ChadNet – no 322

ChadNet – no 322 – Sunday 24th May 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

Esso Blue

The Holy Spirit – not just for Pentecost

There is a good chance that most Sundays we will repeat these words as we affirm our faith together.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

Just who is the Holy Spirit? My first encounter was extremely disappointing. Sunday. Pentecost. My seven-year-old self is listening to the reading. Acts 2:1-4. We are instructed to pray for the fruits of the Spirit. I comply. But hear no rushing violent wind nor are any of us lit up like a fuel advert of the time. And as for speaking in tongues…..

I came to learn that this was a key moment in the revealing of the Spirit but…. the Spirit is really there from the start…. Genesis 1:2, as the wind of God sweeping over the waters, breathing life into humankind. From the beginning, the Spirit is the giver of life.

The Spirit is mentioned ninety-three times in the Old Testament. Amongst other instances, there is the burning bush, the pillar of fire by night and the interesting episode in Ezekiel where life is breathed into dead bones, We see the work of the spirit as the new creation and the gifts of the Spirit for us, are listed in Isaiah, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord, along with delight in the fear of the Lord.

In the New Testament, ninety mentions; by the Holy Spirit, Mary conceives the son of God. Arriving in the form of a dove, the Holy Spirit descends and rests upon Jesus at his baptism….. and immediately drives him into the wilderness! And the spirit is upon Jesus has he preaches the good news of forgiveness and liberation from sin. With the sacrifice of death on the cross it is done through the Holy Spirit and at the resurrection it is the Holy Spirit who raises Jesus.

In that upper room after the resurrection, the Apostles receive, as promised, the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They are given that divine power from on high so that they can tell of the mighty works of God. And that telling goes out, initially locally but eventually to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit gives life to the word and empowers the proclamation of the Gospel.

Importantly, the Holy Spirit is not some sort of add-on. Given the titles of “Lord” and “Giver of Life” in scripture, it is an indication of the Spirits divinity. Humans are placed under the direction and power of the Spirit – who in the creed we repeat, is the equal of the Father and Son. The Spirit proceeds from the Father…. and from the Son. So when we are also reborn in the Spirit we are on intimate terms with God.

“Reinforcing the unity of being between Father and Son by a unity of love and joyful affirmation, the Holy Spirit is the exuberant, ecstatic carrier of the love of Father and Son to us.” In the Spirit’s power we are truly united with Christ. “The Holy Spirit encourages the uniqueness of our persons by a diversity of gifts of the Spirit”.

The Spirit aids us by being our Advocate; speaks for us and abides with us in our times of need. The Spirit is also important. If we hold our religion to be alive then our life should be in the Holy Spirit who was involved in creation and operates with and in our physical world. It can be a healing presence. For the present we cannot separate body and soul because the body is still significant. The Spirit can be manifested in our accountability to each other, service to the poor and hungry, meeting to eat together, fasting, kneeling, laying on of hands.

The idea of Christian living is a challenge to us all. Whether at personal level, or our immediate communities and beyond… to the ends of the earth. As a local church here, how would we see ourselves in receipt of the Holy Spirit as a kingdom community. How would we feel concerning the historian Douglas Jacobsen’s observation “If the real sign of the Baptism of the Spirit was more love for other, the communal manifestation of that love was the ability to care for and respect each other across the lines of race, class, gender and age that normally separated people”? In these times, quite a challenge if we claim to show the fruits of the Spirit. Fortunately perhaps we do not have to demonstrate all the gifts…. some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.

As the Holy Spirit has been revealed through all time, then the Spirit’s presence is not limited to Pentecost but for all time. Whilst the Spirit of God has always worked amongst God’s people; after Pentecost the Spirit creates and dwells in the Church so that the Gospel is preached to the whole world including the Gentiles and brings glory to the work of Jesus Christ. Perhaps we don’t need the rushing winds or flickers of flame on our heads after all.

Iain Coleman

(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 24th May – Pentecost (Whit Sunday)

At 10 am there will be an All Age Communion Service with the baptism of Noah Bourne, led by the Vicar, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 6.30 pm there will be an Evening Communion Service for Pentecost, led by the Vicar, in church.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Hall Close, Dodds Field, Hall End Close.

In the Trysull Deanery Prayer Diary we pray for:
The Venerable Bede, Wombourne.

This week

The church will be open every day. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch.

This is not a week when the Prayers for Peace group meets but some members of the group will be in church on Tuesday at 6 pm to say prayers. Anyone is welcome to join them.

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.

On Wednesday at 12 noon Who’s for Lunch? is held in the Village Hall.

There is NO Pattingham Shower Singers this week. It will resume next week.

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 31st May – Trinity Sunday

At 10 am there will be a service of Holy Communion with the baptism of Ava-Mae Mary Hambridge, led by the Vicar, in church. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available after the service.

At 11.30 am the Annual Church Meeting will be held in church. See below for more information. There are a number of vacancies for members of the PCC. Please consider whether you can support the church by joining the PCC. There is information about PCC membership on the church website at <https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/about-us/whos-who/pcc/pcc-membership/>. 

Reports and other papers are on the church website (https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/information/pcc-news…). As part of our commitment to EcoChurch please consider reading them on your computer. Hard copies are at the back of the church for those who need them.

In the Parish Prayer Diary we pray for those who live and work in:
Windsor Road, Greenway Gardens, Sandringham Road, Braemar Road.

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

Church Electoral Roll and Annual Meeting

The revision of the Church Electoral Roll has been completed. The revised roll can be checked on the notice board in the porch.

The Annual Church Meeting will be held in church at 11.30 am on Sunday 31st May (after the 10 o’clock service).

At that meeting there will be various reports on the activities of the church as well as presentation of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2025. The churchwardens, three representatives to the Deanery Synod and up to six members of the PCC will be elected. Nomination forms for Churchwardens, Deanery Synod Representatives and Elected PCC Members are on the church website and at the back of the church.

The Annual Report and Accounts and the other reports which will be presented at the meeting are on the church website. As part of our commitment to EcoChurch please consider reading them on your computer. Hard copies are at the back of the church for those who need them.

Midsummer Melodies
An evening with Shifnal and District Male Voice Choir

This will take place in church on Saturday 20th June at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £15 and include a glass of Prosecco or non alcoholic alternative. Under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. Proceeds will be split between the church, the Well and Wolverhampton Interfaith. Tickets available from Alan Smith or any member of the PCC.

Fete – bottle stall

The church fete is on Saturday 4th July and the bottle stall is a big money spinner. If you are able please can you donate bottles. Anything is fine from a bottle of water, sauce, squash, wine or whisky. Please place them at the back of the church or they can be collected if needed. Just speak to Dorothy, Graham, Alan or any member of the PCC.

Ukraine Refugee Centre

Mary Hayward received the following email from the Ukraine Refugee Centre after she took donations there last week.

Dear Mary.
Thank you so much for the donations of ladies clothing & toiletries you dropped off last Friday the 15th of May at our Razom Welcome Centre, from the parishioners of St Chad’s church in Pattingham.
Also please give our thanks to those who gave the cash donations.
Your generosity is very much appreciated.
Many thanks again
Greg Kowalczuk
Joint Chair of the Razom Welcome Centre

If you have anything you wish to donate please contact Mary at or in Church. Mary’s next visit will be on 12th June.

The Well – the Wolverhampton Food Bank

The Well

We are pleased to report that our financial problems have eased dramatically over the last few months following receipt of a number of generous donations. Supplies, unfortunately, are running low. We are currently in the middle of the ‘dip’ between the big Christmas and harvest donations, so please give as generously as you are able.

All donations are welcome but, in particular, our top needs are:

  • Female toiletries
  • UHT milk
  • Tinned vegetables
  • Tinned tomatoes
  • Cook in Sauces
  • Noodles

Thank you for your continued support.

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

Loving Lord
You are the light
when our earthly bodies grown weary and faint.
You are the constant,
as we are reminded through the history of this Cathedral
and the ministry of Saint Chad,
who offered, healing, hope and peace of mind to all that follow you.
We pray now for the gentle breeze of your Holy Spirit,
To guide us on our journey of life.
Thank you that you are the Good Shepherd
That always protects his sheep,
now and forever more.
Amen

(Prayer written for Dementia Action Week Prayers 2024 – 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 17th and 31st May.

George Albert Elliott – 17th May 1996
Catherine Isabel Harrison – 17th May 2010
Ernest Parton – 18th May 2020
Joyce Beatrice Henshaw – 18th May 2022
Bert Nicholls – 20th May 1996
Barrie James Gatt – 21st May 1997
Sylvia Gwenythe Giles – 21st May 2020
Olive Dora Williams – 22nd May 1982
Kathleen Mary Russell – 22nd May 2003
Peter Wood – 22nd May 2016
George Weaver – 23rd May 1959
Ronald James Smedley – 23rd May 1987
Dorothy Louisa Newill – 24th May 2011
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

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“.

JustGiving

We have a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at <https://www.justgiving.com/page/pattingham-church-jg>. 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.

ChadNet

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 159 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