ChadNet – no 248

ChadNet – no 248 – Sunday 22nd 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.

We wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In this week’s ChadNet:

View from the Pews

Ken Scott

Good News from Bethlehem

One of the happiest events in any family is when a new baby arrives. After the waiting, the apprehension and worry everyone can celebrate the new arrival. It is a time of real joy for parents, family and friends.

The birth we celebrate this week is the same and the message to those humble shepherds on the hillside overlooking Bethlehem confirms it. “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people” says Luke, who seems to have had more knowledge about the events surrounding Jesus’s birth that the other Gospel writers. The Christian message is one of joy not just at Christmas but all year round. So, we sing carols at this time of year to join in the celebration.

Now we must acknowledge that this time of year can seem anything but joyful for a significant number of people. Loneliness, separation, bereavement, or illness may make the whole festive season an ordeal to get through. But God cares about everyone and the fact of His Son becoming human and experiencing all the sorrows and cares of life means He understands. However, we all need to be aware of this problem and show we care in whatever way we can.

The message of the angels also said this good news was for all people. When a new baby arrives, everyone wants to know about it and the new parents are keen to send messages and pictures to all their friends. So, the message all those years ago was not just for the shepherds or the people of Bethlehem or Palestine. In due course it has spread through the whole known world and comes to us today to celebrate. This message of God entering our world in human form is for all people, in all places and in all times.

Archbishop William Temple said “If the Christian gospel is true for anyone, anywhere, it is true for everyone, everywhere”

When a new baby is born the two questions everyone wants answered are, Is it a boy or a girl? And what is the name?

The angels’ message was clear that this baby born in Bethlehem, the city of David, was to be a Saviour, the long-awaited Messiah. So, He was called Jesus meaning saviour and that is why His birth is still so important to us. He came, lived, died and rose again to provide a way for all people to be forgiven for the many things in our lives which prevent a relationship with God.

Good, joyful news then from Bethlehem comes to all of us for Christmas 2024. Jesus the Saviour has come and still comes, through His Spirit, to make our lives better now and our future life assured.

May God grant you and all those you love that blessing this Christmastime.

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 22nd December – Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

At 6.30 pm the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, led by Philip Sims, will be held in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Rudge Road, Lower Rudge, Spoonley Gate, Upper Ludstone, Worcester Road.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Christmas Services across the Deanery.

This week – Christmas

The church will be open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.

At 1 pm on Monday the funeral of Bryan Pugh takes place in church.

Tuesday is Christmas Eve

At 4 pm the Crib Service, led by Iain Coleman, takes place in church. This is particularly suitable for children and families. Help to build the Nativity Scene.

There is NO Prayers for Peace this week.

At 11.30 pm the “Midnight” Service of Holy Communion by Extension, led by Philip Sims, takes place in church. For those who are still awake this is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus as Christmas Day starts.

Wednesday is Christmas Day

The morning service will be at the later time of 11 am.

At 11 am there will be a Christmas Morning Communion Service led by Revd. Mary Thomas. All are welcome to come and celebrate with us the birth of Jesus.

There will be NO Shower Singers and NO Choir Practice.

Sunday 29th December – First Sunday of Christmas

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.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who work in care homes or care for people in their own homes .

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St John the Evangelist, Swindon.

The following week

The church will be open every day except New Year’s Day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.

There will be NO Prayers for Peace on Tuesday 31st December.

There will be NO Communion Service or Place of Welcome on Wednesday 1st January.

There will be NO Shower Singers or Choir Practice on Wednesday 1st January.

They will all resume the following week.

Century Club

The December draw will take place on Monday 6th January.

The annual subscriptions were due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60. There are likely to be about five vacancies. 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

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

A Prayer for caring for people with dementia

Loving God.  I prayer I bring to you my despair at watching someone I love change from the capable person they were to someone who finds even the simplest task a challenge.  Please give me the strength to do my best to provide the support required in my role as carer.  Forgive me, Lord, when I am at the end of my tether and help me remember that my loved one is simply lost and frightened and does not intend to challenge me and encourage me to think of strategies which will help my loved one cope as the illness progresses.
I give thanks for the support given by friends, family, medical and other agencies.  I give thanks for the joy when a solution is found, even if it is only for a short while.  I pray that you will guide those involved in research to find a cure for this cruel illness and that sufficient funding is invested by those in power.
Loving God, help all carers of dementia sufferers never forget that you walk with them and that  your love and blessing remain with them at all times.
Amen

(NC St. Michael`s Parish Church, The Cross, Linlithgow, Scotland)

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 15th and 29th December.

Eliza Newton – 16th December 1953
Brian John Darrell – 16th December 2013
Raymond William Haden – 17th December 2005
Margaret Alice Gardener – 19th December 2003
Stanley Charles Bentley – 21st December 1989
Elsie May Nickholds – 21st December 1999
Audrey Mary Vaughan – 21st December 2008
Paul Anthony Piper Snape  – 21st December 2023
John Stanley Scriven – 22nd December 2008
Graham Bartlett Smith – 22nd December 2019
Dorothy Shepherdson – 23rd December 1995
Dorothy Amy Harris – 24th December 1977
Ruby Sampson – 24th December 2007
Thomas Howe Pattison – 25th December 1994
Kim Harley – 26th December 1964
Kathleen Williamson – 26th December 1988
Jane Sarah Dulson – 27th December 1958
Maurice Scarth – 27th December 2005
Evelyn Annie Taylor – 28th December 1982
John Earl Titley – 28th December 1983
A.B. Thorma Bridge – 28th December 1990
Eileen Shelton – 28th December 1999

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 138 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