ChadNet – no 241

ChadNet – no 241 – Sunday 3rd November 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

Ken Scott

A Just War?

We have been a very fortunate generation in this country in many ways, but one of the most important ones is that we have not had to fight a war. Our parents and grandparents did, and we remember through their experiences relayed in books and films. 

So, when on the 24th of February 2022 a serious land war in Europe started, we were amazed. How could something like this be happening in today’s world and not in some particularly far off place either? The shock and horror of what we saw forced us to think again about issues we thought were resolved and then we rightly began to pray and to give in support of the people of Ukraine.

There has always been a dilemma in the Christian faith about its attitude to war. The 10 commandments say, “you shall not kill”, Jesus said love your enemies. Can it be right to support armed conflict at all as a Christian?

Christianity is not a pacifist religion but there are pacifists in most denominations, especially the Quakers. They are opposed to war in any circumstance at all. People who held these beliefs took non-combatant roles in both World Wars.

The theory of what is a just war goes back a thousand years to Thomas Aquinas.

His conditions were the war must have just cause for instance against invasion, the war must be declared by a proper authority such as the state and it must be fought to promote good or avoid evil with the aim of restoring peace and justice when it is over. 

Later other conditions were added such as it must be a last resort, it should be fought proportionally and the good achieved must outweigh the evil which led to it in the first place.

I personally don’t have any hesitation that the situation the Ukrainians found themselves in totally satisfies these criteria. And so, I believe we are right to support them in their hour of greatest need. 

Remember Jesus could show righteous anger when required. He drove the money changers out of the temple with a whip.

As well as morally, supporting what the people of Ukraine are doing to defend their country, we can provide humanitarian aid, take in refugees and most of all pray for a peaceful resolution to this war. 

We have been doing that here in St Chad’s since February 2022 and many thanks to all those who have taken part. We wish justice to prevail and freedom to flourish.

The war, now joined by the catastrophe in Gaza, can slip down the news agenda sadly. It is often replaced with trivia and self-interest. Don’t let it happen keep remembering, keep praying. God does hear and, in His time, he will answer in His own way.

The prophet Amos said
“But let justice roll down like water
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

May it happen sooner rather than later.

Ken Scott

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 3rd November – All Saints’ Sunday / 4th Sunday before Advent

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Henry Ibberson and Alan Smith, 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:
All children and young people in the parish.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
The Church at Perton.

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, 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.

At 2.30 pm on Thursday the Senior Responders (First Aid for the Elderly) course takes place in the Village Hall. See below for more details.

Sunday 10th November – Remembrance Sunday / 3rd Sunday before Advent

At 10.30 am (note the time) there will be a Remembrance Sunday Service in church, led by Ken Scott. There will be no Communion Service. Coffee (and tea and biscuits) will be available after the service.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Moor Lane, Elms Paddock, Little Moor.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Philip, Penn Fields.

Christmas Card distributors

The Christmas cards which are delivered to all homes in the parish will be ready towards the end of the month. We need a volunteer (or volunteers) to deliver to the houses in Letchmere Lane, Yew Tree Road, Beech Close and Beech Croft, a total of 39 houses. If you are able to volunteer email Alan Smith  on or speak to him on 07757 688518.

Bells Anniversary

Last Saturday (26th October) a peal (which was continuous ringing for 2 hours 47 minutes) was rung by members of the St Martin’s Guild to to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the back six bells. It was rung 50 years to the day since a peal to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the same, which was the first peal on the bells by a Pattingham service band.

Members of the  congregation are invited to join the ringers to celebrate the 300th anniversary with cake and fizz after the Youth Service on 17th November.

Century Club

The winners of the October Century Club draw were: 

  • 1st Prize – £150
    • Sally Clarke  – ball 62
  • 2nd Prize – £100
    • Joan Burton – ball 10
  • 3rd Prize – £50
    • Helen Wallington – ball 74

Congratulations to all of them.

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>.

Senior Responders – First Aid for the Retired – Thursday 7th November 2024

Promoted by St Chad’s Church, there will be a chance to learn first aid training for senior responders.

Aimed at retired people, it will begin at 2.30pm in Pattingham Village Hall on Thursday, 7th November 2024.

It will include CPR, wound care, choking relief, burns treatment, farming injuries, using a defibrillator and other problems.

It is free and for more information or to book – places are limited – contact Keith or Alix on 07527237862 or by email at .

Follow the Star – Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December

Follow the Star

This Christmas St.Chad’s Church is holding its first “Follow the Star” event – on three days from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th December you will be able to view a wonderful variety of stars, some three dimensional, some hand-drawn – some coloured, some lit – some will be outside, but mostly they will be displayed or hanging inside the Church itself.

On the Friday evening at 7.30pm in the church, there will be a presentation using the church’s AV system by local amateur astronomer, Doug Bickley, who will discuss  one of the most famous Christmas stories – the Star of Bethlehem. Tickets are £8 each, which includes mulled wine and mince pies, and are available from Jill Parker on 01902 700755 or .

There is some more information on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/news-and-events/follow-the-star/>.

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.

If you wish to know more about the work of The Well, or would like to know how you can support it in other ways, do connect via their website, where you can sign up to the newsletter and link to their Social Media pages: <www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk>

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2024-25

Friend of the Friendless

When I look around me, I see friends and acquaintances with dementia.  It is tempting to look away and tell myself it is somebody else`s problem.
Shepherding Christ,  you went out of your way to find the lonely and the lost. Grant me compassion and insight to feel what it is like for someone who is losing their memory, increasingly adrift in a once familiar world.  Let me be the one to hold out a hand that can anchor them to the life and friendships they knew.
Grant me the wisdom to see how I can help their carer and the will and energy to act on that knowledge.  Let me not make excuses.  Save me from being the one who passes by on the other side of the road.
Lord, you were always ready to speak out for those in need.  Guide me to find out more about dementia.  Give me commitment to be a Dementia Friend and to advocate greater understanding in the community.
May I have your courage not to back away from the unfamiliar, but to reach out the hand of love.
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 27th October and 10th November.

Christopher David Wilde – 28th October 2008
Janet Eileen Owen – 28th October 2016
Paul James Potts – 28th October 2019
Marion Katie Potts – 29th October 1987
Kenneth John Bowley – 30th October 1988
Norman (Jim) Smith  – 30th October 2012
Elsie Lyon – 31st October 2005
Kenneth Ernest Wilde – 31st October 2013
Cyril Edward Godwin – 1st November 2003
Eileen Curtis – 3rd November 2020
Timothy John Cooper – 4th November 1999
Adam Witold Kwiatkowski – 4th November 2002
Hilda Mary Smedley – 7th November 2013
Elizabeth Scarth – 7th November 2014
Rupert Neville Hayward – 9th November 1964
David Challinor – 9th November 2022

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