ChadNet – no 197

ChadNet – no 197 – Sunday 31st 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

Dorothy Steel

Facing Challenges!

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine…” Fanny Crosby, (1820 – 1915) an American hymn writer who, it is recorded, wrote 8,000 hymns throughout her life, including the words ‘Blessed Assurance’ in 1873. She was blind, losing her sight as a young child due to treatments for eye problems and eye infections.

We all face challenges, whether it is the length of an interregnum, family ‘fallouts’, poor health, the death of a loved one, the loss of our home, our job, or our country. Sometimes facing challenges requires forgiveness. How difficult it can be to find it in our heart to forgive. As Christians we know that acknowledging wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness is something we must all do – but it can be very hard to truly forgive.

As we pray for peace in Ukraine, we wonder how long will it be before Ukrainian people forgive, and are able to engage with their Russian neighbours and vice-versa? What strategies can help us overcome the intense emotions, the memories of hurt and loss?

We have many examples from history of forgiveness and reconciliation, for example across the world after the Second World War the process of forgiveness gradually took hold. As Christians the most powerful example we have is that of Christ on the Cross, “Forgive them Father!…” (Luke 23: 34). When we pray for peace in the many areas of the world where conflict is rife, we pray for the Holy Spirit to help all parties find the path of reconciliation.

What more can we do? It seems such a huge mountain to climb! Well, I am no expert on climbing mountains, but in all the challenges I have encountered, I know the path to overcoming, however long it takes, is one step at a time, each step accompanied by prayer. Through prayer we can find the light to listen to and follow God’s plan.

Prayer is a very powerful tool which we share with Christians all around the world. So, take a moment, go into church, maybe light a candle, or go for a walk and offer a prayer of thankfulness, a prayer of hope, asking God to intercede in the lives of His people, our people, our families, our neighbours our friends, you and me.

God Bless,
Dorothy Steel


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 31st December – First Sunday of Christmas

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

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who teach and look after children

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
 St John the Evangelist, Swindon.


This week

For security reasons the church will be locked on Monday (New Year’s Day).

The church will be open from Tuesday. 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 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.

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.

The Century Club draw for December takes place on Wednesday.

Saturday is the Feast of the Epiphany, which we will celebrate on Sunday.


Sunday 7th January – The Epiphany

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Ken Scott, in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Paul Brown, 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:
The Parish Council and all elected representatives.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Childrens and Youth Work in the Deanery.


The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

All at the Well are extremely grateful for the donations over the past year. You may be aware from recent press articles, however, that the Well is in need of our help as it has been an extremely challenging year. Reduced donations of food and toiletries have meant fewer referrals being accepted and there has also been a significant decrease in financial support, resulting in a big trading deficit. The trustees have been advised that the position is untenable going forward and without a significant increase in income and reduction in costs.

The PCC is considering ways to help over the coming months and there are ways in which we can all help. Please pray that God will guide and support the principals and trustees at the Well as they reflect on the way forward. For those able to do so details of financial donations can be found at the Well’s website at <https://www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk/donatefull>.

The box remains at the rear of the church for donations of food and toiletries and the wishing well for donations of cash.


Century Club

Thank you to everyone who has renewed their subscription and those who have supported Century Club in the past. There are currently six vacancies. If you would like to join please contact Alan Smith on 07757 699518.

Due to the Christmas and New Year break, December’s draw will take place on Wednesday 3rd January.


Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2023-24

Loving Lord, Thank you for the gift of these few minutes to stop and breathe and to remember that you are with me at this very moment.

Dementia is an illness that tempts me to question why such a thing would exist.  I am losing my loved one a little bit every day and at times it is so sad for me.

Help me to see my loved one and our situation through your eyes.  Show me all the ways you are present so that the caregiving struggles that tempt me to question myself turn into signposts that assure me of your presence.

Remind me that one mishap does not govern my entire day; that my day is made up of moments just like this one and that you are creating anew every single moment.

Help me to not feel trapped in a situation where I sometimes felt powerless and to find ways where freedom abounds, even if only this is for five minutes sitting with my feet up and drinking a cup of coffee.

Give me the courage to reach out for help when I feel overwhelmed and direct me to those who want to support me but who count on me to tell them how to do that.

Above all, Lord, give me hope; hope that my efforts are everything my loved one needs, hope that tomorrow will bring me answers to questions I have today and hope in your words that I truly can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

AMEN 

(prayerideas.org)


From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 24th December and 7th January.

Dorothy Amy Harris – 24th December 1977
Ruby Sampson – 24th December 2007
Thomas Howe Pattison – 25th December 1994
Kim Harley – 26th December 1964
Kathleen Williamson – 26th December 1988
Jane Sarah Dulson – 27th December 1958
Maurice Scarth – 27th December 2005
Evelyn Annie Taylor – 28th December 1982
John Earl Titley – 28th December 1983
A.B. Thorma Bridge – 28th December 1990
Eileen Shelton – 28th December 1999
Iris Postance – 31st December 2011
Percy George Williams – 1st January 1976
Stanley James Potts – 2nd January 1999
Harriet Minnie Clinton – 3rd January 1960
Paul Kemp – 4th January 2007
Trevor John Davis – 4th January 2012
Elizabeth Toy – 6th January 1995
Alan Johnson – 6th January 1999
Caroline Mary Bradford – 6th January 2005
Leslie Harry Hawkins – 7th January 1984
Winnie Sheldon – 7th January 1993

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