ChadNet – no 195

ChadNet – no 195 – Sunday 17th 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

Church in snow

Do you have a favourite Christmas carol?

Music plays an important part in Christian worship & we are now approaching the season of Carol concerts & services. Everyone enjoys participating in these & singing those familiar words to tunes which lead up to the joy of Christmas Day.

Which is more important in hymns—the words or the tune? Surely, each complements the other & they marry up to reach our hearts & minds.

‘In the bleak midwinter’, the poem by Christina Rossetti, is a favourite &, in a poll of the world’s leading choirs & choirmasters, was chosen as the best carol. It was also popular with the troops during WW1.

Christina Rossetti wrote the poem in 1872. She was one of 4 gifted siblings of the Rossetti family. Dante Gabriel, her brother, was a famous Pre-Raphaelite artist. Amongst the fine collection of Pre-Raphaelite art at Wightwick Manor, I particularly love a humorous pen & wash sketch called ‘Christina in a rage’. In it, Dante Gabriel, in a mischievous but affectionate way, depicts his sister having a tantrum because she misunderstood the way the ‘Times’ newspaper had described her first anthology of poetry to be published. The critic had claimed that Miss Rossetti’s work could not be amended, implying that it was perfect. Now, that wording was somewhat ambiguous & she took it as meaning the opposite—harsh criticism. In the sketch, Christina is seen tearing up the newspaper & stuffing it in the fire. Her hooped skirt is bobbing up at the side to reveal the edges of her frilly pantaloons! With this sketch Dante Gabriel was hoping to tease his sister out of her bad mood! I don’t know if it worked.

Christina was a very sensitive woman. The female members of the Rossetti family were devout High Anglicans. After many years of working as a governess, the elder sister, Maria, became an Anglican nun.

There have been several versions of music set to the words of the poem. The most familiar to us are by Gustav Holst, composed in 1906, and Harold Darke in 1909.The music is written in a minor key and both reflect the tender and wistful lyrics.

The 2nd verse of the poem refers to the 2nd coming of Christ. There is also a contemporary version, equally lovely, by Richard Allain, a modern composer.

This carol is in complete contrast to the likes of the traditional ones such as ‘God rest ye merry, gentlemen’.

Each has its place, but the beauty & simplicity of ‘In the bleak midwinter’, together with any of the lovely, poignant tunes, reaches deep into our hearts.

Margaret Lingford

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 17th December – Third Sunday in Advent

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 Sue Watson, to which you are all most welcome. Immediately after communion we will be serving refreshments, tea and coffee. At 6.30 pm the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, led by Iain Coleman, will be held in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live or work in: Dartmouth Avenue, Marlbrook Lane, Chesterton Road, West End Gardens, Copley Lane.

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

This week

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

There is NO Prayers for Peace this week. It will resume on Tuesday 9th January.

On Tuesday evening there is a PCC meeting in church.

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 last of the “Sleepers Wake” Reflections for Advent will take place in church. Details were in ChadNet no 193. Coffee and cake will be available beforehand.

There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week. It will resume on Wednesday 10th January.

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 8 pm on Wednesday there will be Carol Singing in the Pigot Arms.  Everyone is welcome either to join the choir in singing or simply having a drink and listening to the carols.

At 9.30 am on Thursday the school Christmas Service takes place in church.

At 7.30 pm on Thursday the repeat of the last of the “Sleepers Wake” Reflections for Advent will take place at The Church at Perton. Details were in ChadNet no 193.

The Century Club draw takes place on Saturday.

Sunday 24th December – Fourth Sunday in Advent / Christmas Eve

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

At 4 pm the Crib Service, led by Lisa Ainsworth, takes place in church. This is particularly suitable for children and families. Help to build the Nativity Scene.

At 11.30 pm the “Midnight” Communion Service, led by The Revd. Canon Dr Gregory Platten, takes place in church. For those who are still awake this is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus as Christmas Day starts.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
All children and young people in the parish.

Christmas Day

At 10 am on Christmas Day there will be a Christmas Morning Communion Service led by Revd. Jeanette Hartwell. All are welcome to come and celebrate with us the birth of Jesus.

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well continues to need donations of food and other items for those who are dependent on the Food Bank. They are also in need of financial donations to cover their rent and other running costs. 

There is a box for donations of food and other items 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!

For those who are able to make a financial donation details can be found on The Well’s website at <https://www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk/donatefull>.

Please include The Well in your prayers as they strive to meet the demands on them in increasingly challenging times.

Reverse Advent Calendar

The Well’s annual Reverse Advent Calendar is running. 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 17th December – marmalade
  • Monday 18th December – microwave rice
  • Tuesday 19th December – tinned tomatoes
  • Wednesday 20th December – pasta sauce
  • Thursday 21st December – tinned tomatoes
  • Friday 22nd December – deodorant
  • Saturday 23rd December – tinned fruit
  • Sunday 24th December – give by text (donate via text: £3. text WELL2 to 70331)

Century Club

This month’s Century Club draw will be held on Saturday.

Annual subscriptions of £60 are now due. To be included in this month’s draw they need to be paid before Saturday.

There are vacancies for new members. 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

ChadNet – feedback needed

I have had some responses to the request in last week’s ChadNet but need more to be able to make an informed decision about whether any changes should be made. If you haven’t already done so please email your answers to the questions below and any other comments you may have.

We know that some people see the photos which are included in ChadNet and some do not and some people see some of them but not all. There are also other differences in the appearance of ChadNet. In November a different method of sending ChadNet was used which meant that some people who had not seen photos before were able to do so. For all I know it may be that some of those who had previously been able to see photos were not able to. We do know that the ability to click on the contents to go straight to that section did not work.

This month we have gone back to the previous method of sending and have had comments from one person who can no longer see the photos again. To help us decide how to proceed in future  it would be helpful if you would tell us your views. Do you find the ability to click on the contents useful? Were you able to see photos in November but not now or before then? Did you stop being able to see photos in November? Was there no apparent difference in November? Do you have any other comments?

Please email your comments to

Geoffrey Dann
ChadNet editor

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2023-24

A Prayer for caring for people with dementia.

Loving God.  I prayer I bring to you my despair at watching someone I love change from the capable person they were to someone who finds even the simplest task a challenge.  Please give me the strength to do my best to provide the support required in my role as carer.  Forgive me, Lord, when I am at the end of my tether and help me remember that my loved one is simply lost and frightened and does not intend to challenge me and encourage me to think of strategies which will help my loved one cope as the illness progresses.
I give thanks for the support given by friends, family, medical and other agencies.  I give thanks for the joy when a solution is found, even if it is only for a short while.  I pray that you will guide those involved in research to find a cure for this cruel illness and that sufficient funding is invested by those in power.
Loving God, help all carers of dementia sufferers never forget that you walk with them and that  your love and blessing remain with them at all times.

AMEN
(NC St. Michael`s Parish Church, The Cross, Linlithgow, Scotland)

From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 10th and 24th December.

David John Jennings – 10th December 2012
Robert Lewis Pass – 10th December 2016
Alec Christopher Harley – 10th December 2016
Eliza Newton – 16th December 1953
Brian John Darrell – 16th December 2013
Raymond William Haden – 17th December 2005
Margaret Alice Gardener – 19th December 2003
Stanley Charles Bentley – 21st December 1989
Elsie May Nickholds – 21st December 1999
Audrey Mary Vaughan – 21st December 2008
John Stanley Scriven – 22nd December 2008
Graham Bartlett Smith – 22nd December 2019
Dorothy Shepherdson – 23rd December 1995
Dorothy Amy Harris – 24th December 1977
Ruby Sampson – 24th December 2007

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