ChadNet – no 33 – Sunday 8th November 2020
Welcome to the 33rd edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
Church closed for services but open for private prayer
As we all know new restrictions came into force this week. That means that there will no longer be any services in church at least until early December. The church will be open for private prayer, although not all day. The times may vary depending when the keyholders are able to open and close the church. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch. Please observe the instructions in the notice on the door, which include the need to wear a face covering, using hand sanitiser and not going into the church if someine else is already in there.
View from the Vicarage
Remembrance in a time of Lockdown
Well here we go again! But as I have heard others observe, this time it is all a bit different. Maybe because things are not quite as stringent as previously – schools and universities etc. still in operation. But also because we know more of what to expect.
When thinking about the Season of Remembrance – it is tempting to think that we know absolutely what to expect. Last week the service of thanksgiving for the departed, and this week Remembrance Sunday: uniforms, parades, poppies and the Last Post…. Only this year it’s not. This year we have to adapt and change. There will be a Service of Remembrance with most of the familiar elements, but only online I am afraid. But I do hope that as many as possible will be able to follow online and find some comfort and connection, knowing that many others are doing likewise.
During Lockdown we have also been requested by the Archbishops to make this November a special month of prayer – recalling us all to “some of the fundamental disciplines that shape our Christian life.” In particular, and beginning from 5 November, we are asked to spend a few moments in prayer at 6pm every day – possibly enhanced by the ringing of a single bell at this hour – (listen out for our Carrillon).
They have produced some online resources to help during this month and I shall be exploring them to the full. (They can be found at https://www.churchofengland.org/PrayerForTheNation ) There is also a simple prayer booklet to be shared with everyone. Please contact me if you would like a copy (or you can download your own copy from https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/PftN%20Booklet%20spreads.pdf).
The Archbishops go on to say “the hope is that individuals and worshipping communities make these times of prayer their own. There is no desire to be directive in this – rather simply to encourage all to be united in Prayer for the Nation.
I cannot think of a better time than Remembrance-tide to be launching such an initiative.
“Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS.
Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would all be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst us.”
Amen
Take care and may God bless you in this time of Lockdown.
Remember your masks; remember to wash your hands; remember to keep social distancing.
And don’t forget to Remember!
Every blessing
Maureen
Contacts
Maureen can be contacted by phone, text or email. (01902 700257 – 07812 805371 – )
Contact details for other church officers can be found on the Contacts page of the church website. Communications in relation to ChadNet should be sent to
Sunday 8th November – Remembrance Sunday
There will be a Worship on the Web Service for Remembrance Sunday which will be on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10.45 am (later than usual so that the 2 minute silence is at about 11 o’clock). For those without internet access it will also be on the Dial a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am – until then last Sunday’s service is on the phone line.
The Vicar will observe the two minute silence at the War Memorial in church with the Churchwardens and the Chairman of the Parish Council and they will then lay wreaths. This will be recorded and made available on the Worship on the Web page of the website later in the day. We will also try to stream it on on Facebook Live, starting at 10.55 am. Only those involved can be in church for this.
We had hoped to hold a service outside the Village Hall but this will not take place. This is partly because we do not want to encourage people to gather and risk spreading the virus but also because the government guidelines which allow outdoor Remembrance Sunday events to be organised only apply to war memorials and cenotaphs and our war memorial is inside the church.
As a new initiative this year there will be a sand tray in the church porch into which people can put poppies. After Armistice Day on Wednesday that will be placed by the war memorial. This is a way of people indirectly placing poppies by the war memorial.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
This week
During the week Maureen (or occasionally Ken) will stream Morning Prayer and Compline (Night Prayer) on Facebook Live. Morning Prayer will be at 8.30 am and Compline will be at 9.30 pm (there will be no Compline on Friday).
The church will be open for private prayer every day (except for Thursday when there is a funeral). The times may vary depending when the keyholders are able to open and close the church. Look out for the “church open” sign outside the porch. Please observe the instructions in the notice on the door, which include the need to wear a face covering, using hand sanitiser and not going into the church if someine else is already in there.
Sunday 15th November – Second Sunday before Advent
The Worship on the Web service will be led by the Youth Group. It will be available as usual on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am.
The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.
From the Memorial Book
Those whose anniversaries occur between 1st and 15th November.
Cyril Edward Godwin – 1st November 2003
Timothy John Cooper – 4th November 1999
Adam Witold Kwiatkowski – 4th November 2002
Hilda Mary Smedley – 7th November 2013
Elizabeth Scarth – 7th November 2014
Rupert Neville Hayward – 9th November 1964
Stanley Charles Weaver – 12th November 1999
May Weaver – 15th November 1938
You can see the pages of the Memorial Book for the second half of the year on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.
Would you like to join the virtual choir?
With the new lockdown, the virtual church choir will again be recording music for the on-line services. They do this from their own homes using smartphones or tablets.
With Christmas coming, it would be wonderful to augment the choir – especially as we have very few sopranos at the moment. All that is needed is a phone or tablet and a set of headphones / earbuds. Once everything is set up, it only takes a few minutes each week to sing and record two or three hymns.
If you would like to join in, please contact Greg for details. . 07718 082150.
Greg Lewin
The war memorial
Greg Lewin has put together some information about those who are recorded on the war memorial. It is on his website at http://www.greglewin.co.uk/brewood/pattingham.php and includes biographies of those from the First World War. Elsewhere on that website are details of some other local memorials.
Link to Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal
A big thank you to all who responded to The Link to Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal. 18 shoeboxes were collected.
For those without internet access – listen to a Pattingham church service by phone
Several members of our congregation who do not use the internet are using the dedicated phone number – 01902 906585 – to listen to our services. Calls are charged at normal rate. The service for each Sunday will be available from about 9 am and will continue to be available until it is replaced be the next week’s. If you know someone who might find it useful please let them know.
The Daily Hope phone line from the Church of England on 0800 804 8044 is also available.
Resources for worship and prayer at home
Some of resiources which can be used at home are listed on the Resources Available Online and the Resources Available for Children, Young People and Families pages of the website.
In the absence of our own Sunday School we encourage children and families to look at the Virtual Sunday School YouTube channel. A new Sunday School video comes out each Saturday. This week’s will be available from Saturday morning.
They can all be found on the Sunday School on the Web page of our website as well as on YouTube.
ChadNet
This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 86 subscribers but there may still be some people who are not aware of it and would wish to receive 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
Giving to the church
In the current circumstances there will inevitably be a reduction in the money which the church receives. However we will need to continue to pay our bills and we would ask that those who can afford to do so should continue to give regularly. Details of the various ways in which you can give can be found on the Giving page of the website.
If you are paying by cheque please make the cheque payable to “Pattingham PCC” or “Pattingham Parochial Church Council“.
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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604