ChadNet – no 10 – Sunday 31st May 2020
Welcome to the tenth edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
New this week – chat over Zoom after the Sunday service. See below for details.
View from the Vicarage:
Waiting for the Spirit.
Waiting seems to be a major part of life at present, doesn’t it? We wait for the daily revelations in the Government’s Press briefing. We wait outside our supermarkets to be allowed in while respecting social distancing. We are waiting for the discovery of a viable vaccine. We wait for this to be all over and we can get back to seeing our much missed friends and family. And O, how we are waiting for that first hug!
The disciples and apostles were gathered together waiting on that first Pentecost but not sure what they were waiting for. They had been promised that something would be sent. An advocate, a comforter, another presence through whom they would feel closer to God in all his majesty and wonder.
One of the downsides of our current situation is that our world has shrunk. We are confined to our household. We are not free to travel where we will (well not unless we are the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor!). But at the Ascension Christ called on his followers to be witnesses and messengers to the whole world. We are to raise our eyes above the immediate locality and recognize that there is a whole wide world out there, in which we need to play our part in spreading the good news of Christ’s victory.
We are told that ‘the Spirit blows where it will’; – so unlike us there are no limitations, no constraints. And the great thing is, we can ‘piggy-back’ on God’s Spirit which will take us into more places and help us to communicate with more people than we could ever have dreamed. Our Horizons do not need to be restricted with God’s help – no more waiting…
Frances Hawley puts it this way ….
We walk together, you and I,
Talking sometimes,
Often in an awesome silence.
Wandering and wondering with you,
Holy Spirit,
Unrestrained as the wild winds,
Ever-moving as the tides.
Fire of passion.
Still small voice….
I wish you a blessed and a blessing Pentecost.
Maureen.
Contacts
Maureen can be contacted by phone, text or email. (01902 700257 – 07812 805371 – )
Contact details for other church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website.
Communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to
Holiday Club is cancelled
This year’s Holiday Club will not take place due to the difficulties caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. It is hoped that there will be a Holiday Club in 2021.
Sunday 31st May – Pentecost
There will be a service of Holy Communion led by Maureen Hobbs on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am. As usual hymns will be sung by the virtual church choir. For those without internet access it will also be on the DIal a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am – until then last Sunday’s service is on the phone line.
Join Maureen and other members of the congregation for a chat and a virtual cup of tea or coffee over Zoom from 11 o’clock. You can join at any time up until 12 noon, although if you leave it until then you may find everyone has already left or is on their way out.
Full details of the Zoom meeting are further on.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
During the week Maureen will continue to stream Morning Prayer and Compline (Night Prayer) on Facebook Live. From Monday Morning Prayer will be at 8.30 am and Compline will be at 9.30 pm.
Sunday 7th June – Trinity Sunday
There will be a Family Service led by Barbara Dias on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 25th May and 6th June.
Alice Mary Bolland – 27th May 2003
Jordan Katherine Taylor – 28th May 1997
Brian Henry Cooper – 28th May 2017
Fiona Jane K. Morrison – 30th May 1975
Emily Jane Price – 31st May 1977
George Wilfred Selvey Clinton – 31st May 1980
Thomas Caddick – 1st June 1998
Harry Kibble – 1st June 2002
Stuart Gerard Bowley – 5th June 1975
Gerald Giles – 5th June 2002
Gunter Hanns Jonat – 6th June 1983
Jean Beryl Shelley – 6th June 2011
William Bull – 6th June 2015
Giving to the Church
While we are not able to take offertory collections in church please think about giving in other ways. See the Giving page on the website to see how or go straight to our page on JustGiving.
Happy Birthday
Although we can’t sing Happy Birthday to him at the service we wish John Steel a happy birthday.
Chat over Zoom
We are trying something new this week. From 11 am until at least 12 noon on Sunday Maureen will be hosting a session on Zoom which we can all join so that we can chat together as we would do after morning service.
[The invitation to the Zoom meeting is only included in the edition of ChadNet which is emailed to subscribers.]
If you haven’t used Zoom before you will need a computer, tablet or smartphone with a camera and microphone. If you click on the link given it should take you through the process to join the meeting.
For those without internet access – listen to a Pattingham church service by phone
We recognise that some people cannot follow our services on the internet either because they do not have internet access or are not comfortable using it. We now have a dedicated phone number – 01902 906585 – which has a recording of part of our latest service. It is easy to use – just dial the number and listen. After a short welcome message and a pause the recording of the service starts playing. You can listen to the whole of it or hang up part way through. Calls are charged at normal rate. The service for each Sunday will be available from about 9 am and will continue to be available until it is replaced be the next week’s.
The service for Ascension Day is available at the moment and will be replaced by Sunday’s service at 9 am on Sunday.
This, of course, is aimed at people who do not read this bulletin. If you know someone who might find it useful please let them know.
The Daily Hope phone line from the Church of England on 0800 804 8044 is also available.
Other resources for worship and prayer at home
In these times we are all needing to find different ways to pray and worship. There are a lot of different resources which have been made available in lots of different ways. Some of those are listed on the Resources Available Online page of the website. This not anything like a complete list of everything which is available. We also now have a Resources Available for Children, Young People and Families page.
Sunday School continues to be available online on the Sunday School on the Web page.
Maureen often shares inspirational posts on the Church Facebook page so it is worth looking at that from time to time.
The Bible Society has a website and a YouTube Channel which contain lots of material, some of which is particularly suitable for children and families. There are a series of videos which tell the stories of the Old Testament, the life of Jesus and the Events of Pentecost and the Development of the Church in a nutshell. Each lasts 3½ minutes and while most suitable for younger people may also appeal to others with a sense of homour.
If you have found something which you have found useful please send the details to so that it can be shared with others.
ChadNet
This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 71 subscribers but there may still be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive it. If you know of anyone who might be interested please tell them about it and ask them to sign up using the form on the website (www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/sign-up-to-chadnet/) or by email to
Giving to the church
While normal services are not being held there will inevitably be a reduction in the money which the church receives. However we will need to continue to pay our bills and we would ask that those who can afford to do so should continue to give regularly.
Although it will not be possible to put money in the plate there are a number of other ways in which you can give to the church. These include the Giving Direct scheme, Just Giving, a standing order or even one off transfers to the church bank account. Details of all of these can be found on the Giving page of the website. Those who normally use the green or yellow envelopes may wish to continue to put their donations in the envelopes ready to bring to church when services resume.
We have set up a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pattingham-church. You will be asked if you want to make a contribution on top of your donation. If you do it will go to JustGiving and not to charity. If you do not want to make such a contribution select “other”. If you are a taxpayer please consider gift aiding your donation.
If you wish to make a payment by bank transfer the details of our bank account are: Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 – A/c No: 50655023. If you wish to gift aid it contact the Gift Aid Secretary or the Treasurer.
Changes due to the current situation
The church building is closed but the church community remains active. Further details can be found on the church website. There is an update page which gives more information.
- This years’s Holiday Club has been cancelled.
- The Church Fete has been cancelled for this year.
- The Century Club draws are suspended until further notice.
- The Who’s for Lunch lunches are suspended for the time being.
- The church clock has stopped as guidance from the Church of England prevents it from being wound. The carrilon continues to play automatically three times a day.
- The same guidance also prevents us from flying the flag for Pentecost.
- Publication of the magazine is suspended for the moment.
The weekly bulletin for each Sunday will normally be sent on the preceding Friday or Saturday. Additional bulletins may be sent if required. It is only being sent to those who have requested it. If you know of anyone who might be interested please tell them about it and ask them to sign up using the form on the website (www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/sign-up-to-chadnet/) or by email to
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604