ChadNet – no 271

ChadNet – no 271 – Sunday 1st June 2025

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

Angharad Allingham

Why?

Such a small word but one which can fill hours of thoughts or conversations. Life seems to be an endless stream of ‘Whys’, especially working with children, and whether at work or home this word features heavily in my day-to-day life. I have the ‘Whys?’ at work such as ‘Why do we have to do maths?’ ‘Why are they having break time?’ ‘Why does it always rain when we have PE?’ To home with the ‘Why do you have to go to work?’ ‘Why can’t I stay up longer?’ ‘Why should I?’

It seems an overwhelming deluge of unanswerable questions to which ‘Because I said so!’ doesn’t seem to be accepted as an appropriate answer. But it isn’t just children who struggle with the concept of Why? because I understand how they feel. I want to know why too. Not just about the big things but also the little mind-boggling thoughts. Why can’t every day be a holiday? Why would Matheus Cunha choose to go and play for Manchester United? Why do people suffer? Why do some have everything and others have nothing? Why is life unfair?

The more I think about the why the more it makes me think about why we are here. Why, when days, weeks, months even years are tough, do we continue to pick ourselves up and keep going? It makes me think, why should I? Why keep smiling? Because why not? If it can make a difference to someone else and help them when times are tough, then why not be kind? If offering to help someone else makes their life easier, then why not? If saying hello in the street brings a smile, then why not? If offering a kind word makes someone else feel special, then why not? If organising an event or helping brings the community together, then why not?

I can’t change or answer all the why questions, but I can think about how I can approach life with positive responses to the why questions. When I start asking the why questions instead of feeling overwhelmed, I can think about the famous quote.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.

There are so many unanswerable questions but one I can answer… Why should I?

Because I can make a difference, so why not?

Angharad Allingham

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 June – Easter 7 – Sunday after Ascension Day

At 10 am there will be a Dementia Friendly Church Songs of Praise Service, led by Tracey Williams, in church. It will include favourite hymns and Keiron singing “Somewhere over the rainbow”. It 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 those who live and work in:
Wolverhampton Road, Newgate, Merchant Close.

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

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 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 on Wednesday 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 June – Pentecost – Whitsunday

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion including the baptism of Rosie Halliwell, led by Revd Paul Brown, 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:
Nurton Hill Road, Holyhead Road, County Lane, High Park.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Michael & All Angels, Himley.

Licensing of our new Vicar – Sunday 10th August at 4 pm

Revd Merry Smith will be licensed by the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Revd Dr Tim Wambunya, as Vicar of Pattingham with Patshull at a service in church on Sunday 10th August at 4 pm. The service will be followed by refreshments.

Century Club

The winners of the May Century Club draw were: 

  • 1st Prize – £150
    • Chloe Darby  – ball 30
  • 2nd Prize – £100
    • Richard Buttress – ball 79
  • 3rd Prize – £50
    • Brian Nicholson – ball 83

Congratulations to all of them.

Let’s Pray Together

Trysull Deanery
Summer Evening of Prayer
with Bishop Tim

Friday 20th June from 7 to 10 pm at Christ Church, Church Road, Tettenhall Wood, WV6 8NQ

Village Fete – Saturday 5th July

The annual fete takes place on Saturday 5th July from 12 noon to 4 pm.

If you are able to help please sign up on the sheet at the back of the church or contact Keith or Alix (email: )

Concert by the Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir – Saturday 12th July

An evening of Singing for Pleasure with the Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir

Saturday 12th July 2025 – 7.00 pm
St Chad’s Church, Pattingham

Tickets £15 per adult
includes a glass of Prosecco or non-alcoholic drink
Children under 16 FREE if accompanied by a paying adult

Box Office: Contact 07757 688518 or

Proceeds and Raffle
in support of St Chad’s Church, The Well Foodbank and The Ukranian Refugee Centre

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.

Thank you for your generosity. 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 look at their website <www.thewellwolverhampton.co.uk>

Dementia Friendly Church

Weekly Prayer 

Becoming Dementia Friendly Church 2024-25

Memory fades and recollections become hazy clouds,
Fading outlines of strangers` faces and forgotten places.
Even the familiar, loved ones and names that once tripped lightly off the tongue cause confusion, in what seems a cruel
dismantling of a life once lived.
Compassionate God, for all who live in fear of what they might become, and those already walking down this lonely road we call dementia, grant them peace.
May each moment, however brief be filled with joy not sorrow.
Amen

(Author unknown)

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 25th May and 8th June.

Alice Mary Bolland – 27th May 2003
Jordan Katherine Taylor – 28th May 1997
Brian Harry Cooper – 28th May 2017
Fiona Jane K. Morrison – 30th May 1975
Emily Jane Price – 31st May 1977
George Wilfred Selvey Clinton – 31st May 1980
Thomas Caddick – 1st June 1998
Harry Kibble – 1st June 2002
Stuart Gerard Bowley – 5th June 1975
Gerald Giles – 5th June 2002
Gunter Hanns Jonat – 6th June 1983
Jean Beryl Shelley – 6th June 2011
William Bull (Bill) – 6th June 2015

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 141 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