoy each other s company (with participants from seven churches there is much fun and laughter at this group). I continue to come to the luncheon club whenever I can manage it, which is a good opportunity for conversation and pastoral support. I see my ministry as enabling things to grow organically: I m not someone who comes along with firm ideas of how things should be done and am happy to listen to ideas and suggestions at any point, so that we can continue to work together as people of God in this church and community. I know there is so much work goes on, both seen by people and behind the scenes, and I m very grateful to all of you who are involved in the life of our church in any way. My thanks to you all for your friendship and all you do. Revd Sue
2 United by the Church Saturday, June 24 th Paul Armitage and Helen Fay. We offer them our sincere congratulations and very best wishes for their future life together. Remembered by the Church It is with sadness that I report the death of Jean Wilson (nee Sykes) on 26 June in South Africa. Jean was the daughter of Dan and May Sykes who lived on Holyoake Terrace and will be remembered as a member of this church and Sports Club. Jean married Clive Wilson and they lived up Church Lane before emigrating to South Africa 50+ years ago. They had three daughters born here in England and many of us young ones will remember Sandra coming over to stay with her grandparents whilst studying at Huddersfield Technical College around 1975/76. On behalf of the church I would like to send our condolences to all the family at this sad time. Mo Stead Thanks Marjorie Procter would like to thank all those who sent cards and letters of condolence following the death of her Mum, Margaret, on April 28 th. The kind words and thoughts were much appreciated. Flower List July 2 Margaret Sykes 23 Beryl Woodward & Andrea Morley 9 John & Molly Myers 30 Mildred Walker 16 Linda Marshall Aug 6 John Liversidge 20 No Service at our Church 13 Catherine & John Davison 27 In Memory of Dougie & Dorothy Smith Welcomers in Vestibule July 2 John & Molly Myers 23 Ian & Lesley Baxter 9 Nicola Bamforth & family 30 Doreen & Jim Liversidge 16 Linda Marshall & Margaret Moriarty Aug 6 Hilary, Diane, Sam & Amy 20 John Liversidge & Jan Widdop 13 Wendy Hallas & Andrea Morley 27 Adrian & Jackie Calverley Cleaning Rota July 2 Jennifer Hirst & Margaret Tennant 23 Margaret Moriarty & Maureen Stead 9 Mairi MacKay & Sue Howard 30 16 Aug 6 Jennifer Hirst & Margaret Tennant 20 Margaret Moriarty & Maureen Stead 13 Mairi MacKay & Sue Howard 27 Diary Thurs July 6 Church Council Meeting at 7.30pm Sat July 8 Messy Church which includes the first Messy Baptism. See details below. Tues July 11 The Right to Food Discussion at Huddersfield Mission 7.30pm 9pm. Refreshments from 7pm. Key Speakers. See poster Sat July 15 Alan and Katharine Vautrey s Open Day at 19, Mount, Thorn, Wakefield. Morning coffee from 10.30am, lunches from 12 noon. Everyone very welcome. Sun July 23 Own Arrangement Service Songs of Praise. Please let either Linda or one of the Stewards know if you would like your favourite hymn sung, and perhaps the reason for your choice.
3 Sun July 23 Sunday School Picnic see details below Thurs July 27 Community Coffee Morning 10am 12noon, for coffee and cakes. If you would need transport to get there please ring Hilary (842589) beforehand. Sat Aug 12 Messy Church 4pm 6pm. Games outside if fine, in the Church Centre if wet. Bring your own picnic, drinks provided. Sun Aug 20 No Service at our Church. Joint Service at Slaithwaite at 10.30am, Revd Sue. If you require a lift please see one of the Stewards. Save the date Sunday, September 17 th Safari Lunch. Details later Messy Church Baptism On Saturday 8 th July Kayla, Michelle, Dennis and all our Messy Church family invite you to come along and join them to celebrate Kayla s baptism. The usual Messy activities linked to the theme of Baptism and belonging will run from about 4-5pm and the Celebration, as we call the worship part of Messy Church, will begin about 5pm. Be prepared for noisy songs and an informal atmosphere! After this the children will play a game, outside if possible to enable us to set up the tables for food. You can join us at any time during the activities or just for the baptism and the refreshments if you wish. We look forward to seeing you. Sunday School Picnic The Sunday School Picnic will be held in Beaumont Park on Sunday, July 23 rd. Meet near the playground and grassy area near to Butternab Road at 12noon. Everyone welcome lifts available if needed. If wet, we shall be inside at Church. Thanks Christian Aid. Margaret Moriarty thanks everyone who supported the various events held in May, which raised 550 for Christian Aid. This proved to be an excellent alternative to the previous house to house collections. Tea 1940 s Style raised 330 for the Music Therapy Project. Lesley thanks everyone who helped in any way, especially the splendid bakers of scones and the excellent music entertainment. Money Matters Sunday collections received during May amounted to 1395.20 and for June 1222.35. These were for church funds and as usual include the money paid directly into the bank. Gift Day Thanks to everyone who contributed gifts on our Church Centre Anniversary day, 2nd July, the total amount raised was 897. Henry Tennant Church Treasurer Thank you Bags It s summer, so I will be giving the 'Thank you' bags (for the sunshine) out in the next few weeks. Please return them to me in September, as the Dedication service is on October 2nd. Many thanks, Jackie Calverley Friends of Linthwaite Methodist Church At a recent committee meeting it was decided that, after many years of fundraising, known variously as The Flower Stall Ladies, Tombola Team Ladies and more recently Friends of Linthwaite Methodist Church, we would no longer function as a committee. We will of course, continue to support the church in whatever way we can and we would like to thank previous members of the team and all those who have supported our events Please turn over
4 Property update July 2017 All routine jobs are up to speed (PAT testing just completed and Gas Safety Check to be carried out soon). The Kitchen Water Heater has developed a severe leak and has been condemned, so a new unit has been ordered. There is a small leak on the old pipework in the Primary Room and this has been attended to. The windows and entrance doors in the old Sunday school building are in urgent need of repair or replacement. We have taken guidance from the Methodist Conservation Officer in Manchester and contacted Kirklees Planning for help. As the building is a Listed Building within a Conservation Area there are stringent regulations to be observed (for example Upvc replacements are not allowed), with this in mind, we have commissioned a survey with a local Joinery Company to advise us on the best way to proceed. The kitchen has been identified to be in need of replacement in the next few years and a subcommittee has been formed to look into the requirements and report back to the Property Committee. The Sunday School Window and New Kitchen are seen as the next 2 important projects and will be prioritised accordingly. We are currently experiencing some issues with non-church building users parking in the car park when it is required by people using the church premises. A system using an A Board is now in use advising when the car park is required and this by and large is working successfully. Graveyard We have again been hindered in our efforts to keep the grass cut and hedges trimmed by the weather, illness and holidays, but we will plod on regardless! Sheep recently seen in the graveyard were not a cunning ploy on behalf of the Property Committee to keep the grass down; they had escaped from a field behind the houses on Stones Lane! However, thanks to everyone who has helped in the graveyard. Workdays are alternate Saturdays and the dates are published on the Notice Board Hanging Baskets The hanging baskets are now in place and are beginning to fill out. Thanks to everyone who sponsored a basket. (Thanks also to Peter, for planting the seeds, bringing them on and planting them into the baskets) Church Brochure The Church Council decided it would be a good idea to have a brochure produced so that a leaflet drop could be made to new houses close to church. 500 of these have now been printed and examples are available in the Vestibule. They need to be used to maximum effect. Did You Know? By Mike Shaw Fish and chips are no longer the cheap meal they were in my boyhood days. Then you could get the traditional, nutritious dish for a few coppers, but like virtually everything else prices have risen steadily over the generations. Today they cost around a fiver to take out and a good bit more if you are eating in a café or restaurant. Which takes me back to 1957 and a generous gesture by the then owners of the Ivy Fisheries, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Mr and Mrs Frank Hirst. Older readers of The Link may remember the Hirsts. But I wonder if they recall the day in 1957 when Frank decided to put back the clock on his price list by 25 years. To the day when he and his wife took over the popular chip oil opposite the Ivy pub. In those days fish and chips cost around a tanner (6d), but on this particular Saturday you could get them at the 1932 price of threepence. Word soon spread and, unsurprisingly, trade boomed. Frank said It s just a bit of a treat for the customers to celebrate my twenty-five years in business and our silver wedding. Edited and typed by Jennifer Hirst Items for inclusion in the September 2017 edition of the Link to reach me by Sunday August 27 th please Phone 654288 or email hirst.avondale@btinternet.com
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