ChadNet – no 236

ChadNet – no 236 – Sunday 29th September 2024

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

Henry Ibberson

Anyone in Church three weeks ago would have heard at least one of a couple of excellent addresses by Roberta Maxfield and by Iain Coleman, both of which were on the themes of the need for us to be non-judgmental, be open-minded and above all to do such works as we think fit without boasting or fanfare.

Recently my wife Liz was in Telford doing a bit of shopping and, as happens to her nowadays, she felt a bit drained and in need of a break, a sit-down and a coffee. Standing in the queue at a welcome Costa, she thought she had just the right change and was fumbling in her purse, unsuccessfully as it turned out, to find it. A voice behind her said “I’ll pay for that” and a hand stretched forward with a phone and “ping” – all was done. She turned and saw a large young man in shorts and tee-shirt smiling at her who wouldn’t take no for an answer, despite my wife’s grateful protestations and thanks to him. Both he and the barista beamed at her and said “that’s how it is today – done!”

When she returned, full of this quite unexpected and humbling act of generosity, it gave us both another pause for reflection. It’s easy, isn’t it, especially as we get older, when we see others around us, to think that we are sometimes invisible to younger generations, whose lives are so much faster, internet and ether connected in ways we often find baffling. I don’t suppose this man realised that he was carrying out a Christian act of charity, perhaps he did, we shall never know, but that one act of kindness transformed Liz’s day. It just goes to show that, as Iain reminded us, it’s not the outside which is important, but the inside of a person which matters. These little things are so unutterably important.

A friend sent me this a day or two ago – a poem by Spike Milligan

Smiling is infectious – you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I walked around the corner and someone saw me grin.
When he smiled I realised I had passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile and then realised its worth.
A single smile like mine could travel round the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.
Start an epidemic – and get the World infected.

Henry Ibberson

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 afternoon 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 29th September – Harvest Thanksgiving / St Michael and All Angels

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion by extension for Harvest, led by Ken Scott, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be an Evening service for Harvest, led by Ken Scott, in church.

Those attending either service are encouraged to bring harvest gifts which will be presented for blessing during the service and will then be donated to The Well foodbank. See below for the list of items which The Well are requesting.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for:
Farmers and those who are involved in producing food.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Michael & All Angels, Himley.

This week

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

The Century Club draw takes place on Monday.

On Tuesday morning a band of visiting bellringers will be ringing the bells.

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 Sue Watson, 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.

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 Martin Fox or any member of the choir.

Sunday 6th October – Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Iain Coleman, in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Roberta Maxfield, 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 those who live and work in:
Dartmouth Avenue, Marlbrook Lane, Chesterton Road, West End Gardens, Copley Lane.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Michael & All Angels, Tettenhall Regis.

Baby grand piano – scam

It appears that the notice about the baby grand piano was fraudulent. We apologise for having included it and hope that no one has fallen for it.

Century Club

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

There are no vacancies for the Century Club at the moment but if anyone wishes to join they can do so as soon as a vacancy arises. 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 Training Session – Saturday 12th October

We are holding a Dementia Friendly Church Training Session on Saturday 12th October in the Village Hall. Welcome and a cuppa from 1:30pm for a prompt start at 2pm, finishing by 4:30pm.

Everyone is welcome.Please book with Tracey so that she knows how many to cater for.

CAKES NEEDED. If you are able to offer to bake a cake please contact Tracey.

More information can be found on the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/becoming-dementia-friendly-church/dementia-friendly-church-training-session/> and there will be more details in next week’s ChadNet. If you are interested – or would simply like  to find out more – contact Tracey Williams, our Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator – or 07804 039330.

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well

The Well continues to need our donations and prayers. The box remains at the rear of the church for donations of food and toiletries and the wishing well for donations of cash.

Harvest produce from the church and school will again be donated to the Well this year. The following “shopping list” shows the items which are particularly needed.

Harvest Shopping List

  • Milk (UHT)
  • Cereal
  • Tea/coffee
  • Sugar
  • Jam/spreads
  • Squash/fruit juice (UHT)
  • Meat/fish (tinned)
  • Rice/noodles (dried)
  • Pulses/couscous
  • Soup (tinned)
  • Vegetables (tinned)
  • Pasta/cooking sauce (jar)
  • Fruit (tinned)/puddings/custard
  • Snacks/biscuits
  • Nappies (sealed packs size 4, 5, 6)
  • Baby wipes/toiletries
  • Baby food (long use by date)
  • Ladies/men’s toiletries
  • Household cleaning products

No baked beans / tinned pasta please.
Only food within its Use by/Best Before dates please.

Thank you for supporting us – God bless you!

<www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk>

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2024-25

Shepherd of my path, so I have dementia.  Give me grace to accept this as part of the pattern of my life and that of others.  May I enjoy the present moment and all the life I have yet to live.  Grant me humility to accept the assistance I will need.  I give you gratitude for all those I am finding who so readily offer that help.  Lord, you walked an unwelcome path you feared into a dark unknown.  It took greater courage than mine to do that willingly.  In my darkening path, take me by the hand and share your courage with me.Amen

(Prayers for Dementia and how to live well with it Fay Sampson)

If you would like to suggest (or write) a prayer for inclusion in this series please let Tracey Williams, our Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator, know.

From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 22nd September and 6th October.

Thomas Henry Ray – 23rd September 2016
Kenelm Henry Forshaw Rose – 24th September 2000
Mollie Lucy Mallett – 26th September 1996
Reginald Oswald Dearn – 27th September 1993
Ivy Evans – 27th September 2001
Edna Elizabeth Bristow – 28th September 2008
David Simpson – 1st October 2002
John Edward Lavender – 1st October 2018
George Weaver – 3rd October 1930
Stephen Young – 3rd October 2018
M.G. Stuart Jones – 5th October 2017
Janet Sampson – 6th October 2009

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 134 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