ChadNet – no 245

ChadNet – no 245 – Sunday 1st December 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

Mrs Miniver

Female hymn writers

Some months ago I wrote a piece for ChadNet about Christina Rossetti, the poet, who wrote the words of the carol ‘In the bleak midwinter’.

This has led me to consider other female hymn writers and the inspiration behind the words.

A book called ‘Mrs Miniver’ by Jan Struther has recently been reprinted. Jan Struther wrote articles for ‘The Times’ during World War II describing everyday life during wartime on the home front. The 1942 film version was an MGM production starring two famous actors of the time, Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, and told the story of an English family whose home bordered on to the Thames. The husband moored his boat on the river and he responded to the call for all boat owners to sail across the Channel and help rescue the troops stranded at Dunkirk. While he was away a German pilot was shot down and, wounded, landed in their garden. Of course, Mrs Miniver dealt with the situation calmly and bravely.

The film, described by Churchill as  ‘more powerful to the war effort than the combined work of six military divisions’ was used as propaganda  aimed at boosting US support for Blitz-weary Britain. It portrayed the attitudes prevalent at the time — the spirit of togetherness, the courage and stiff upper lip.

The final scene in the film is an address given by the local vicar in their bombed out church. Hymns written by Jan Struther – ‘When a knight won his spurs’ (a favourite of Princess Diana, I believe) and the well-loved ‘Lord of all hopefulness’ were heard as background music.

Congregational singing was not widespread during services until the Wesley brothers and then the Methodist Church and the Evangelical Movement introduced so many powerful and moving hymns which were sung with heart and soul. The women hymn writers understood the sadness, bereavement and the problems of domestic life at that time. Many of them were the wives or daughters of clergymen who visited the parishioners regularly and shared their troubles.

It struck me how many of these women lost their mothers at an early age or suffered ill-health themselves, yet their faith sustained them.

Some of them were

  • Charlotte Elliott, bed-ridden from the age of 30. She wrote ‘Just as I am’ described as ‘the world’s greatest soul-winning hymn’
  • Fanny Crosby (‘To God be the glory’) was blinded as a result of illness in infancy.
  • Frances Havergal (‘Take my life & let it be’) also suffered chronic illness but her faith never faltered.
  • Cecil Frances Alexander (‘All things bright & beautiful’) lived with her pastor husband in an impoverished part of Ireland and founded a school for the deaf. John Rutter’s modern tune to this hymn is popular.
  • Caroline Noel—‘At the name of Jesus’– also had to deal with prolonged illness.

There were so many more of these women who wrote such inspirational hymns in the past and there are contemporary writers, too, although nowadays the hymns are described as ‘’worship songs’.

I must not end on a note which indicates all  hymns were born out of suffering. Many are hymns of praise, joy and gratitude such as Eleanor Farjeon’s ‘Morning has broken’ which gives thanks for each new day and the beauties of nature.

Next time you are singing a hymn look at the name at the end and you will find that so many which we find so moving and beautiful were written by a woman.

Margaret Lingford

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 1st December – Advent Sunday

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Sarah Yeomans and St Chad’s School, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service. There will be no Communion service.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Hall End Lane, Beech Close, Beech Croft.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood.

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 Roberta Maxfield, 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 8th December – Second Sunday of Advent

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Roberta Maxfield, 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 Iain Coleman, in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those members of the congregation who live outside the parish.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Christ the King, Aldersley.

Century Club

The winners of the November Century Club draw were:

    1st Prize – £150
         Rachael Hadley – ball 24
    2nd Prize – £100
        Jill Wassell – ball 33
    3rd Prize – £50
        John Steel – ball 12

Congratulations to all of them.

A reminder that annual subscriptions are due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60.

There are likely to be some vacancies from December. 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

Christmas

Services for Christmas:

  • Sunday 15th December
    • 4.00 pm – Christingle service
  • Sunday 22nd December
    • 6.30 pm – Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
  • Tuesday 24th December
    • 4.00 pm – Crib Service
    • 11.30 pm – Midnight Eucharist by Extension
  • Wednesday 25th December
    • 11.00 am (note the later than usual time) – Christmas Morning Communion Service

Christmas cards from the church, with details of services for Advent and Christmas, have been, or will soon be, delivered to all homes in the parish. For those who do not live in the parish spare cards are available at the back of the church. A copy can also be found on the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/christmas-2024/>

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

Follow the Star

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

The Well

Christmas is known as a time to celebrate by giving gifts. It reflects the greatest gift ever given – God giving Himself to the world as a vulnerable baby, sharing our humanity. He has shown us the depth of His love for us by truly being God With Us.

Christmas is also a time when we share food with others as we celebrate.

Each December many of our supporters share food with strangers by giving donations to The Well.…so the annual Reverse Advent Calendar is back by popular demand. The idea is really simple – put the item on the list into a box/bag each day during December leading up to Christmas. Then donate it to the Well to help the hungry and vulnerable in our area this Christmas. Please give as generously as you are able.

Please choose an item/s from this list to donate to The Well: 

  • UHT Milk 
  • Tinned Ham 
  • Tinned Vegetables 
  • Cooking/ Pasta Sauce 
  • Tinned Fruit 
  • Custard / Tinned Cream 
  • Gravy Granules 
  • Jam / Marmalade 
  • Rice / Noodles 
  • Christmas Pudding 
  • Christmas Cake 
  • Brandy Sauce /White Sauce 
  • Special Biscuits 
  • Non-alcoholic Sparkling Drink 
  • Chocolates 
  • Gift Toiletries

NB:We can only receive food within its Use By/BBE’ date.

Please leave your donations at the back of the church or for collection please call Alan on 07757 688518

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

Healing prayer for dementia

Lord God, our loving and compassionate Father, we praise and glorify you for the grace of health in mind and body.  Thank you for keeping us well and healthy.  Thank you for the beautiful gift of life and health.
We pray to you heavenly Father, asking for your healing touch to all those living with dementia.  We know you are the source of all healing; nothing is beyond your power.  We beg you to pour forth your grace and mercy to our brothers and sisters who have this condition, as well as comfort and serenity for their loved ones and caregivers.
We humbly ask that you bring healing and restoration to their minds and bodies and comfort to their loved ones who care for them.  Please restore their cognitive capacities-memory, thinking and reasoning.  We pray to you to ease the emotional and psychological pain those living with dementia often experience, such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation and loneliness.
We also pray for their carers who frequently face a great deal of stress.  Please grant them courage and help to show compassion and patience to their loved ones.  May they sense your presence among them and experience your infinite kindness and grace.
Amen.

(prayerideas.org)

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 24th November and 8th December.

David John Whittall – 25th November 2002
Vivienne Roper – 25th November 2009
Malcolm Alfred Sargeant – 26th November 2020
Alan Thomas Hastilow – 28th November 1975
Raymond Edward Perks – 30th November 1996
Edna Dorothy Wheeler – 30th November 2017
Harry Bramall – 1st December 1983
Olive Peever – 1st December 2004
Iris Bull  – 1st December 2009
Ethel Medlicott – 3rd December 1987
John Reynolds – 4th December 1985
Lorna Briscoe – 4th December 1994
Stanley William Thomas Jones – 4th December 2007
Harry Burton  – 5th December 1975
James Ellis – 5th December 2019
Julie Amanda Morgans – 6th December 2011
Mary Elizabeth Inett – 7th December 1996
Norman Alfred Bramall – 8th December 2021

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 135 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