ChadNet – no 26 – Sunday 20th September 2020
Welcome to the 26th edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
View from the Pews:
Like many people within our own parish and across the country, this year has been like no other. We are now rapidly nearing the end of September with the trees turning from green to wonderful shades of copper. We are looking forward to our harvest celebrations which, like many other events, cannot happen in the usual way. We are thankful for the good weather that has allowed our farmers to continue with their vital work in the fields and start preparing for next year – many commented on Facebook recently about the ‘aroma’ as the fertilizer was applied to the fields around the village.
Whilst many of us have enjoyed greater freedom catching up with friends and family and for some getting away on holiday following the countrywide lockdown, there is now the prospect of local restrictions for many parts of the country.
We have seen positive steps with schools returning, only to have whole year groups sent home to isolate due to a pupil having tested positive. The continued disruption to the education of our children will cause many parents renewed concerns for future exams.
This week we see many universities opening their doors, but again it will far from the normal freshers’ week! As young people start university for the first time or return to continue their studies, there is a new normal with online lectures and limited socialising restricting building new friendships making settling-in much harder. This week my own daughter Claire started her final year (6th) at Manchester University, only her ‘induction day’ was a couple of online meeting whilst sat on our sofa in Pattingham. As Claire will move back to Manchester in the next few days, I pray that everyone abides by the rules to cover faces, respect everyone’s space and remembers to keep washing hands so everyone can remain safe.
As current restrictions remain, we are grateful to Maureen and her team who have provided us the opportunity to worship via the web and the reintroduction of midweek worship within church. I fear it will yet be sometime before we can return to a full programme of services.
Our lives continue to be impacted by Covid-19 , we can see a rise in the number of people infected locally and across the country. We should not be complacent that we live in a rural location and we can’t catch this terrible virus. Personally, we lost a close family member to covid in April. He lived in Seisdon, was heathy and relatively young at only 57, we don’t know how or where he caught covid. We keep being reminded that people can be carriers and not show any symptoms, this is a truly devastating disease and I would appeal to everyone to follow the latest recommendations to keep yourselves and your families safe. Have faith in the Lord and he will see us through these difficult times.
Tony Ainsworth
Wednesday morning communion services
The Wednesday morning communion services restarted last week.
Church opening for private prayer
We normally aim to open the church for private prayer every Tuesday and Friday between 2.30 and 4.30 pm. We do not have a volunteer for either day this week yet – unless there is a volunteer we will not be able to open the church.
If anyone would like to volunteer for Tuesday or Friday this week or in a future week please contact Maureen. The church calendar (which can be found on the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/calendar/) will be updated to show that the church will be open when we have a volunteer to act as steward for that day.
Annual church meeting
The annual church meeting will be held on Sunday 11th October at 11.15 am.
The PCC Annual Report and Accounts is available on the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/pcc-news-and-reports/pcc-reports/.
Elections will be held for Churchwardens, Deanery Synod Representatives and PCC Members. Information about those roles can be found on the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/about-us/whos-who/pcc/pcc-membership/
Because a number of existing members will be standing down and not seeking re-election we do need others to come forward for some of those positions. Please consider whether you would be able to serve the church in one of those roles. In the October Parish News there will be some information from current PCC members about their experience. Those will also be on the church website.
As Churchwardens need to have DBS clearance anyone considering standing for election as Churchwarden should contact Gena to discuss obtaining the necessary certificate.
Contacts
Maureen can be contacted by phone, text or email. (01902 700257 – 07812 805371 – )
Contact details for other church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website. Communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to
Sunday 20th September – 15th Sunday after Trinity
The Worship on the Web service will be a Service of the Word led by Maureen on the theme “Surprised by Generosity”. The music will be provided as usual by Greg and the virtual choir. It will be screened in church as the main part of the service at 10 am. This will be followed by a brief service of Holy Communion for those who wish to stay.
The Worship on the Web service will also be available as usual on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am. For those without internet access it will also be on the Dial a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am – until then last Sunday’s service is on the phone line. The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
During the week Maureen (or occasionally Ken) will stream Morning Prayer and Compline (Night Prayer) on Facebook Live. Morning Prayer will be at 8.30 am and Compline will be at 9.30 pm (there will be no Compline on Friday).
Wednesday 23rd September
There will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer in church at 10.00 am.
Sunday 27th September – Harvest Thanksgiving – 16th Sunday after Trinity
There will be an open air service on the playing field at 10 am. Please observe social distancing and other guidance to ensure the safety of all. While the congregation are not permitted to sing, (and we recommend you continue to wear your mask) we do hope to have some live music on the day. The collection at the service will be given to the Good Shepherd Foodbank in Wolverhampton. We are not collecting the usual harvest gifts this year so those who are able to do so may consider making their own donations of food or money to the food bank.
There will not be a service in church.
There will be a Worship on the Web service on the Worship on the Web page of the website and on the Dial a Service phone line as usual.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 13th and 27th September.
Phyllis Mabel Price – 13th September 2007
Annie Mary Caddick – 13th September 2011
Jonathan Hassall – 13th September 2019
Reginald John Henshaw – 14th September 2006
Jan Zdanowski – 14th September 2011
George Price – 15th September 1961
Peter John Curtis – 15th September 2005
Dorothy Caddick – 17th September 2007
Dorothy Lavender – 18th September 2016
Jack Bennett – 19th September 1990
A. H. Norman Harris – 20th September 2004
Malcolm Harris – 21st September 2003
Thomas Henry Ray – 23rd September 2016
Kenelm Henry Forshaw Rose – 24th September 2000
Mollie Lucy Mallett – 26th September 1996
Reginald Oswald Dearn – 27th September 1993
Ivy Evans – 27th September 2001
You can see the pages of the Memorial Book for the second half of the year on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.
For those without internet access – listen to a Pattingham church service by phone
Several members of our congregation who do not use the internet are using the dedicated phone number – 01902 906585 – to listen to our services. Calls are charged at normal rate. The service for each Sunday will be available from about 9 am and will continue to be available until it is replaced be the next week’s. If you know someone who might find it useful please let them know.
The Daily Hope phone line from the Church of England on 0800 804 8044 is also available.
Virtual Sunday School
In the absence of our own Sunday School we encourage children and families to look at the Virtual Sunday School YouTube channel. A new Sunday School video comes out each Saturday. This week’s is The 10 Commandments!
They can all be found on the Sunday School on the Web page of our website as well as on YouTube.
Other resources for worship and prayer at home
In these times we are all needing to find different ways to pray and worship. There are a lot of different resources which have been made available in lots of different ways. Some of those are listed on the Resources Available Online page of the website. This not anything like a complete list of everything which is available. We also now have a Resources Available for Children, Young People and Families page.
Maureen often shares inspirational posts on the Church Facebook page so it is worth looking at that from time to time.
If you have found something which you have found useful please send the details to so that it can be shared with others.
ChadNet
This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 82 subscribers but there may still be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive 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
Giving to the church
If you are paying by cheque please make the cheque payable to “Pattingham PCC” or “Pattingham Parochial Church Council”.
In the current circumstances there will inevitably be a reduction in the money which the church receives. However we will need to continue to pay our bills and we would ask that those who can afford to do so should continue to give regularly.
As we are now starting to hold services again it is possible to put money in the plate again. However with the current problems surrounding handling cash we would prefer that you consider one of the other ways of giving your offertory if you can. There are a number of other ways in which you can give to the church. These include the Giving Direct scheme, Just Giving, a standing order or even one off transfers to the church bank account. Details of all of these can be found on the Giving page of the website. Those who normally use the green or yellow envelopes may wish to continue to put their donations in the envelopes ready to bring to church when they are able to come to a service.
We have set up 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.
If you wish to make a payment by bank transfer the details of our bank account are: Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 – A/c No: 50655023. If you wish to gift aid it contact the Gift Aid Secretary or the Treasurer.
You can also now give by text.
Text PATT 5 to 70085 to donate £5 – texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.
You can donate any number of pounds between £1 and £20. Just replace the 5 by the amount you want to give.
For a regular monthly donation text PATTREG 5 to 70085 to donate £5 per month – texts cost £5 plus two standard rate messages.Again you can donate any number of pounds between £1 and £20. Just replace the 5 by the monthly amount you want to give. Donors receive a receipt message every time they donate – this tells them how to cancel their donation should they wish – which is by texting STOP to 70085 at any time.
Changes due to the current situation
Although the church building is closed for public worship the church community remains active. Further details can be found on the church website. There is an update page which gives more information.
- The 2020 Scarecrow Festival has been postponed to 2021.
- The Who’s for Lunch lunches are suspended for the time being.
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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604