ChadNet – no 2 – Sunday 5th April 2020
Welcome to the second edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
View from the Vicarage:
Palm Sunday is the day that begins the week approaching Easter.
On that day we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem with crowds surrounding him and crying out in expectation and celebration! No thought of social distancing then!
But we are again seeing people come out onto the street on Thursday evenings; not with palm branches, but with their applause and makeshift percussion instruments – making a joyful noise in support of the NHS and everyone working to help defeat Coronavirus.
The people welcoming Jesus were expecting a Saviour – a military leader – a populist politician and liberator.
But what they actually found was very different. Jesus did not seek popular acclaim, but focused on God and what he felt overwhelmingly was his duty and purpose before God. So he came as a humble Servant, not an all-conquering King. Gently riding – not to war or conflict – but to submission before the forces of evil on the back of a donkey.
Today we too face a challenge to be like Jesus and to lay down our pride and take up our cross. For most of us, that cross is simply the challenge of remaining at home – annoying maybe, boring perhaps, but hardly life-threatening.
For our health workers, the challenge of the cross may be feeling all too real. They are literally risking their lives, so that others might live. So let’s resolve to lay down all that separates us from each other, from our neighbours and from God. Not the physical barriers and separation that are necessary for our mutual protection, but the barriers of self-interest, of selfish consumption of goods and other resources, of hardness of heart. We lay them down, so that, with empty hands and open hearts, we can receive the peace and joy and love of God.
Amen.
(this is a shorter version of the Reflection which Maureen will give during Sunday’s service)
Sunday 5th April – Palm Sunday
There will be a service of Sunday worship on the web for Palm Sunday (sadly without any live donkeys) on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
Holy Week (Monday 6th to Saturday 11th April)
During Holy Week Morning Prayer will continue at 9 am on Facebook Live from Monday to Friday. Additionally Compline will be said at 7.30 pm from Monday to Thursday, also on Facebook Live.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist for Maundy Thursday are available on the website.
Friday 10th April – Good Friday
As there will not be a Messy Church this year children may wish to imagine and build at home their own Easter Garden. Please email photos to the Vicar () and we may put them on the website and Facebook. This may also be an opportunity to watch the St Chad’s School Easter Service.
The collects and readings for Good Friday are available on the website.
From 2 pm a devotional service with prayers and some music will be on the Worship on the Web page of the website.
Sunday 12th April – Easter Day
There will be a Zoomed Easter Eucharist by the Vicar and Reader with contributions from others (if we can sort it out!) on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website. If you’ve managed to get any Easter Eggs now is the day to start to eat them.
Worship on the Web
While the church building remains closed there are a number of opportunities for worship and prayer online. Details of these are on the Worship on the Web page of the website. Maureen is offering daily prayer from the Vicarage which is streamed live on Facebook and is then available on the Worship on the Web page. Every Sunday there will be a service on the Worship on the Web page.
There is a page of Resources Available Online which gives links to various resources which you may find helpful.
The Easter Service for St Chad’s School is well worth looking at.
Changes due to the current situation
The church building is closed but the church community remains active. Further details can be found on the church website. There is an update page which gives more information.
- The Annual Church Meeting has been postponed. A new date will be fixed in due course.
- The Century Club draws are suspended until further notice.
- The Who’s for Lunch buffet lunches are suspended for the time being.
- The church clock has stopped as guidance from the Church of England prevents it from being wound. The carrilon continues to play automatically three times a day.
- The same guidance will also prevent us from flying the flag for Easter.
Giving to the church
While normal services are not being held there will inevitably be a reduction in the money which the church receives. However we will need to continue to pay our bills and we would ask that those who can afford to do so should continue to give regularly.
Although it will not be possible to put money in the plate there are a number of other ways in which you can give to the church. These include the Giving Direct scheme, Just Giving, a standing order or even one off transfers to the church bank account. Details of all of these can be found on the Giving page of the website.
We have set up a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/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.
If you wish to make a payment by bank transfer the details of our bank account are: Account name: Pattingham PCC – Sort Code: 20-97-78 – A/c No: 50655023. If you wish to gift aid it contact the Gift Aid Secretary or the Treasurer.
Pattingham Friends
The piece in the April magazine about the Pattingham Friends, who can help those in need, is on the website together with the list of contacts.
View from exile in Wales
You may know that Philip Morgan, one of the Churchwardens, is living in Wales while he is between homes. He has provided the following contribution fo this edition of ChadNet.
We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another.
Suddenly Disney is out of magic,
Paris is no longer romantic,
New York doesn’t stand up anymore,
the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty.
Hugs & kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents & friends becomes an act of love.
Suddenly you realise that power, beauty & money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you’re fighting for.
The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it’s sending us a message:
“You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters.”
My thoughts are with everyone in the Parish, Diocese, and the World.
Philip Morgan
Church Warden in absentia.
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