ChadNet – no 249

ChadNet – no 249 – Sunday 29th 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

Dorothy Steel

Talking and Listening with God

Some people do it whilst out walking in God’s beautiful countryside, others whilst gardening and as I have shared with you before – I do a lot of it whilst ironing. I have been very busy lately and the ironing pile was huge, so yes you have guessed – as I tackled the ironing, I have prayed, reflected, sang aloud (note, no-one else in the house) and my thoughts, (which I now share) have gently flowed as a summer stream.

What a struggle it can be, to be a ‘good listener’! Whether it is listening in church to a sermon, or to a friend going over ‘old ground’ (again) or listening to God. The patience, resilience and understanding listening demands is considerable, and we don’t always hear what we hope to. We so often take the busy pace of our lives and have the same expectations of speed. But listening is not like waiting for the traffic lights to change, nor is it trying to find solutions for others; it is about taking time, being patient, having faith, never giving up hope, and most of all trusting in Our Lord. So easy to write and so hard to live!

We are promised that God will reveal everything to us, (1 Corinthians 13:12), we are told that what we see now is only partial, or dim but eventually we shall see clearly. We are further promised to knock, and the door will be opened! (Luke 11:10). To ask and we shall receive, to seek and we shall find.

So, we all must DO something; to ask and to seek through prayer for God to reveal His path for us, and we have to wait, and whilst we are waiting, we have to pray.

So next time you are ironing, gardening or having a lovely walk; whether you are in church, making the bed or cooking, take time, have a chat with God. He IS listening to you, and we should all make time to listen to Him!

God Bless, be kind to yourself and to others,

Dorothy Steel

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 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.

This 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.

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

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

They will all resume the following week.

Sunday 5th January – Epiphany

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Lisa Ainsworth, 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:
The Parish Council and all elected representatives.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Childrens & Youth Work in the Deanery.

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

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

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 many others.  May I enjoy the present moment and all the life I have yet to live.
Grant me the 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 December and 5th January.

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
Iris Postance – 31st December 2011
Percy George Williams – 1st January 1976
Stanley James Potts – 2nd January 1999
Harriet Minnie Clinton – 3rd January 1960
Paul Kemp – 4th January 2007
Trevor John Davis – 4th January 2012

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