ChadNet – no 303 – Sunday 11th January 2026
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 – Philip Sims
- Sunday 11th January – Baptism of Christ
- This week
- Sunday 18th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
- Ukraine Refugee Centre – donations
- Century Club – Result of December draw
- Prayers for Peace
- The Well Foodbank
- Dementia Friendly Church – weekly prayer
- From the Memorial Book
- Giving to the Church
View from the Pews
Last Sunday was Epiphany Sunday when, alongside Milly Colin-Stokes, I was privileged to lead our morning worship. It was suggested afterwards that I should reach a larger audience by repeating some of what was in my address as a View from the Pews.
I spoke of the three Wise Men who responded to God’s call to follow the star until they found the new born baby Jesus. I asked whether we would honestly have trekked for days as they did, trusting in the divine call, to find a new born baby? When we hear the call nowadays, no matter how clear it is, I fear we find 1,001 excuses for delaying and, possibly, not even responding at all. But not these three Wise Men who eventually reached a poor barn where they found, not an earthly king, but a little child who had been moved from his original birth place, the stable. We are told that they immediately recognised the baby as the one they were searching for and offered hugely significant gifts to the baby Jesus. They offered gold as a symbol of his kingship on earth, frankinsence as a symbol of his deity and myrrh as a symbol of his death. To coin a current phrase, you couldn’t make it up that these Wise Men sought the baby out and then offered such outlandish gifts. But now we see the significance of them when placed in the context of His subsequent life and ministry.
What is an epiphany if not a moment of sudden powerful realisation or insight? This I am sure is what those Wise Men experienced. We describe it as a lightbulb moment when you suddenly understand something important about a problem or the world from a new perspective. It is a “Eureka” moment! We are reminded of Saul on the road to Damasus where we are told in Acts 9 that he was blinded by a bright light from heaven and his dramatic conversion from persecuting Christians to becoming a key Apostle of Jesus. A profound, life changing revelation that led to a total change of heart. Saul’s epiphany, indeed a “eureka” moment!
This is what some experience as they suddenly come to realise that Jesus is real for them and for the first time they accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. That may be how you came to be a Christian. But that is not the only way as others come to a gradual realisation that they should follow Jesus and yet they also may one day admit their Christianity for the very first time. That is their “eureka” moment.
We stand at the beginning of another New Year. Perhaps you are not a fan of New Year resolutions but it is, nevertheless, a time for reflection, a time when we should question who we are and what we have become. It is referred to by Merry in her message in the January edition of the Church magazine, when she says that change is a normal part of life and each year brings its own opportunities and challenges. What she goes on to say, though, is that alongside this change we can hold on to a steady truth and that is that God’s character does not shift with the calendar, as “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning”.
Because God’s love is dependable, we have room to be honest about where we are and what we hope for. We can make thoughtful, courageous decisions without fear of failure defining us. I am sure we all look back on the period of the Interregnum and what defined us as a Church was that everyone stepped up to help and perhaps did things they would never have previously contemplated. We need that to continue. I am sure we can all agree that God has sent to us the right Incumbent, He made us wait for four years but during that time we grew and developed, but we must not now fall into the trap of saying we have our Vicar and it is over to her. Her role is part-time, she cannot do everything we want her to do without all of us doing our bit. If God’s faithfulness to us is constant then surely our commitment to Him and to our Church has to be equally dependable.
At this time of Epiphany, can we promise to be more generous in listening for the divine call, just as the Wise Men did, and be more energetic in complying with it, regardless of the cost?
Philip Sims
(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 11th January – Baptism of Christ
At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion including the baptisms of Everley Isla O’Boyle, Erin Rae O’Boyle and Charlotte O’Boyle, led by Revd. Dr Allen Roberts, 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.
This week
The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.
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 will resume in February on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
On Wednesday at 10.00 am there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer, led by the vicar, 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.
On Friday from 10 am to 12 noon the Home Instead Memory Café is being held at the Village Hall. These are free informal sessions designed for individuals living with dementia and their carers to meet in a relaxed environment. Enjoy simple, engaging activities, while connecting with others who understand the challenges of dementia. No need to book. Just pop along.
On Friday afternoon a band of visiting bellringers will be ringing the bells.
On Friday at 7.30 pm the Scarecrow Festival Presentation Evening takes place in the Village Hall.
Sunday 18th January – Second Sunday of Epiphany
At 10 am there will be a service led by the Youth Group in church. This will be followed by a short service of Holy Communion, led by the Vicar, 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:
Village organisations.
In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Benedict Biscop. Wombourne.
Ukraine Refugee Centre
Due to the inclement weather Mary Hayward was not able to take the donations to the Ukraine Refugee Centre on Friday. She plans to take them when they are next open. If you have anything you wish to donate please contact her at or 01902 700744 or in Church.
Century Club
The winners of the December Century Club draw were:
- 1st Prize – £150
- Graham Tritton – ball 84
- 2nd Prize – £100
- John Roberts – ball 50
- 3rd Prize – £50
- Lesley Taylor – ball 37
Congratulations to all of them.
For more details about the Century Club please contact Alan Smith on 07757 688518 or or see the website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/century-club>.
Prayers for Peace
A group of people meet on Tuesday evenings in church at 6 pm for about 15 minutes to pray for peace. Anyone who wishes to come and join them is welcome to do so.
They had been meeting weekly until the end of November. For December and January they decided to meet only once each month – on the third Tuesday of the month.
From February they will be meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. On those Tuesdays when the group is not meeting in church it will be possible for those who wish to do so to come into church to offer their own prayers (although those who do so should take care if it is dark by then). Others may wish to pause and say a prayer of their own at that time.
If you would like more information about the group please contact Mary Hayward ().
The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank
During 2025 the congregation and Shower Singers donated a total of 479.2 kg (that’s 10.5 cwt) in food and toiletries (plus 279 kg from the harvest) to the Well. In addition £1,205 was donated through cash gifts and the wishing well.
This is an amazing achievement, even more so in such difficult economic times. Everyone at the Well is extremely grateful for your support and we thank God for everyone’s generosity.
The financial position has improved this year but, along with many similar organisations, food and toiletry donations at Christmas were well down on 2024 so please continue to give as generously as you are able.
Alan Smith
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
Father, we know that you love each person living with Dementia dearly and that you want them to experience life to the fullest.
We fervently ask that even in the midst of their difficulties, you would instill in them a sense of joy and purpose.
May the knowledge that you are with them at every turn bring them peace and hope.
We ask all these through your son and saviour, Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Amen
(avepray.com)
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 4th and 18th January.
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
Tony Douglas Warrilow – 13th January 2004
Alice May Woodroffe – 13th January 2022
Cis Harris – 14th January 1990
Mary Elizabeth Hughes – 15th January 1980
Horace Charles James – 15th January 1987
Kathleen Parker – 15th January 2005
Patricia Ann Jones – 16th January 2021
Sheila Galbraith – 17th January 1987
Eileen Mary Rowley – 17th January 2005
Annie Guest – 18th January 1994
John Neville Hayward – 18th 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