ChadNet – no 243 – Sunday 17th November 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 in the Wirral – Maureen Hobbs
- Sunday 17th November – 2 before Advent
- This week
- Sunday 24th November – Christ the King
- Century Club – subscriptions due 1st December
- Follow the Star – Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December
- Christingle Service – 15th December
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews in the Wirral
View from Assisi
Your former Vicar (and I’m sorry you don’t have a current one) has just returned from a week on pilgrimage in Assisi and Rome. So I thought you might like to read a little of my experiences there.
I was fortunate to travel with two companions; Kevin, who is the Vicar of Neston, and another friend, Carol, a retired police officer and Youth Minister here. Kevin is also an Anglican Greyfriar – which is part of the worldwide Franciscan community, and he knows Assisi really well as it is the birthplace and resting place for St Francis and St Claire.
It is hard to put into words how spectacular the setting of Assisi is. Still very much in the pattern of a medieval hill town. (And oh those hills – if you ever go there, take very good walking shoes and a walking stick or two). Suffice it to say I feel considerably fitter after five days walking up, and walking down, those hills! But thankfully my knees held up and I survived. The walk to and from Saint Damiano is particularly taxing, but well worth it. And we did it three times while there! And I do commend the teaching and life of St Francis to you. I doubt that anyone has so tried to follow the life and teaching of Christ as Francis – sometimes in extreme ways – but his ability to see Christ in all people, animals and the world is inspiring, as is his focus on God’s love and grace.
The interiors of many of the Catholic Churches in Assisi and Rome are of course a bit ornate to British eyes, but if you just accept them on their own terms, you cannot help but wonder at the devotion of so many pilgrims from so many parts of the world, who gather in both places.
But lest you get the impression that it was all about worship and churches, I should add that we had some wonderful meals plus the occasional glass of wine and/or beer, frequented all the souvenir shops (of which there are many!) and shared a lot of humour. And when we got to Rome there was some sightseeing too, as the photos will show.
Maureen Hobbs
[To save space in this email – and as some recipients do not manage to see any photos included – the photos which Maureen sent are on the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/chadnet-no-243/photos-for-chadnet-243/>. They are worth a look. Ed.]
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 17th November – 2nd Sunday before Advent
At 10 am there will be a service led by the Youth Group in church.This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Sue Watson, to which you are all most welcome. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service and members of the congregation are invited to join the ringers to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the casting of the back six bells with cake and fizz
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
High Street, Meadow View, Broadwell Lane, Old Smithy Close.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
The Venerable Bede, Wombourne.
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 Tuesday evening there is a PCC meeting in church.
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 10.00 am on Thursday the funeral of Sheila Hague takes place in church.
Sunday 24th November – Christ the King
At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion by extension in the Iona style, led by Iain Coleman, 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 Ken Scott, in church.
In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Wolverhampton Road, Newgate, Merchant Close.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Our Bishops and Acting Archdeacons.
Century Club
A reminder that annual subscriptions are due on 1st December. 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
Follow the Star – Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December
Come and see all the decorated stars of all sizes and colours in St Chad’s Church, Pattingham.
Friday 13th December – 12.00 to 4.00 pm
Saturday 14th December – 10.00 to 4.00 pm
Sunday 15th December – 12.00 to 3.00 pm
What was the Star? Presentation by Doug Bickley
Friday at 7.30 pm in St Chad’s Church
Tickets £8 – 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/>.
Christingle Service – Sunday 15th December – 4 pm
This year our Christingle will be the closing event for the “Follow the Star” festivities in Church. We are delighted to say that the new Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt.Reverend Dr Tim Wambunya, will be coming to join us for this service.
As usual there will be Christingle oranges for the children, and the collection taken and given to the Children’s Society to help them fund their work with those less fortunate than ourselves. Please give as generously as you are able, there are collection candles available from the font in Church.
For those who kindly have house boxes please bring them along to the service too, or hand in to a sidesman at any service before Christmas – I can collect boxes if needs be, just give me a call 07580238567.
Chrissie Ringrose
The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank
Everybody at the Well has been blown away by the kindness of so many people and organisations over the harvest period. A grand total of almost 7,500 kgs were donated, the equivalent of a large African elephant or a small Tyrannosaurus Rex in weight!
During the months of July to September St Chad’s donated 148.5 kgs of food and toiletries, excluding harvest. This has helped to deliver parcels to 917 households, supporting 1807 vulnerable individuals, including 909 children. In addition, The Haven Refuge has received 20 toiletry bags per month, carefully prepared by Well volunteers.
As ever, thank you for your generosity.
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
Gracious God, full of love and mercy, we come to you today in search of peace. Lord, only you know the intricate workings of our minds and bodies, for you created them. We ask for understanding of our loved ones’ behaviours as the are continually changed by dementia. Lord please give us wisdom about how to relate to them and best serve them. Show us resources to help us on this journey. Please help us remember that our loved cannot control how they behave. Give us patience when dealing with them. Give us strength when we are tired. Please fill us with the fruit of your spirit so that we can love them with your love and display kindness, goodness and gentleness.
Amen.
(ibelieve.com)
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 10th and 24th November.
Stanley Charles Weaver – 12th November 1999
Alan Hill Stubbs – 13th November 2023
May Weaver – 15th November 1938
Elizabeth Wood – 16th November 1934
Eva Margaret Curtis – 18th November 1981
Harry Nickholds – 18th November 1995
Trevor John Darlington – 18th November 2008
David William Burton – 19th November 2019
Glynne Charles Davis – 21st November 2004
Frank Davies – 21st November 2008
William Ernest Davis – 22nd November 1970
Marjorie Gwendoline Greenway – 22nd November 1996
Brenda Rose Pendrell – 23rd November 2015
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