ChadNet – no 250 – Sunday 5th January 2025
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 – Sue Riches
- Sunday 5th January – Epiphany
- This week
- Sunday 12th January – Baptism of Christ
- Century Club – December draw postponed to 6th January – subscriptions due 1st December
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
Recently I spent four weeks exploring the ‘Five Stans of Central Asia’ – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. On my return, I was exhorted (by you know who) to give an account of my experiences, which turned out to be rather lengthy, so it was decided to make the full version available on the website, (there is a link below if you wish to see it) giving an abbreviated version here, as a taster, so to speak!
These Stans did not exist as such but were part of the Tsarist empire. However, in Soviet times, borders were created, often dividing tribes. The USSR made people settle and give up their nomadic existence. Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have some of the biggest oil, gas and mineral reserves in the world, some as yet untapped, Kyrgyzstan provides water to Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan is the poorest.
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, we saw the beautiful wooden Cathedral of the Ascension, which was full of icons, gold paint and the smell of incense. In Mary, Turkmenistan, there was a red painted orthodox church. These were the only two churches, that we saw, apart from an early Christian Nestorian ruined in Turkmenistan, and although in earlier centuries Christianity had been prevalent, Islam is now the main religion.
Turkmenistan is a country of contrasts, from the white marble capital, Ashgabat to the ancient civilisation of Gonur Depe, (about 3000BC), said to be the world’s fifth great civilisation, reached by a two hour drive through the desert, and not far away are the remains of Merv, mostly destroyed by Ghengis Khan.
Termez, (Tajikistan) has a large Buddhist complex on the ancient Oxus river. It was mostly mud walls, but with steps up to the main centre remaining. Termez was an important trading town on the silk route, (where Alexander the Great had also spent some time), and across the river was Afghanistan – you felt a long way from home.
Uzbekistan has wonderful Islamic architecture, blue tiles with stunning geometric patterns, of which the Registan in Samarkand is perhaps the iconic image of Islamic art. Bukhara was the most important city of the region and was also an important Silk Road centre.
Tashkent, a modern city, has an impressive metro system, chandeliers on the station ceilings, images of cosmonauts on walls – all very clean! From there we went to Khiva, another highlight, (said to be founded by Noah’s son, Shem) – a mud walled city, full of mosques and madrassas and endless stalls selling silk.
The Tien Shan Mountains form an impressive part of the Kyrgyz and Tajiki landscape. The mountains stretch from China to Tajikistan. We walked in this stunning landscape, glaciers in the distance, and distant views of the never-ending mountains. We stayed with locals, always warmly welcomed – basic houses but comfortable.
Two things stood out. When the USSR fell, the only people capable of running the countries were the old-style Soviets, many of whom are still in power. There seems to be a slight madness and a very competitive spirit in some of the countries – who had the tallest flagpole, who has got the only indoor Ferris wheel in the world. Yet there are people living in basic houses in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, both of which boast glitzy capital cities.
But secondly was the profligate use of water. These are desert countries, with two important rivers, yet alongside the roads were miles of unlined irrigation ditches leading to the cotton fields (monoculture set up by the Soviets), so the water simply evaporates. In the cities are gardens and trees, generously irrigated. When asked what would happen when the water ran out – the answer was “it won’t!”. No wonder the Aral Sea has nearly disappeared.
It was a fascinating experience, though I am not sure quite a holiday, as we never stayed put! But I won’t forget it.
Sue Riches
[Photographs and the longer version of this article are on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/chadnet/chadnet-no-250/the-five-stans/>.]
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 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.
This week
The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.
The December Century Club draw takes place on Monday.
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 according to the Book of Common Prayer, 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.
Sunday 12th January – Baptism of Christ
At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by Revd Sue Watson, 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 who live and work in:
Orchard Close, Damson Park, Highgate Court.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Mary the Virgin, Enville.
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 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
A Prayer for the Caregiver
Unknown and often unnoticed, you are a hero nonetheless. For your love, sacrificial, is God at his best.
You walk by faith in the darkness of the great unknown and your courage, even in weakness, gives life to your beloved.
You hold shaking hands and provide the ultimate care:
Your presence, the knowing, that you are simply there.
You rise to face the giant of disease and despair, it is your finest hour, though you may be unaware.
You are resilient, amazing and beauty unexcelled, you are the caregiver and you have done well.
Amen
(by Bruce McIntyre)
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 29th December and 12th January.
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
Elizabeth Toy – 6th January 1995
Alan Johnson – 6th January 1999
Caroline Mary Bradford – 6th January 2005
Leslie Harry Hawkins – 7th January 1984
Winnie Sheldon – 7th January 1993
Barrow Samuel Woodhall – 8th January 1999
Ewart Eardley Jones – 8th January 2009
William Ernest Whitty – 9th January 1986
Lisa Norman-Smallwood – 11th January 2001
Edward Albert Morgan – 11th January 2009
Kathleen Charlotte Gardener – 12th January 1981
Catherine Eugenie Warner – 12th January 2004
Cyril George Wheeler – 12th 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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604