ChadNet – no 189

ChadNet – no 189 – Sunday 5th November 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

Sue Riches

I have recently returned from a visit to the Caucasus, primarily to explore and visit some of the mountain top monasteries.  Our first country was Armenia, a proudly Christian country.  Armenia’s state religion was declared to be Christian in 301, the first country in the world and now about 95% are Orthodox Apostolic Christians. Some even believe that the garden of Eden was in Armenia.  Crosses dangle from the rear-view mirrors of cars, and in our minibus.  We were taken to see one of the earliest monasteries, right under a snow-covered Mount Ararat, which, though of immense importance to Armenia, became part of Turkey at the end of WW1. Everywhere we looked one could see the Kachkars, stone crosses, some very intricately carved. One of the oldest ones was at the Sevanavank monastery, which depicts Christ as a Mongolian, with long hair, a beard and a very Mongolian face.

We made our way to Goris, where we spent the night, only to wake up and find the town was full of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh. It was a desperately sad sight.  Cars, mostly old Ladas or Trabants, laden with mattresses, tables, all the possession of a family. They were registering themselves in Goris.  Next door to our hotel was a bakery, where the three bakers had spent over 24 hours making flat breads, but still had the time to show us how they made them. People were standing around, looking lost and exhausted.  It is so easy to look at the television and see countless refugees, yet when you see them in real life it suddenly has a different meaning.  These were real people, not just filmed images.  We left the town via another monastery,Tatev, Armenia’s most sacred site.  But, as in all monasteries, the Bolsheviks had dug up all the floors in the 1920’s, looking for gold.

As we drove along the now very busy roads there were broken down cars, perhaps out of fuel and tired looking drivers going to…?  Above us were ‘peacekeeping’ Russian helicopters, as they patrol the border.  Petrol tankers were coming in from Iran, and heading towards Goris we counted at least 70 ambulances. It was a very thought-provoking day.

We made our way up to Georgia, another very Christian country.  Here there were more monasteries, many of which had also been destroyed by the Soviets. The Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi, where the cross of St Nino (the woman who brought Christianity to Georgia) is kept.  There is a mosque in Tbilisi, where both Sunni and Shia Muslims worship together and it’s virtually next door to the Jewish Synagogue.

In the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, is the Svetitskhoveli cathedral, and it is here that the robe of Christ is said to be buried under a massive shrine.  As in Armenia, in every church there are people praying at the shrines.  We made our way up the incredibly twisting road, one of the few access points to the Russian border (about 12 miles away) and walked up the mountain for an hour or so to visit Gergeti Trinity Church. (2170m). You usually see this as the iconic image of Georgia.  There are no monks there as they have built a new church down in the town nearer the border, to prove to Russia that this is Georgia.

One very bizarre thing we did was to visit Gori, where Stalin was born.  There is a huge museum, built by the Soviets.  We had a very Russian guide who obviously thought he was the best thing ever!  A different sort of religion?

Our final destination was Azerbaijan.  A country proud of being a secular state, also very proud of being one of the first states in the world to give women the vote in 1918. There are very few wearing hijabs, these are mostly visitors from Dubai or Saudi. Christianity is practiced here, but a lot of new mosques are being built, as the soviets destroyed many of them. 

All three countries loathe Russia but have to go along with them to a certain extent. In all this area the borders come and go, even as we were there – and as a group, we all said – thank heavens we live on an island, and our borders are static!

So much more I could say after such experiences – but that will have to wait!

Sue Riches

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 5th November – All Saints’ Sunday

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Tracey WIlliams and Dorothy Steel, in church. This is a Dementia Themed Service and there will be an opportunity to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society for those who wish. It will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, to which you are all most welcome. Coffee, tea, biscuits and cupcakes will be available after the service.

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

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: St Philip, Penn Fields.

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 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. Those attending will receive a warm welcome.

Pattingham Shower Singers is not taking place this week as it’s half term. It will resume next week.

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

At 7 pm on Thursday episode 1 of series 3 of The Chosen will be screened at Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood. More details below.

Sunday 12th November – Remembrance Sunday / Third Sunday before Advent

At 10.30 am (note the time) there will be a Remembrance Sunday Service in church, led by Revd James Makepeace. There will be no Communion Service. Coffee (and tea and biscuits) will be available after the service. This will be James’s last service at Pattingham before he moves away from the area and the occasion will be marked by a presentation. James has supported the parish over many years which have included three interregnums.

There will be no Kidz Club this month.

There will be no service in the evening.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: The Greenway, The Square, High Path, Green Close.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: The Venerable Bede, Wombourne.

Century Club

The winners of the October Century Club draw were: 

  • 1st Prize – £150
    •  Bill Inett – ball 19
  • 2nd Prize – £100
    • Tom Edgington – ball 1
  • 3rd Prize – £50
    • Gillian Andrews – ball 66

Congratulations to all of them.

There are six vacancies for the Century Club. Annual subscriptions are due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60. For new members a payment of £65 will cover the November draw as well as the twelve draws from December. If you would like to join the Century Club or 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

Prayers for Peace – request for prayers

As part of the Prayers for Peace for Ukraine group that meet on a Tuesday at 6:00pm, we are inviting anyone who would like to write a prayer for peace to do so! There is a notice board at the back of church with templates and pens provided. It can be for peace in Ukraine or anywhere in the world, or simply a message of peace. All the prayers and messages will be read aloud in our prayer group on Tuesday 28th November.

Thank you! We look forward to reading them and praying once again for peace.

Jill Baker

The Chosen at Tettenhall Wood

The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ, a chance to see Jesus in a way you’ve never seen Him before, through the eyes of those who knew Him.

Series 3 of The Chosen is streaming for free at Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton, WV6 8NQ on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm on the following dates:

  • Thursday 9th November 2023 – Episode 1
  • Thursday 16th November 2023 – Episode 2
  • Thursday 30th November 2023 – Episode 3
  • Thursday 7th December 2023 – Episode 4
  • Thursday 11th January 2023 – Episode 5
  • Thursday 18th January 2024 – Episode 6
  • Thursday 1st February 2024 – Episode 7
  • Thursday 8th February 2024 – Episode 8

Refreshments and snacks provided!
Contact Christ Church on 01902 238988 for more information
Catch up for free at https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

Pattingham Drama Group presents The Ghost Train

Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18th November 2022 at 7.30 pm at Pattingham Village Hall

All tickets £10 available from or 01902 700748

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2023-24

Gracious God, full of love and mercy, we come to you today in search of peace.  Lord, only you know the intricate workings of our minds and bodies, for you created them.  We ask for understanding of our loved ones` behaviours as the are continually changed by dementia.  Lord please give us wisdom about how to relate to them and best serve them.  Show us resources to help us on this journey.  Please help us remember that our loved cannot control how they behave.  Give us patience when dealing with them.  Give us strength when we are tired.  Please fill us with the fruit of your spirit so that we can love them with your love and display kindness, goodness and gentleness.

AMEN

(ibelieve.com)

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 29th October and 12th November.

Marion Katie Potts – 29th October 1987
Kenneth John Bowley – 30th October 1988
Norman (Jim) Smith  – 30th October 2012
Elsie Lyon – 31st October 2005
Kenneth Ernest Wilde – 31st October 2013
Cyril Edward Godwin – 1st November 2003
Eileen Curtis – 3rd November 2020
Timothy John Cooper – 4th November 1999
Adam Witold Kwiatkowski – 4th November 2002
Hilda Mary Smedley – 7th November 2013
Elizabeth Scarth – 7th November 2014
Rupert Neville Hayward – 9th November 1964
David Challinor – 9th November 2022
Stanley Charles Weaver – 12th November 1999

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 124 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