ChadNet – no 193

ChadNet – no 193 – Sunday 3rd December 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

Henry Ibberson

Dogs have been very much in the news recently, sometimes for all the wrong reasons, as in the dreadful circumstances surrounding attacks on both adults and children by the American breed XL Bully – which frankly I’d never heard of before those appalling incidents. Dog-owners will probably all agree that more than 70% of the responsibility for such dreadful attacks lies with the owners, either through neglect, casual negligence or simply ignorance of the responsibility which the ownership of any dog carries with it. But we have also recently witnessed dogs whose singular skills of scent and sentience have located and helped to save those trapped under rubble after seismic events, or even more tragically in the aftermath of the disastrous bombings in Gaza. On the health scene too, clinicians are realising that some dogs have enormous potential in early detection of serious diseases in humans and can often warn their owners in advance of impending health problems to which they may be prone, such as seizures, fits or even migraine.

But on the domestic scene, what is it about dogs that makes them so special for those of us who live with them? Yes, they might sometimes bring mud into the house and, depending upon their proclivities, they can occasionally be a little infragrant! But such minor nuisance is far outweighed by their constancy; no matter how we feel, they are always the same and it is hard when feeling low, not to smile into the gaze of an upturned face, even through tear-stained eyes. That unconditional love and utter faith in us is something very special, from which we ourselves could learn much, as we could from their being entirely un-judgmental. They have no side – no guile ( well perhaps sometimes when food is around! ); they never argue and accept their lot without fuss. They oblige us, often when otherwise we would slump in front of the warm fire or TV, to keep moving and get out in the fresh air in all weathers where, meeting others, with or without dogs, they are an instant source of immediate social interaction with strangers, whom we would otherwise only have passed by probably with a mere nod or a cursory greeting. And none of us can resist the pleasure of gazing at a recumbent ball of fur, gently snoring or twitching, whilst dreaming on a feast of past smells, with a serenity which we rarely can enjoy.

But they ultimately break our hearts – and that goes for any beloved pet, certainly not just dogs. A dear friend this week has lost a much beloved cat, one of two in the household, and is understandably bereft at his loss. Our animals enmesh themselves in our lives so profoundly that their loss is acutely painful and the grief we feel is certainly akin to that when we lose family or friends; and that is not a trite comment because they are family.

Yes, as we travel on our journey through life seeking to live out our Christian faith and beliefs, those canine traits are a healthy example of some of those things perhaps we sometimes overlook in our dealings with others. We can be quick to judge – we often fail to respect others’ feelings. Are we sometimes duplicitous? Do we obfuscate occasionally and dissemble in our dealings? Food for thought maybe?

Henry Ibberson

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 December – Advent Sunday

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Sarah Yeomans and St Chad’s School, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service. There will be no Communion service.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: Letchmere Close.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: Christ the King, Aldersley.

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 Paul Brown, 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 11.00 am the first of the “Sleepers Wake” Reflections for Advent will take place in church. See below for more details. Coffee and cake will be available beforehand.

At 1.30 pm on Wednesday the funeral of Raymond Walker takes place in church.

On Wednesday at 6 pm the Pattingham Shower Singers meet in church. All are welcome – just come and sing and have fun! If you need more information, contact Alix at

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 4 of series 3 of The Chosen will be screened at Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood. Refreshments and snacks provided! Contact Christ Church on 01902 238988 for more information. Catch up for free at https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

At 7.30 pm on Thursday the repeat of the first of the “Sleepers Wake” Reflections for Advent will take place at The Church at Perton. See below for more details.

Sunday 10th December – Second Sunday in Advent

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

At 4 pm the Christingle Service will be held in church. It will be a short but lively service with Christingle oranges for the children.Collection candles are available from the font in church.

There is no service at 6.30 pm.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: Westbeech Road, College Farm Close, Patshull Road.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for: St Peter, Kinver.

Looking ahead towards Christmas

The Christmas card from the church should be delivered to all homes in the parish in the next week or so. It includes details of services in December. Copies are also available in church.

Particular services to note are:

  • Sunday 10th December – 4 pm – Christingle Service
  • Sunday 17th December – 6.30 pm – Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
  • Sunday 24th December -4 pm – Crib Service
  • Sunday 24th December – 11.30 pm – “Midnight” Eucharist
  • Monday 25th December – 10 am – Christmas Morning Communion Service

here will be Carol Singing in the Dartmouth Arms, Burnhill Green at 7 pm on Tuesday 12th December. Everyone is welcome.

The Covenanting Churches of Wolverhampton West, of which we are part, will be singing carols on the Upper Green at Tettenhall on Saturday 16th December from 10.30 am. All are welcome to join them.

“Sleepers Wake” – reflections for Advent

In the first three weeks of December the Tettenhall Wood Team will be leading a series of reflections for Advent using music, art and scripture based on the book “Sleepers Wake – Getting Serious about Climate Change” by Bishop Nicholas Holkam. They will be held on Wednesday mornings at 11.00 am at St Chad’s Church, Patttingham and repeated on Thursday evenings at the Church at Perton. All are welcome.

  • Wednesday 6th December – The Writing on the wall
  • Wednesday 13th December – Being Human
  • Wednesday 20th December – What can I bring Him?

Century Club

The winners of the November Century Club draw were:

    1st Prize – £150
        Dennis Gregory – ball 81
    2nd Prize – £100
         Richard Clarke – ball 25
    3rd Prize – £50
        Roger Evans – ball 93

Congratulations to all of them.

Please note next month’s draw will be on Saturday 23 December.

A reminder that annual subscriptions are now due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60.

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

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2023-24

Heavenly Father, we offer prayers for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Be with them in times of uncertainty, worry, and anxiety.
Grant them the mental and emotional strength they need to face each day with hope.
Give strength and patience to their family and caregivers.
Guide everyone engaged in the search for effective therapies and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(https://avepray.com/prayers/prayer-for-alzheimers-patients/)

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!

Reverse Advent Calendar

The Well’s annual Reverse Advent Calendar is back. The idea is really simple – put the item on the calendar into a box/bag each day in December leading up to Christmas, then donate it to the Well food bank. Please leave it at the back of the church or, if collection is required, contact Alan Smith on 07757 688518. 

The calendar showing which items are requested for each day is on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/the-well-wolverhampton/> There is also a shopping list of the following items which can be used instead.

The items on the calendar for this week are:

  • Sunday 3rd December – tea
  • Monday 4th December – jam
  • Tuesday 5th December – tinned carrots
  • Wednesday 6th December – UHT fruit juice
  • Thursday 7th December – tooth paste
  • Friday 8th December – rice pudding
  • Saturday 9th December – tinned meat
  • Sunday 10th December – stuffing mix

From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 26th November and 10th December.

Malcolm Alfred Sargeant – 26th November 2020
Alan Thomas Hastilow – 28th November 1975
Raymond Edward Perks – 30th November 1996
Edna Dorothy Wheeler – 30th November 2017
Harry Bramall – 1st December 1983
Olive Peever – 1st December 2004
Iris Bull  – 1st December 2009
Ethel Medlicott – 3rd December 1987
John Reynolds – 4th December 1985
Lorna Briscoe – 4th December 1994
Stanley William Thomas Jones – 4th December 2007
Harry Burton  – 5th December 1975
James Ellis – 5th December 2019
Julie Amanda Morgans – 6th December 2011
Mary Elizabeth Inett – 7th December 1996
Norman Alfred Bramall – 8th December 2021
Robert James Hayhurst – 9th December 1994
David John Jennings – 10th December 2012
Robert Lewis Pass – 10th December 2016
Alec Christopher Harley – 10th December 2016

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 126 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