ChadNet – no 302

ChadNet – no 302 – Sunday 4th January 2026

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

Born in a barn

My late husband Trevor had long been a fan of Jeffrey Archer’s novels, despite some unsavoury events concerning him over the years. I recently heard this piece, read by him on BBC Radio 4, and then, lo and behold, a friend of mine sent me a Christmas card in aid of Cancer Research, on the inside of which this very piece was printed, donated by him in aid of the charity.

Although Christmas is now behind us, we shall be starting to read once more about his short, but staggeringly important life on earth and this, somewhat different interpretation of that life, set against modern comparisons, I found especially moving. I wonder if you will too.

Christine Darlington

“The Son of God” By Jeffrey Archer

He was born in a barn, his father a carpenter, and his mother a decent woman, but they were of no significance and certainly couldn’t have afforded to give the boy a private education. And yet, as a teenager, he was arguing the toss with his elders and betters in the council chambers.

He never got a proper job, just roamed around the countryside, unshaven, and living off bread and water and the occasional fish, while offering his opinions to those who cared to listen.

He became the manager of a football team known as The Disciples, not one of them a star, in fact the twelfth man rather let the side down by accepting a transfer fee of thirty pieces of silver to play for the opposition.

The authorities eventually arrested him as a rabble-rouser, but couldn’t decide what to charge him with, other than the fact he claimed he was the Son of God.

They strung him up with a couple of criminals, and when he finally gave up the ghost, rather assumed that would be the last they’d hear of him.

The Disciples were relegated at the end of the season, in fact the captain denied on more than one occasion that he’d ever been a member of His team.

When He died at the age of thirty-three, there were no obituaries in the local press reporting his achievements, no glossy supplements highlighting his colourful career, no radio programmes to discuss his legacy, and no box sets recording any of his miracles.

But then, He’d never relied on focus groups to advise him on current trends, or advertising gurus to spend millions promoting his brand, or spin doctors to sharpen his image, and he didn’t require social media to keep his followers up to date, so you could be forgiven for assuming he’d be forgotten in a few days.

So how can one explain that over two thousand years later, Jesus Christ is still the best-known celebrity on earth? Could it just be that He was the Son of God?

(As always this View is the personal view of the author.)

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

The Vicar’s post is half time so Merry will not be working every day. Her usual working days are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday but this is subject to change. Her phone number is 07486 066065 and her email address is  When she is not working she will not normally answer the phone, listen to messages or respond to emails. 

Calls to  the old phone number (01902 700257) are forwarded to Merry’s phone.

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 the editor, Mike Moss, at or to  (Mike will acknowledge emails so if you do not get an acknowledgement he may not have received your email).

Sunday 4th January – The Epiphany

At 10 am there will be a Family Service, led by Philip Sims, in church. It will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion by extension, led by Iain Coleman, 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:
Great Moor Road, Nurton Brook, Nurton Bank, Warstone Hill Road, Hollies Lane.

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 Century Club draw takes place on Monday. Annual subscriptions were due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60.

There is NO Prayers for Peace in church this week. In December and January it is being held only once a month – the next will be on 20th January. On those weeks when it is not being held in church some people may wish to pause and say a prayer of their own at that time. It is expected to resume weekly in February.

On Wednesday at 10.00 am there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer, led by the Revd Paul Brown, 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 11th January – Baptism of Christ

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion including the baptisms of Everley Isla O’Boyle and Erin Rae O’Boyle, led by Revd. Derek D’Souza, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be aService in the Iona style, led by Iain Coleman, in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Snowden Road, Burnhill Green Road, Lower Snowden.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Mary the Virgin, Enville.

Ukraine Refugee Centre

Mary Hayward’s next visit to take donations to the Ukrainian Refugee Centre is scheduled for Friday 9th January. If you have anything you wish to donate please contact her at or 01902 700744 or in Church.

Century Club

The December draw will take place on Monday 5th January.

The annual subscriptions were due on 1st December. The annual subscription is £60. 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

Lord we bring all those suffering with memory loss and the army of your angels that care for them daily, administrators, all in Social Care, the policy makers and its implementers concerning the health and well-being of those living with memory loss.
We also bring to you those at Alzheimer`s research who in their work are striving to discover drugs to alleviate the symptoms of memory loss and halt the progress that results in such devastating life changes.
Lord, pour out your healing balm on all those hurting today, bring a sense of being loved to all those who feel desperate and unsupported.
Let them be still and know that you are God.
Amen

(Lichfield Diocese “Share a prayer” 2023)

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 28th December and 11th January.

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
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

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.

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 154 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