Welcome to our April / May Parish Magazine. My apologies for the lateness of this edition I thought best that as Easter was right at the beginning of April you wouldn’t want to wait till June to hear and see all the great Easter Celebrations.

We have though got lots to tell you about so make sure you look out for the great things happening at the Crossroad centre (pgs 10 – 11), also the great work that is continuing with Meltham Mustard Seed (Pg 12), We have a poem too (pg 30) and did you know Nigel Priestley has been in Meltham for 50 years?! Well now you do! See page 25 to find out more.

I am so thankful for all your wonderful contributions for this edition. It has made my job so much easier and I think makes a fantastic issue. Please continue to send them in.

The deadline of the April/May magazine will be: Monday 20th May 2024.
Please send submissions via: melthamparishmagazine@gmail.com or via the vicarage letterbox.
(150 Huddersfield Rd, HD9 4AL)

God Bless, Fiona.

It’s the 2nd Sunday in the month, which means it’s FAMILY SUNDAY (2) in the parish of Meltham, so…………..

Join us on Sunday morning for our ALL AGE SERVICE which is suitable for all the family.
14th April – 9:30am at St Bartholomew’s Church (the big one in the middle of Meltham).

It will be less formal, interactive and fun! Why not give it a try? – Even if the whole family can’t come, you can still come on your own or with a friend – ALL WELCOME – YOUNG, OLD and all those INBETWEEN 😃

The parish has a family Sunday on the 1st Sunday of each month at St James’ Meltham Mills and another on the 2nd Sunday of each month at St Bartholomew’s Meltham, so if you missed the first one, you can always try the next one.

Join us on Sunday morning for our monthly ALL AGE SERVICE which is suitable for all the family.
7th April – 9:30am at St James’ Meltham Mills (the church by the park).

ALL WELCOME – YOUNG, OLD and those INBETWEEN 😃

We’d love you to come join us in #Meltham Parish on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Risen Christ together!

For those early birds, there is what we hope will be a glorious Sunrise Service at the Cock Crowing Stone – Wessenden Head Rd – Arrive earlier to ensure you don’t miss it! Join together for this very special time. It really is worth getting up for! Meet at 6:30am. A short reflection focused on the discovery of the empty tomb for about 20 minutes. Wrap up warm! Bacon butties and cereal will be served afterwards at the Church Hall in Meltham.

!!!DON’T FORGET THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD!!!

Holy Communion Services will take place in all four churches as follows:

9:30am St Bartholomew’s – Meltham

9:30am St James’ – Meltham Mills

11:15am Christ Church – Helme

11:15am St Mary’s – Wilshaw

ALL WELCOME

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen.

HE IS RISEN INDEED – HALLELUJAH!

EASTER TRAIL for all the family – Easter Saturday 30th March from 10am til 2:30pm.

Follow the Easter Trail from the Turning Circle on the Meltham Greenway to St James’ Church at Meltham Mills. Follow the clues along the way to learn the Easter story. On completion, there’s a free Easter egg to the first 100 children to complete the trail.

There’ll be refreshments at St James’ Church – and the chance of a moment of Easter stillness and a Forest Church activity! We hope this will be a really enjoyable community event and hope you can come along – it’s perfect for all the family especially those children in Primary schools

If you’re a facebook user, please share the event below to help spread the word or invite friends who may be interested. https://fb.me/e/1KQAeW5R7

Join us at one of our special services across the Meltham Parish as we make the journey through Holy Week:

Holy Week (Mon 25th to Sat 29th March 2024)

• Monday to Friday: Daily devotional, 8am – 8.30am, at St James’ Church, Meltham Mills

• Maundy Thursday: Holy Communion Service, 7.30pm at St James’ Church, Meltham Mills

• Good Friday: Service of Witness, 11.30am in St Bartholomew’s Meltham Churchyard, followed by soup lunch at the Methodist Church.

• Good Friday: An Hour at the Cross – a time of reflection – 3.00pm at St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham.

• Easter Saturday: EASTER TRAIL for all the family – 30th March from 10.00am til 2.30pm

Follow the Easter Trail from the Turning Circle on the Meltham Greenway to St James’ Church at Meltham Mills. Follow the clues along the way to learn the Easter story. On completion, there’s a free Easter egg to the first 100 children to complete the trail. There’ll be refreshments at St James’ Church – and the chance of a moment of Easter stillness and a Forest Church activity! We hope this will be a really enjoyable community event and hope you can come along – it’s perfect for all the family especially those children in Primary schools.

ALL WELCOME!

Join us on Palm Sunday at St Bartholomew’s #Meltham for our joint Parish Communion service – Sunday 24th March @ 10:30am.

Everyone is invited to stay afterwards for a pie ‘n’ peas lunch (including a desert) and fellowship – ALL WELCOME! There will also be a vegetarian option.

NOTE! – there will be no services at the other churches in the Parish as we’ll be joining together as one for the final time of the Winter service schedule.

Service times will revert to the normal schedule at each church starting on Easter Sunday (31st March).

Everyone is invited to join us at one of our Special Mother’s Day Family Services where we’ll be giving thanks for our Mums, Grandmas, Aunties and any other special people in our lives who care for us.

Sunday 10th March
9:30am at St Bartholomew’s – Meltham
11:15am at St Mary’s – Wilshaw

ALL WELCOME – bring the whole family!

Join us on Sunday morning for our monthly ALL AGE SERVICE which is suitable for all the family.
3rd March – 9:30am at St James’ Meltham Mills (the church by the park).

ALL WELCOME – YOUNG, OLD and those INBETWEEN 😃

Similar to last year, primarily due to the continued high energy prices and in order to reduce heating costs, there will NOT be a service in every church each Sunday during January, February and March 2024:

Everyone is encouraged to join together at one of the other churches if there is not a service at the one you would usually attend. Let’s stick together (and worship together) during these winter months and keep warm.

Services will be as follows during MARCH:

Sun 3rd – St James’ Meltham Mills (Family Sunday Service) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (HC) 11:15am

Sun 10th St Bartholomew’s’ Meltham (HC) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (SoW) 11:15am

Sun 17th St James’ Meltham Mills (HC) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (SoW) 11:15am

Sun 24th PALM SUNDAY Joint Parish Communion and lunch 10:30am – St Bartholomew’s Meltham

Please Note:
– The first Sunday of the month (9:30am) will be a Family Sunday service where people of ALL ages can join in the fun.
– The fourth Sunday of the Month will be a Parish Communion Service. All are welcome to share a light lunch together after the service.
– There will be no services taking place at Helme Church due to the lack of heating.
– The mid-week Wednesday service of Holy Communion at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal each week at 10:30am.
– Toddler Church at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal on Tuesday mornings each week 9am to 11am (term time only).