ChadNet – no 198 – Sunday 7th January 2024
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 – Iain Coleman
- Sunday 7th January – The Epiphany
- This week
- Sunday 14th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
- The Well Foodbank – donations and prayers needed
- Century Club – Result of December draw
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
Some things I’d forgotten
Twelfth Night or what you will….. the end of Christmas…… and then…. Epiphany! Oh – have you taken your decorations down? For years I have muttered darkly to the family “Bad luck if you leave ’em up after Twelfth Night”. And I had completely forgotten why. So I looked it up….. In the past, people thought that leaving the decorations up would cause a disaster because they believed that tree-spirits lived in the greenery (holly, ivy) they used to decorate their houses. Greenery was brought into the house to provide a safe haven for the tree-spirits during the bleak midwinter days. Once this period was over it was necessary to return the greenery back outside to release the tree-spirits into the countryside once again. Failure to do this would mean that vegetation would not be able to start growing again (spring would not return), leading to an agricultural disaster. (Not something we’d want in Pattingham or anywhere else for that matter!) It was also thought that, if you left the greenery in the house, the tree-spirits would cause mischief in the house until they were released. I wonder if people still feel uneasy about leaving the Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night. Despite decorations now being made of foil or paper, and though the tree-spirits are long forgotten, the superstition still survives….. and so to the Feast of the Epiphany.
There are two definitions of Epiphany.
The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12). And a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.
The Feast celebrates the appearance of the Wise Men from the East to pay homage to the new-born king of Israel. As we all remember, they came with the prophetic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to symbolise the Christ Child as king, priest and prophet. For me, this revelation or realisation also emphasises the universality of Christ, he came, not just to the Jewish people but also to the Gentiles.
Which brings me to something else I’d forgotten….
To give a house blessing on Epiphany, which is marked by chalk on or above the door. It looks like some unpleasant algebraic expression.
For this Epiphany it will be written: ‘20 + C + M + B + 24’
Needless to say there are different explanations, but I believe the year is written so the blessing sits within the entire year. 2024 contains the blessing. The + symbols represent Christ, who is held within all other things. The Letters C, M and B stand for Christus mansionem benedicat (Christ Bless this House). An alternate explanation suggests C, M and B are the initials of Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Although I don’t imagine that anything bad will happen if this is not done, it’s a nice idea to note the time of year and maybe leave a reminder of the Epiphany on the door for the year.
Iain Coleman
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 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 by extension 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.
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 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 5 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
Sunday 14th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
At 10 am there will be aservice of Holy Communion, led by Revd Roberta Maxfield, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.
At 6.30 pm there will be a Service of Evensong, led by Iain Coleman, in church.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Those who live and work in Orchard Close, Damson Park, Highgate Court.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Mary the Virgin, Enville.
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
The winners of the December Century Club draw (which took place on Wednesday) were:
1st Prize – £150
Kath James – ball 32
2nd Prize – £100
Nick Brevitt – ball 61
3rd Prize – £50
Terry Clayton – ball 39
Congratulations to all of them.
There are currently six vacancies for the Century Club. 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
For those Suffering with Dementia
Heavenly Father, we worship you who is author of life. You have made us in your image and likeness and thus have given all men and women a dignity greater than all the rest of creation. Give light and grace to those suffering with dementia. Turn this time of mental confusion into a period of spiritual enlightenment and clarity in the depths of their souls. Help those who are their caregivers by making this a time of great grace for them.
Amen
(Author unknown)
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 31st December and 14th January.
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
Barrow Samuel Woodhall – 8th January 1999
Ewart Eardley Jones – 8th January 2009
William Ernest Whitty – 9th January 1986
Lisa Norman-Smallwood – 11th January 2001
Edward Albert Morgan – 11th January 2009
Kathleen Charlotte Gardener – 12th January 1981
Catherine Eugenie Warner – 12th January 2004
Cyril George Wheeler – 12th January 2012
Tony Douglas Warrilow – 13th January 2004
Alice May Woodroffe – 13th January 2022
Cis Harris – 14th January 1990
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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604