ChadNet – no 39

ChadNet – no 39 – Sunday 20th December 2020

ChadNet - the eBulletin of St Chad's Church, Pattingham
        with Patshull

Welcome to the 39th edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.


View from the Vicarage

Maureen Hoobs

Advent 4

Candles

I want to start this Advent/Christmas message by giving my deep and sincere thanks to everyone who has helped provide the material for ChadNet week by week. You have ensured a varied but always interesting and intriguing beginning to our weekly news sheets.

So Christmas must be small and local? And there will be no celebrations in either the Pigot or the Dartmouth Arms… (Shame!) but that is the reality of us still being in Tier 3 over the Festive period. I cannot say I am surprised….  sad and worried for the future of all our local businesses, but not surprised. My Christmas plans too have had to change. I will be staying in the village for my Christmas break, rather than travel to see my friends on the Wirral or Oxfordshire. Yes, it is disappointing, but I keep telling myself that it is just for one year, and I have a beautiful greyhound for company, plenty of food in the cupboard and freezer, and most importantly, I have stayed well. When I read the accounts of those who are not so lucky and have contracted this dreadful virus, then my discomforts and disappointments fade into irrelevance.  Bring on the Vaccine!

The first Christmas was a pretty simple affair, and although there were exotic visitors and more than one household was gathered under the roof of the stable, they had no prospect of a National Health Service to which to turn in times of crisis. So it really is going to be OK if this Christmas is memorable for different reasons to the usual ones. And when we finally are able to see and to hold loved ones, how great will be our celebration and thanksgiving!

But there is much to enjoy before then! I must admit I got quite a buzz from putting together our Nine Lessons and Carols [on paper.. Mike did the techie editing]. I can understand that fewer people than we had anticipated wish to come into church to view it… we have all got used to enjoying the comfort of our sitting rooms with tea/coffee – or even something stronger on tap, while we worship with others in a virtual congregation (or even more – I know some people are joining with multiple services – such is the richness of variety available on the Web). And I suspect we will see quite a few families on the playing field for our informal Carol singalong on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. While it will be great to invite everyone present to sing – please do remember to observe social distancing; wrap up warm and make sure your footwear is waterproof – I suspect it will be a bit muddy underfoot.  We won’t be giving out carol sheets, but the words of the carols are in the PDF file attached to this email or you can download them from our website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/carols-on-the-field/.

One piece of good news that I can relay to cheer us all up… you will remember that we have benefited from the placement with us of Ian Budd and had the pleasure of his and Kate’s company on most Sundays through November and December? Well he informed me this week that he has survived the rigours of his selection conference by Zoom, and been recommended for training for the priesthood! Yay! (he gave me permission to share this news with you)

Ian’s training will almost certainly commence in earnest next September. I am not sure how much we will see of him in the New Year as I am sure his sending parish of Albrighton would like to have him back on their rotas, but I can assure him and Kate of a warm welcome any time they can join us. And they are now parishioners in Pattingham in any case!

Thank you too for the many cards and expressions of goodwill that have found their way through the Vicarage postbox and door in the last couple of weeks. I am touched and humbled by how many of you like to include the Vicar in your Christmas greetings. At the risk of sounding like the Grinch, I make a point of not sending cards within the community ( I wouldn’t know where to stop!) but I do wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy (and healthy) New Year. And I will make a suitable donation to a charity as I think of you all.

This Sunday it is all about Mary – which seems only fitting when she is the one about to give birth! Mary was only young when she accepted the enormous responsibility of bearing God’s son and nurturing him to manhood. Those of us who are now a little longer in the tooth may be understandably cautious at times about taking on new tasks, bearing responsibility, answering God’s invitation. But I firmly believe that it is there for us all – whatever our age or situation.

Listen out – not just for sleighbells (although they are important too!) – but for God’s prompting, inviting, request. We all have a part to play in making real his kingdom for our world.

May the peace of the Christ Child be yours, now and always,

Maureen.

PS. On the subject of Mary….loosely,… our Lady Chapel is now finally (!) resplendent with new chairs which have been pronounced as ‘very comfortable’. My thanks to the long-suffering Churchwardens (several of them!) and Fabric Committee and others for persevering through all the ups and downs of faculty applications to get us to this point. They look splendid as I am sure you will agree when you see (and sit on) them.

{Anyone want to buy a pew?}


Pews for sale …

pews

Now that we have the new chairs for the Lady Chapel the PCC will be selling nine of the loose pews from the church.

pew

Three of them are in the Lady Chapel and used to be fixed pews; the other six are smaller moveable pews. All of the pews are Victorian and made of oak. We will need to ensure that we get a fair price for them and the Archdeacon has to approve the price before any sale can take place. Photographs and details of all nine pews are on the website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/pews-for-sale/

The PCC will decide in January how to try to sell them and it would help to know whether there is any interest from parishioners before making that decision.

If anyone would be interested in offering to buy one or more of the pews please contact Gena.


Services in church have resumed

We have resumed holding services in church, although subject to the tier 3 restrictions. The church will be continue to be open for private prayer, although it will be closed after the service on Sunday. It will also be closed after the service on Christmas Day and not open on Boxing Day.

As the church door will be open during services for ventilation purposes it is strongly recommended that those attending should wear warm clothing.


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 20th December – Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Worship on the Web service for the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be led by Maureen. It will be screened in church as the main part of the service at 10 am, when it will be followed by a brief service of Holy Communion for those who wish to stay. It will be on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10.00 am.

It will also be on the Dial a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am. It will be there until 9 am on Tuesday when it will be replaced by the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

At 3 pm there will be a Family Carol Service on the Playing Fields lasting about 30 minutes. During this service we will make a living crib tableau (socially distanced) and be able to sing carols. Children who wish to do so are invited to come dressed as a character from the nativity. The words of the carols to be sung are in the PDF file attached to this email and can also be downloaded from the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/carols-on-the-field/ so that you can either print them or have them on your phone. There will be a bucket collection for the Children’s Society.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be available on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 6.30 pm (not in church). It will be on the Dial a Service phone line (01902 906585) from 9 am on Tuesday. The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.


Monday 21st December

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be shown in church at 7.30 pm. Booking is essential.


Wednesday 23rd December

The usual service of Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer will be held in church at 10.00 am.

The last session of the Advent Bible Study Course on HOPE takes place at 7 pm on Zoom. The link to join is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87978682196?pwd=N0ZwbVQ4TjJScXA5b0lvNGFxeFU0UT09


Thursday 24th December – Christmas Eve

There will be a said service of Holy Communion in church at 9 pm. Booking is essential.

The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.


Friday 25th December – Christmas Eve

There will be a said service of Holy Communion in church at 10 am. Booking is essential.

The collect and readings for the Eucharist, which would normally be on the pewsheet, are available on the website.

The church will be closed after the service and will not be open on Boxing Day.


Sunday 27th December – First Sunday of Christmas

There will not be a service in church but there will be a Worship on the Web service 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.


Booking for special Christmas services

Booking is essential for the services on 21st, 24th and 25th as there is a limit on the number of people who can be in church. To book your place phone Gena Richards on 01902 700188. You will need to give your name and how many will be attending. If they are not all from the same household (or extended support bubble) you will need to give the numbers for each household.If anyone is exempt from wearing a face covering, we need to know as that will affect the distance which has to be allowed between seats. Tickets will not be issued. It is likely that all seats will have been reserved in advance and so it is unlikely that there will be space for those who turn up without booking.


From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 13th and 27th December.

Eliza Newton – 16th December 1953
Brian John Darrell – 16th December 2013
Raymond William Haden – 17th December 2005
Margaret Alice Gardener – 19th December 2003
Stanley Charles Bentley – 21st December 1989
Elsie May Nickholds – 21st December 1999
Audrey Mary Vaughan – 21st December 2008
John Stanley Scriven – 22nd December 2008
Graham Bartlett Smith – 22nd December 2019
Dorothy Shepherdson – 23rd December 1995
Dorothy Amy Harris – 24th December 1977
Ruby Sampson – 24th December 2007
Thomas Howe Pattison – 25th December 1994
Kim Harley – 26th December 1964
Kathleen Williamson – 26th December 1988
Jane Sarah Dulson – 27th December 1958
Maurice Scarth – 27th December 2005

You can see all the pages of the Memorial Book on the Memorial Book Online page of the Church website.


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. For the three weeks leading up to Christmas the video will come out on Sunday at 8 am, as part of their Virtual Advent Calendar, telling the nativity story in three parts.

They can all be found on the Sunday School on the Web page of our website as well as on YouTube.

The Virtual Advent Calendar continues with a new short video released every day until 24th to get us in the Christmas mood. Find them on the Virtual Sunday School YouTube channel.



ChadNet

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 90 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


St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604