ChadNet – no 168

ChadNet – no 168 – Sunday 11th June 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

Philip Sims

The circulation of our recent advertisement for a new Vicar has, unfortunately, once again not produced a single applicant.

You will recall that the advertisement was for a joint role which was conceived by Bishop Clive before his retirement. He felt that we would have a better chance of securing a good candidate for our half-time post, if it was combined with a new Diocesan Environmental role which was also to be a half-time post. Having always recognised that recruiting to a part-time post was always going to be difficult, we as a PCC were heartened by the prospect of combining it in the hope that we might have perhaps attracted a younger and more dynamic candidate. We now know that is not the case.

At a time when there is a lack of clergy, poorly supported churches are facing closure whilst others are subscribing to combined roles whereby clergy are leading two or even several churches. The latter could become an option for us at Pattingham, but the view of the PCC is that, if possible, we still wish to retain our independence. We remain an attractive prospect, an active and well supported church in a highly sought after environment. As a consequence it is our intention to pursue, with the support of the Archdeacon, an appointment to the St. Chad’s role alone. We will therefore advertise for the half-time post only as Vicar of Pattingham with Patshull.

We have to accept that this will be our final attempt to recruit on this basis and I would therefore urge all of you to give this matter careful and prayerful consideration. We shall be praying in Church over the next few weeks that this might be our way forward and I trust that you will also include our efforts in your private prayer time.

We have now been in interregnum for two years and visiting clergy, in particular, have been complimentary about how we have managed this process. This has been down to the vast array of talent which is involved in leading services, maintaining our fabric, developing new ideas for community involvement, maintaining high levels of leadership and engagement and just ensuring that we are there for people. I have, however, asked our PCC to take a pause and, with the prospect of a continuing interregnum, re-evaluate our priorities in order to ensure that whatever we do, we do well. In other words, our focus must be on the quality of our activities and not on the volume. An effective interregnum makes demands on our entire congregation and, in plagiarising a certain American President, I would ask you all to consider not what your Church can do for you, but what more can you personally do for our Church?

We currently have a need for someone to co-ordinate our Holiday Club in August at the Kingswood Activity Centre. Assistance is also required at the Church Fete on the 1 July and in organising a Brass Band Concert in Church on the 23 September. If anyone can offer their help with any of these projects it will be much appreciated.

Philip Sims
PCC Chairman

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 11th June – St Barnabas Day

At 10 am there will be aservice of Holy Communion, led by Revd James Makepeace, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 4.00 pm  there will be a Confirmation Service, led by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, at which candidates from a number of churches in the deanery will be confirmed, including eight young members of our congregation. After the service refreshments (tea, coffee and cakes) will be available in the Village Hall.

There will be no evening service.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: Patshull Park, Farm Road, Rushey Lane, Patshull Gardens, Patshull Lane.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: The Church at Perton.

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.

Wednesday is the copy date for the June magazine. Send articles to Mike Moss at

On Thursday at 2 pm the monthly “FORGET ME NOT” Tea takes place at St Andrew`s Church Shifnal – for carers and their loved ones. A warm welcome is assured. More details from Tracey WIlliams, our Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator.

Sunday 18th June – Second Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a service led by the Youth Group in church.This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd. Roberta Maxfield, to which you are all most welcome. Immediately after communion we will be serving refreshments, tea and coffee.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: Clive Road.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: Church Wardens across the Deanery.

Church Fete

The Church Fete takes place on Saturday 1st July starting at 2 pm.

Bottle stall

This year the Bellringers have taken over running the very popular bottle stall and would appreciate donations of any bottles of wine or spirits, squash etc. that you can give – also cans of beer or soft drinks.  Please either give to them to any of the bellringers or put them in the box which is at the back of the church. They can also be delivered to the stall at the Playing Field between 10 am and 12 noon on the morning of the fete. If you would prefer to give us the cash we can do the bottle shopping for you. Geoffrey Dann – phone 700212 – email

Holiday Club

Holiday Club is being held on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th August at Kingswood Activity Centre. We need someone to co-ordinate the arrangements. If this is something which you think you may be able to help the church with please speak to Dorothy Steel (701855).

Rotas

The rotas for July to September (and the first Sunday of October) have been sent to those on the rotas. They are also on the church website and on the notice board at the back of the church.

St Chad Network

The St Chad Network is a fellowship, linking all institutions and people with an association with St Chad: from churches and schools, to Universities and Cathedrals. We, as a church dedicated to St Chad, are a member of that network. The latest newsletter has just been published. There is a copy, as well as the previous one, at the back of the church and also on the St Chad Network page of our church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/news-and-events/st-chad-network/>

There is a Facebook Group which those who are interested can join. It is at <https://www.facebook.com/groups/stchadnetwork> Peter Harris. the St Chad Network Coordinator, attended our service on Pentecost Sunday, 28th May 2023 posted something in that Facebook Group. That can also be read on our website.

Scarecrow Festival

Scarecrow Festival

Scarecrow registration starts this month from 12th June…
Forms to register your scarecrow in this year’s Scarecrow Festival will be available from Monday 12th June at the Co-op, Martin Thomas Butcher, Pattingham Club and in St Chad’s Church. Forms can also be downloaded from the Scarecrow website at <www.pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org>. Be sure to complete and return your form before the closing date of 20th August !  Let’s make this years’ Scarecrow Festival the biggest and the best since the start back in 2011.

FREE straw and lots of help for you to make your scarecrow…
You will be sent details about this FREE STRAW offer later in the summer once you have registered your scarecrow. Remember to visit the scarecrow website at <www.pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org> for useful information on making your scarecrow, and links to other scarecrow sites to give you help and inspiration.

Sponsorship of Pew End arrangements in Church – as at other recent Festivals we are offering people the opportunity to celebrate their baptism or marriage, or commemorate a loved one, by sponsoring a pew end.  If you would like to do this and have not already received a letter about it, please phone Chrissie Ringrose on 700340 to request an application form – again the closing date is August 20th.

For more details on any aspect of the 2023 Scarecrow Festival, call Chrissie Ringrose on 700340, Mike Coope on 700426, or visit the website at <www.pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org>.

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 4th and 18th June.

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 (Bill) – 6th June 2015
Nellie Elizabeth Warrilow – 9th June 1967
Henry Parkes – 9th June 1989
Violet Agnes Davies – 11th June 1992
Gwendolyn Mary Pellow – 11th June 2010
Geraint Samuel Jones – 12th June 2013
Annie Parton – 13th June 1987
Gerald Victor Rowley – 14th June 1993
Frederick Seymour Toy – 15th June 1971
Ian Brian Price – 15th June 1973
Winifred Jane James – 15th June 2006
Audrey Wilhelmina Rose – 15th June 2022
Anthony Robert Kiddle – 16th June 2015
Mitchell James Lingford – 18th June 1989

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 118 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