ChadNet – no 308

ChadNet – no 308 – Sunday 15th February 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

Debbie Sims

(This is based on the Pause for Thought which Debbie gave at the Youth Service in January)

Recently I had the privilege of reading a book written by a member of our congregation, Sue Riches and her daughter Victoria, entitled Frigid Women, about their journey to the North Pole in 1997. During her trek Sue was able to find time to think about her life, her health and her achievements as she walked across the frozen landscape with little sound or colour.  Try to picture it in your mind. Nothing moving but the ice and a small group of women.

Jesus too spent time in isolation to meditate and to talk with God.  When Jesus prepared for a major task Mark tells us “And the spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness“. After hearing that John the Baptist had been beheaded Matthew writes “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself” and to recharge after hard work Matthew says “And after dismissing the crowds he went up the mountain himself to pray“. He prepared himself for both wonderful and awful things. He talked with God. He agonised with God. He was guided by God.

It has been reported that 1 in 4 adults over the past 5 years have turned to medication to improve their mental health. Our thinking can get stuck in such low energy due to problems and worry. We feel powerless. Worry does us no good and can impact our lives in negative ways. It has been described as sitting in a rocking chair, rocking back and forth, it’s always in motion and it keeps us busy but it never gets us anywhere. In fact, if we do it for too long it wears us out! The instant you begin to worry or feel anxious, give your concerns to God in prayer. Release the weight of them and totally trust him to either show you what to do or take care of it himself.

We live in a time where entertainment is king and little time is spent working on our own mind, yet finding time to investigate your concerns, explore your options and reflect on the various actions you can take, we can come up with the answers. Take time to share your burden with God and let the holy spirit in, you may then find the answers to those concerns, maybe not in minutes or hours but an answer will come.

So let us find time and space this week to talk with God, to face any difficult decisions, to ask what is working for us in life and what is not.

Peace will then follow as it did for Sue when she looked at the arctic flow and reflected on her life.

Debbie 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 

Sunday 15th February – Sunday before Lent

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 those who live and work in:
Clive Road.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
Deanery Synod.

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 please contact Mary Hayward ().

On Tuesday from 12 noon until 2 pm Crafts and Pancakes takes place in church. Crafts for all, including an Easter card competition. Come and join us for Pancakes with toppings and drinks.

It’s all free, however donations are welcome. Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Please be prompt!

On Tuesday evening there is a PCC meeting in church.

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

At 10.00 am there will be a service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer, led by the vicar, which will include Imposition of Ashes for those who wish it, 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 2.00 pm the Old Responders (First Aid for older and retired people) course takes place in the Village Hall. Places are very limited – if you have not already booked and want to attend contact Alix or Keith as soon as possible to book your place on 07527 237862,

There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week as it is half term. It will resume next week.

At 6.30 pm (note the earlier time than in previous years) there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by the vicar, which will include Imposition of Ashes for those who wish it, in church.

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.

Sunday 22nd February – Sunday before Lent

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion, led by the Vicar, 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:
Dartmouth Avenue, Marlbrook Lane, Chesterton Road, West End Gardens, Copley Lane.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
St Aidan Penn Fields.

Lent

Lent starts this week.

Lent Course

Join us for our Lent course

An Unlikely Lent
Exploring Faith in Unexpected Places

The first session will be in church at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 25th February.

Tea and coffee provided.
Further sessions in people’s homes.

Lent Lunches

Two Lent Lunches have been arranged so far.

  • Thursday 26th February at the home of Sue Riches
  • Tuesday 31st March at the home of Sue Stirk

If anyone else would like to host one please let the Churchwardens know.

 

Look out for details of other events in Lent and Holy Week soon.

Easter Day is on 5th April. There will be services at 10.00 am and 6.30 pm, both of which will be Communion services.

Memory Walk

The St Chad’s Memory Walk will take place on Sunday 12th April at 2.00 pm. This will be in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and is part of our commitment to Becoming a Dementia  Church. 

Save the date. More details will follow.

Ukraine Refugee Centre

Mary Hayward sent the following message after her latest visit taking the donations to the Ukraine Refugee Centre.

I am overwhelmed by the generosity shown by you all in donations of household items, bedding, ladies’ and children’s clothing, toiletries, raffle prizes and cash donations.

There was so much I couldn’t get it all in my car so my daughter took it on our behalf in her van.

My next visit is 13th March.

Thank you again. It is so much appreciated by the Centre.

God Bless 
Mary 

 If you have anything you wish to donate please contact Mary at or 01902 700744 or in Church.

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 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

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 8th and 22nd February.

David Stephen Patrick – 8th February 2008
Brian William Broxton – 8th February 2011
Keith William Bishop – 9th February 2022
James Christopher Maclean – 11th February 2009
Margaret Watton – 11th February 2020
Ida Annie Knight – 13th February 2002
Patrick Curtis – 14th February 1959
Harold Taylor – 14th February 1976
William Stanley Smith – 15th February 1966
Alfred Ernest Davis – 15th February 2004
Stanley Frederick Chaplin – 15th February 2016
Alan Sadler – 16th February 1998
Florence Irene Steele – 16th February 2003
Pauline Jones – 18th February 2011
Mary Stubbs – 19th February 2019
Clive Brough – 20th February 1979
Lillian (Marg) Nicholls – 20th February 2007
Joseph Ernest Penny – 20th February 2009
Thomas James Heath – 20th February 2017
Muriel Noreen Swift – 21st February 1999
Victor James Jordan – 22nd February 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 155 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