ChadNet – no 21 – Sunday 16th August 2020
Welcome to the 21st edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
View from the Vicarage:
Yes, folks, I am back! Many thanks to Ken and to Dorothy for filling the gap for the past two weeks and doing so with such skill. You can expect to see a variety of people filling this slot in the coming weeks, but it was felt that I should reassure you all that I was back from Holiday. Thankfully the Wirral was not included in the Government’s new Quarantine list…. So I am back in harness as it were!
This week has seen the controversy around the A Level results and next week I am sure we will see equal argument about the GCSEs. What does seem obvious is that advantage or lack of it has been magnified by the system that was chosen to award final grades. And it is the unfairness that seems to have offended so many. If everyone had been affected equally, then perhaps people would have accepted the downgrading. But since those at so-called ‘good’ schools and those in the private sector seem to have benefited from a good reputation, I am not surprised that the gifted youngster from a deprived background feels aggrieved when they are denied their university or further training place, based on the history of their educational establishment.
It was the disciple Nathanial who is reported to have said of Jesus “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1.46) We think that this was a semi-humorous remark, but there is an edge to this as to any prejudicial statement. None of us likes to be thought less of, because of an accident of geography or birth.
It is a feature of our faith that we believe passionately that God cares about each and every one of us equally – in Biblical terms, God shows no partiality, and there is nothing we can do to “win” favour in God’s scheme of things. He loves us – unconditionally – not because we are clever, or rich, or even good at a particular skill or sport. He loves us because we are part of his creation and intended for happiness and good things. The fact that disappointments and bad things still happen to us is not God’s ‘fault’ – is it a result of us living in a world that became less than perfect due to human frailty. But we are free to make the best of our lives and free to love and worship God in return – or not.
So our young people will find – as their lives play out – that good things can come out of even the worst disappointments. Don’t lose heart or faith in your future!
God bless and keep you,
Maureen.
PS Thanks to those who came on Thursday to join with Bishop Michael and me at midday prayers as he called in to Pattingham as part of his walking pilgrimage, visiting all 27 churches in the Diocese dedicated to St Chad.
Face coverings in church
The wearing of face coverings is now mandatory. The requirement is the same as for shops and so those who are exempt from wearing them in shops are also exempt in church. Remember that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.
Church open for private prayer
We are aiming to open the church for private prayer every Tuesday and Friday between 2.30 and 4.30 pm. We ask people to observe the guidelines which are intended to protect us all from the virus.
For the church to be open there needs to be a volunteer to act as steward, which doesn’t involve much more that simply being there. We have volunteers for this Tuesday and Friday so the church will be open then. If anyone would like to volunteer for a future Tuesday or Friday please contact Maureen. The church calendar (which can be found on the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/calendar/) will be updated to show that the church will be open when we have a volunteer to act as steward for that day.
Contacts
Maureen can be contacted by phone, text or email. (01902 700257 – 07812 805371 – )
Contact details for other church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website.
Communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to
Sunday 16th August – 10th Sunday after Trinity
The Worship on the Web service will be led by the Maureen. The theme is encountering the unexpected… travelling beyond our comfort zone. The music will be provided by Greg and the virtual choir with members of the Youth Group. It will be screened in church as the main part of the service at 10 am. This will be followed by a brief service of Holy Communion for those who wish to stay.
The Worship on the Web service will also be available as usual on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am. For those without internet access it will also be on the Dial a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am – until then last Sunday’s service is on the phone line. The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
During the week Maureen will stream Morning Prayer and Compline (Night Prayer) on Facebook Live. Morning Prayer will be at 8.30 am and Compline will be at 9.30 pm (there will be no Compline on Friday).
The church will be open for private prayer from 2.30 to 4.30 pm on Tuesday and Friday. It will not be open on Friday 28th August as there is a funeral in the morning.
Sunday 23rd August – 11th Sunday after Trinity
The Worship on the Web service will be led by Maureen. The theme will be “What does the future hold for the Church?” It will be screened in church as the main part of the service at 10 am, when it will be followed by a brief service of Holy Communion for those who wish to stay. It will also be 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.
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 9th and 23rd August.
Kath Bennett – 10th August 2008
Hedley Charles Oxley Russell – 11th August 1982
Thomas Raymond Ellis (Ray) – 13th August 2019
Robin John James – 15th August 2009
Alan Anthony Guest – 18th August 1995
Marion Darlington – 22th August 1980
Alice Mary Bramall – 23rd August 1976
Tina Jandrell Poston – 23rd August 2011
You can see the pages of the Memorial Book for the second half of the year on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.
For those without internet access – listen to a Pattingham church service by phone
Several members of our congregation who do not use the internet are using the dedicated phone number – 01902 906585 – to listen to our services. Calls are charged at normal rate. The service for each Sunday will be available from about 9 am and will continue to be available until it is replaced be the next week’s. If you know someone who might find it useful please let them know.
The Daily Hope phone line from the Church of England on 0800 804 8044 is also available. It has been announced that this will continue beyond lockdown and has now received 173,000 calls from over 37,000 people – with calls topping more than two million minutes. (As a matter of interest our phone line has received 195 calls totalling over 3,000 minutes. Ours will also continue as long as it is needed.)
Virtual Sunday School
In the absence of our own Sunday School we encourage children and families to look at the Virtual Sunday School YouTube channel. A new Sunday School video comes out each Saturday. This week’s is The Parable of the Talents – Using what God has given you!
They can all be found on the Sunday School on the Web page of our website as well as on YouTube.
The Virtual Holiday Club is still available on their YouTube channel and on the Virtual Holiday Club page of our website.
Other resources for worship and prayer at home
In these times we are all needing to find different ways to pray and worship. There are a lot of different resources which have been made available in lots of different ways. Some of those are listed on the Resources Available Online page of the website. This not anything like a complete list of everything which is available. We also now have a Resources Available for Children, Young People and Families page.
Maureen often shares inspirational posts on the Church Facebook page so it is worth looking at that from time to time.
If you have found something which you have found useful please send the details to so that it can be shared with others.
ChadNet
This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 81 subscribers but there may still be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive 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
Giving to the church
If you are paying by cheque please make the cheque payable to “Pattingham PCC” or “Pattingham Parochial Church Council”.
In the current circumstances 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.
As we are now starting to hold services again it is possible to put money in the plate again. However with the current problems surrounding handling cash we would prefer that you consider one of the other ways of giving your offertory if you can. 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. Those who normally use the green or yellow envelopes may wish to continue to put their donations in the envelopes ready to bring to church when they are able to come to a service.
We have set up 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.
If you wish to make a payment by bank transfer the details of our bank account are: Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 – A/c No: 50655023. If you wish to gift aid it contact the Gift Aid Secretary or the Treasurer.
You can also now give by text.
Text PATT 5 to 70085 to donate £5 – texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.
You can donate any number of pounds between £1 and £20. Just replace the 5 by the amount you want to give.
For a regular monthly donation text PATTREG 5 to 70085 to donate £5 per month – texts cost £5 plus two standard rate messages.Again you can donate any number of pounds between £1 and £20. Just replace the 5 by the monthly amount you want to give. Donors receive a receipt message every time they donate – this tells them how to cancel their donation should they wish – which is by texting STOP to 70085 at any time.
Changes due to the current situation
Although the church building is closed for public worship the church community remains active. Further details can be found on the church website. There is an update page which gives more information.
- The 2020 Scarecrow Festival has been postponed to 2021.
- This year’s Holiday Club has been cancelled.
- The Who’s for Lunch lunches are suspended for the time being.
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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604