ChadNet – no 158

ChadNet – no 158 – Sunday 2nd April 2023

ChadNet - the eBulletin of St Chad's Church, Pattingham with Patshull

Welcome to this week’s edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.

In this week’s ChadNet:

View from the Pews

Dorothy Steel

This is a ‘View’ from my ironing board – not using my eyes to see what is around me but using my brain to think about what my heart is telling me. I neither like nor dislike ironing – it’s just something I do, not terribly well but with amazing regularity – in fact I do it so frequently I really should be an expert – but I am not. The thing I like most about ironing though, (which is probably why I am not so good at it), is that I have time to lose myself in my own thoughts – maybe to have a chat with God or just to remember the many and varied experiences I have had in my life (so far)! Time to ponder and think about what I have learned from the wonderful joys, the problems, difficulties, and challenges; and the times of grief – so deep that the only person I can talk to about it is God.

I have been blessed to have experienced a lovely childhood and although we didn’t have much money, my brother and I were rich in having time to go on long walks and family picnics to talk to our parents. Through books my mother ‘introduced’ me to so many people, to show me that it is important to look outwardly in life, and consider different points of view, and on our walks, we would talk about these different people. One of them, who I often think about was Geoffrey Studdert-Kennedy MC (1883 – 1929). He was an Anglican priest who volunteered to work as a Chaplain in the British Army in the First world war, working  on the Western Front. As well as taking services he spent time talking and praying with injured and dying soldiers and was awarded the Military Cross for his work. Although he helped so many during his time in the army, he wrote afterwards:
 “It’s much easier to do and die than it is to reason why”.

This makes me think about some of the conversations which take place within the small group who attend Prayers for Peace – it is really hard at times to understand the ‘reasons why’.

The Bible (as always) helps us – Matthew Chapter 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…”

From my experience, this is the only way to live – to pray and to ask and to listen. We may have to wait a long time to ‘receive’ or to realise the door is open for us all.

Studdert-Kennedy wrote poetry and one of his poems is called ‘June Roses in December’:
“God gave his children memory,
That in life’s garden
There might be June roses in December”

Take some time to bring June roses into your life by remembering all the blessings we have been given, and that in all the problems and difficulties which also visit us, God remains our constant friend, comforter and Lord.

God bless you
Dorothy Steel

Would you like to write a View from the Pews?

We welcome contributions for View from the Pews from anyone who would like to write one, It does not need to be on any particular subject. If you would like to write one please send it to or contact Henry Ibberson ( / 01902 701136).

Contacts

We do not have a VIcar at the moment. For matters which would normally be dealt with by the Vicar the churchwardens are the first point of contact. The Vicarage phone (01902 700257) is redirected to the churchwardens. When they are not available a message can be left on the voicemail and they will return the call when they are available. Emails to will be received by the churchwardens.

Contact details for church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website. You can use if you are nore sure who to contact and the churchwardens will be able to forward it to the correct person.

Notices, which should be received by Friday evening for inclusion in that week’s ChadNet, and other communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to

Articles for the magazine should be sent to (note – this is different to the address used before November 2020 which no longer works).

Sunday 2nd April – Palm Sunday

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Ken Scott, in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion by Extension, to which you are all most welcome. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

The Colouring competition to support Ukraine closes at 12 noon.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray  for those who live or work in:
Hall Close, Dodds Field, Hall End Close.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: Holy Week Services across the Deanery.

This week

The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.

On Tuesday Prayers for Peace will be said in church at 6 pm. Prayers for Peace now takes place on Tuesdays only during the winter months. Please do join us and if you would like more information or are willing to lead a session, please contact Mary Hayward ().

On Wednesday at 10.00 am there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer, led by Revd James Makepeace, in church which will be followed by tea, coffee and cake.

After the service the church will be open from 10.30 am until at least 11.00 am as a Place of Welcome when anyone who wants to will be welcome to share in the coffee, cake and chat, whether they have been to the service or not. The church heating will be on so those attending will be warm as well as receiving a warm welcome.

At 7 pm on Wednesday Choir Practice takes place in church. Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact Greg Lewin or any member of the choir.

Maundy Thursday

On Thursday at 7.30 pm there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, which will be followed by the Stripping of the Altars.

Good Friday

On Friday at 10 am Gladys Jones will lead the service for children and families which will include Building the Easter Garden.

Also at 10 am the ashes of Mandy Smith will be interred in the churchyard.

On Friday at 2 pm there will be the Last Hour at the Cross Devotional Service which will be led by Geoffrey Dann and Dorothy Steel. Tea, coffee and hot cross buns will be available after the service.

Sunday 9th April – Easter Day

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd James Makepeace, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be a service of Evensong, led by Ken Scott, in church. During the service we will dedicate the new cupboards situated below the Adam and Eve window which have been generously donated by James and Elizabeth Gosling

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray  for those who live or work in:
Snowden Road, Burnhill Green Road, Lower Snowden.

Century Club

The winners of the March Century Club draw were: 

  • 1st Prize – £150
    • Gillian Andrews – ball 66
  • 2nd Prize – £100
    • Robert Davies– ball 38
  • 3rd Prize – £50
    • Tony Ainsworth– ball 35

Congratulations to all of them.

There are currently 14 vacancies for the Century Club. For more details, please contact Alan Smith on 07757 688518 or or see the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/century-club/>

Pattingham Ladies Club

Tuesday 25th April – a talk by Jill Parker on Prison Chaplaincy

On Tuesday 25th April at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall I’ve been asked to speak to Pattingham Ladies Club about Prison Chaplaincy. This obviously may be interesting to ladies in the congregation and I’ve been asked by the Chairman to say they are welcome to come along at no charge. Like us all they are keen to increase numbers!

Jill Parker

Donations for The Well

The need for the Food Bank continues and the box for donations for the Food Bank at The Well in Wolverhampton continues to be at the back of the church. The wishing well is also at the back of the church if you have any spare loose change. Donations, however small, go towards running costs. Don’t be shy, every little helps!

From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 26th March and 9th April.

Lillian Elkin – 26th March 1991
Christine May Watton – 29th March 2007
Bert Hughes – 30th March 2009
Christopher John Harrison – 30th March 2015
Isaac John Fellows – 31st March 1990
Kathleen Mary Parkes – 31st March 1999
Joan Selvey Fellows – 31st March 2019
Elsie Jane Williams – 3rd April 2001
Mary Grace Russell – 3rd April 2002
Margaret Rogers – 6th April 2012
Stanley Medlicott – 7th April 1982
Dorothy Vera Perks – 7th April 2013
Margaret Lesley Slater – 7th April 2018
Ida Sarah Bentley – 9th April 2008
Joanna Freeman Morgan – 9th April 2018

You can see all the pages of the Memorial Book on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.

Giving to the church

Details of the various ways in which you can give can be found on the Giving page of the website.

We have a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/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.

You can make a bank transfer to our bank account (Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 Account No: 50655023).

If you are paying by cheque please make the cheque payable to “Pattingham PCC” or “Pattingham Parochial Church Council“.

ChadNet

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 114 subscribers but there may still  be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive it. 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

St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604