ChadNet – no 180 – Sunday 3rd September 2023
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 – Jean Dimmock
- Sunday 3rd September – Trinity 13
- This week
- Sunday 10th September – Trinity 14
- Thank you from Greg Lewin
- Century Club – result of August draw
- Looking ahead …
- Harvest Donations for The Well
- Sunflowers for Prayers for Peace notice board
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
John and I moved to Pattingham from the suburbs of Wolverhampton in June 2012. We were looking for a house for our retirement and in particular a property that would be suitable for John who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. We were very lucky to find a house in the centre of Pattingham which satisfied our criteria. It is difficult to describe, but we felt drawn to the village and knew this was the place where we would settle. The exchange of contracts went through effortlessly and the previous owner could not have been more generous. The house and garden have been a joy to us, and the village community a blessing. For instance, the Scarecrow Festival has given us much to smile about. The imagination of all who participated in creating such varied and ingenious exhibits was amazing. We have much to be thankful for.
Our experience of village life got me thinking about community and what it means. According to the Oxford Dictionary, community is defined as: “A form of social and often spatial or organization centred on common interests and/or locale.” It is generally recognised that community consists of a grouping of people with shared common interests, who have a sense of belonging to the group.
Although there are positive aspects of technology, such as enabling friends and family to keep in touch during the pandemic, the growth of social media and its influence on the way people live their lives has, I would suggest, diminished us from experiencing face-to-face contact and this has come at a cost to our well-being. Having personal contact with each other enables us to learn to trust, share, support and nurture ourselves as well as others. Community is also a source of friendship and fellowship, and respect for difference and disagreements. Having said this, some communities can be toxic and then there is a need for discernment. No community is ever perfect in the sense that it is free of problems and conflict. A healthy community is always in a constant process of becoming. It is never “there”.
I recognise how the church in Pattingham is instrumental in cherishing the concept of community, both materially and spiritually. In part the sense of belonging and community is an antidote to the emptiness and isolation of contemporary society. It could be said that community at its best is dynamic, expansive and facilitates a sense of belonging, which is crucial to the health of human beings. Pattingham village is blessed with people who give of their time selflessly for the greater good of all. Pattingham is doing very well.
Jean Dimmock
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 3rd September – Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Anna Davies, 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. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for: Those members of the congregation who live outside the parish.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: Schools and Young People in 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. 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 by extension, led by Ken Scott, 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. Those attending will receive a warm welcome.
On Wednesday at 6 pm in church the Pattingham Shower Singers resumes after its summer break. All are welcome – just come and sing and have fun! If you need more information, contact Alix at
On Saturday from 10 am the church is open for Ride and Stride. More information can be found at <https://staffordshirehistoricchurchestrust.org/rideandstride/rideandstridedocsthisyear/>
Sunday 10th September – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
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 pm in The Loft in church the first session of Kidz Club takes place. It is for children ages 3 to 11. Ask Anna Davies for details – 07968 891927.At 6.30 pm there will be a Service of Evensong, led by Ken Scott, in church.
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 Cross, Bobbington.
A message of thanks from Greg Lewin following his last service as our organist
I would like to thank you all for the great kindness with which you marked my final services at St Chad’s last Sunday. I was overwhelmed by your kind comments and by the very generous gifts received.
I have greatly enjoyed my time at St Chad’s and will miss you all. I wish you all the best for the future.
With best wishes
Greg
Century Club
The winners of the August Century Club draw were:
- 1st Prize – £150
- Sue Penny – ball 65
- 2nd Prize – £100
- Joan Burton – ball 10
- Joan Burton – ball 10
- 3rd Prize – £50
- Judith Mackriel – ball 34
- Judith Mackriel – ball 34
Congratulations to all of them.
There are currently 7 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/>
Looking ahead …
Scarecrow Festival
The Scarecrow Festival takes place between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th September. More information can be found at <https://www.pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org/>
Cakes needed
If you would like to help in this village event and enjoy making a cake, let Iain Coleman know (07896 586091 – ). Cakes should be delivered to the Village Hall on Friday 22nd September from 1 o’clock onwards.
Barn Dance
There is a Barn Dance on Friday 22nd September at 7.30 pm. Tickets £8 each available from Anna Davies.
Brass Band Concert
There is a Brass Band Concert in church on Saturday 23rd September at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £15 each and are available from Alan Smith or any member of the PCC.
Harvest Supper
The Harvest Supper will take place on Monday 2nd October at 7.00 pm at the Dartmouth Arms, Burnhill Green. For tickets or more information contact Gena Richards (700188).
Harvest Donations for The Well
Harvest produce this year will again be donated to the Food Bank at The Well. A shopping list is printed below and there are hard copies at the back of the church. All donations are gratefully received and will go to provide food parcels and essentials for those in need across Wolverhampton and the surrounding area.
| Milk (UHT) | Cereal | Tea/coffee | Sugar |
| Jam/spreads | Squash/fruit juice (UHT) | Meat/fish (tinned) | Pasta/rice/noodles (dried) |
| Pulses/couscous | Soup (tinned) | Vegetables (tinned) | Pasta/cooking sauce (jar) |
| Fruit (tinned)/puddings/custard | Snacks/biscuits | Nappies (sealed packs size 4, 5, 6) | Baby wipes/toiletries |
| Baby food (long use by date) | Ladies/men’s toiletries | Household cleaning products |
No baked beans please. Only food within its Use by/Best Before dates please.
Stocks are currently very low and, as winter approaches, the need will increase further so please give generously if you are able.
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!
Sunflowers for Prayers for Peace in Ukraine notice board
There is a Prayers for Peace in Ukraine notice board in St. Chad’s Church to highlight aspects of the ongoing situation and war with Russia.
As part of the Scarecrow Festival this year we would love to fill this board with Pattingham sunflowers, the National flower of Ukraine! 🌻 We would love to see your photos of sunflowers grown in your garden (past and present) or sketches/paintings/artwork even a favourite old birthday card from the back of a drawer!
Take a snap and send it to us to show visitors to Pattingham of our love and support for Ukraine.
Dementia Friendly Church
Weekly Prayer
GOD OF MANY GIFTS
You value each of us far more than the wild flowers or the sparrows.
You delight in those you have created.
Help me to treasure the inner person of the one I love.
Let me see beyond the veil of age and forgetfulness to remember them in their prime.
If they regress so that they are reliving the past, then grant me understanding to go along with that.
Let me affirm what was important to them.
Let me rejoice with them in past achievements and enjoyments.
When I remember how much you value you me, may I honour the whole person and not just what they are today.
Give me the generosity of spirit to do all that I can to add richness to their remembered lives.
AMEN
(Prayers for Dementia and how to live well with it. Fay Sampson)
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 27th August and 10th September.
Joseph Caddick – 28th August 1979
Norah Patricia Chaplin – 28th August 2017
Dorothy Winifred James – 29th August 2010
Ida Margaret Burton – 30th August 1980
Irene Painting – 31st August 2017
Gladys Thornton – 2nd September 1997
Elizabeth Ann Sampson – 5th September 2022
Margaret Mary Bartlett – 6th September 2004
Ian Smart – 7th September 2006
Olive Bentley – 8th September 2001
Doris Scarth – 8th September 2003
Rosemary Anne Tonks – 8th September 2009
Edna Mara Broom – 8th September 2014
Lesley Margaret Dain – 10th September 2015
Michael Patrick Curtis – 10th September 2021
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 122 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