In anticipation of Sunday, a very happy Pentecost to you all! This is a warm invitation to come to our parish's Annual Vestry Meeting and Annual Parochial Church Meeting on May 26 after our 10.30am parish service at St Michael & St Helen's, Fleminghouse Lane.  The service itself will be shortened with time for further reflection and prayer in the meeting.

I attach the following documents for you to have a read and pray through before the meeting:

1.  Agenda
2.  Minutes of last year's APCM
3. The draft Parish Strategic Mission Plan (for consultation)
4.  The Annual Report and Consolidated Accounts
5. Other reports and supporting information (please note that we are still expecting a few more reports, so will send an updated version of this document in the coming days).

The APCM is the equivalent of a company's AGM, but because we are the church, significantly different!  The whole thing is set in the context of worship, prayer and fellowship.  Whilst we take care to reflect, and look back carefully and gratefully, the emphasis is on looking forward - with faith and vision.  It is always a blessing to elect our Churchwardens and PCC for the coming year.

There will also be an opportunity to reflect on the draft strategic mission plan for the parish, which has been put together by a small team from across the three churches in consultation with our PCC and Church Committees. Please do have a read - particularly thinking through these questions: What is helpful? What would you like to be a part of? What is missing?

​Please note that this is a summary. There is a more detailed action plan. If you'd like an electronic copy of the more detailed version, please get in touch, and we'll also print off a copy to put up at the back of each church.

So, do please come, if you can!  And please do be praying for our church - that the Lord of the years will carry us forward into God's purposes for the future.

God bless,
Felicity

We record with sorrow the death of John Foster, a former assistant organist and choir member at All Hallows'. He died peacefully on Thursday, shortly after his 89th birthday. 

John – Fozzy' to many – began his long musical link with Almondbury in 1962 under the then organist, George Hepworth, and he continued playing the organ and singing bass under George's successor, Malcolm Cruise.

He was also an experienced bell ringer, moving on occasions with speed from the ringing chamber to choir pew on a Sunday morning.

John was a keen gardener, and geraniums and busy lizzies grown in his greenhouse would adorn the churchyard each summer. For many years he supplied the daffodils to be distributed on Mothering Sunday. 

Besides his musical contributions, he will be remembered for his bright personality and lively sense of humour, which emerged from time to time in the pieces he played – the jaunty folksong, 'Country Gardens, being a particular favourite.

He leaves a wife, Susan, and three daughters, Catherine, Sally and Penny. The funeral will be at All Hallows' on Wednesday, May 22, at 2pm. ​Donations if wished may be given for Kirkwood Hospice c/o Radcliffe Funeral Service, 16 Westgate, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6AA or online at radcliffefuneralservice.co.uk/obituaries. A donation box will be available at the service. Will friends please accept this intimation and meet at the Church.

​May John rest in peace and rise in glory.

Malcolm Cruise writes: ‘John was assistant to me throughout the whole of my 54 years as organist and choirmaster at All Hallows', Almondbury. In the early years of that lengthy stretch, with a regular choir of up to 25 boys and 16 men, the work involved would have been difficult to manage without him and I was always grateful for his enthusiastic approach, not to mention his quirky humour. 

'He played the organ for many services, assisted with rehearsals quite often and, after the work was completed, very much enjoyed the social side of things – which usually involved either the Woolpack, the Con Club or some other hostelry!

'He deputised, too, at St Stephen's, Lindley over many years and for a while also at St Thomas's, Longroyd Bridge. His contribution to our music was indeed a lifetime commitment and much appreciated by all.’

'O praise ye the Lord! All things that give sound;
Each ju­bi­lant chord re-ec­ho around;
Loud or­gans, His glo­ry forth tell in deep tone,
And sweet harp, the sto­ry of what He hath done.'