ChadNet – no 4

ChadNet – no 4 – Sunday 19th April 2020

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

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


View from the Vicarage:

Maureen Hoobs

Lockdown is making me think about our senses and how important they are to us. In particular the sense of touch feels very deprived at present as we are forced to socially distance – and the chances are that this will go on for a long time, even when things start to lift. Will we ever go back to shaking hands I wonder?

Our senses are what help us to connect with those around us – in our own households and further afield. They are what help us to feel part of the Church – our local Christian community and even a worldwide Christian Community one extending across heaven and earth. How many of you watched the various Easter services being broadcast over last weekend? Whether on the TV or Radio or our own website? They engage our senses of vision and hearing. Worship in the more traditional context engages with taste and smell as well – I have really missed the experience of walking into the church newly decorated for Easter and smelling all the wonderful flowers! I even find myself longing for a bit of incense now and again!

Maybe it is significant that one of the signs of this wretched virus is the loss of sense of taste and smell? Depriving us of something that enriches our existence as human beings?

So as you perhaps struggle to think of things to be thankful for under our current circumstances, remember to thank God for our senses; taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing. Without them we are still human beings, and we can live – or at least exist – without one or the other and many have to, but our lives are so much improved and enriched through our senses – appreciate them!

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 19th April – 2nd Sunday of Easter

There will be a service on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am. It is an informal service of worship for the second Sunday of Easter similar to our monthly first Sunday family service led by Ken Scott and with our virtual choir. It will include an interview with Tracey Williams, a member of our congregation who is a Sister in the Intensive Care Unit at New Cross Hospital.

Sunday School will be online on the Sunday School on the Web page of the website from 10.15 am. You might want to have some paper and card and coloured pencils or crayons or paints handy so that you can join in the activities.

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


During the week Maureen will continue to stream Morning Prayer at 9.00 am and Compline (Night Prayer) at 7.30 pm on Facebook Live.


Sunday 26th April – 3rd Sunday of Easter

There will be a 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.


ChadNet

This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. There may 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


What do you think?

As we enter the fifth week of lockdown it is perhaps time to ask whether we are providing what is wanted and needed.

We have settled into a pattern of online services – daily prayer in the morning and evening streamed live from the Vicarage and a recorded service involve a number of people, including music, released each Sunday morning. All of these, of course, continue to be available online indefinitely. Is there anything else which we should do? Is there anything we should change in what we are doing?

Please let us know. You can send your comments to Maureen (contact details above) or Geoffrey Dann () or any other member of the PCC.


Giving to the church

While normal services are not being held 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.

Although it will not be possible to put money in the plate there are a number of other ways in which you can give to the church. These include the Giving Direct scheme, Just Giving, a standing order or even one off transfers to the church bank account. Details of all of these can be found on the Giving page of the website. Those who normally use the green or yellow envelopes may wish to continue to put their donations in the envelopes ready to bring to church when services resume.

JustGivingWe have set up a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pattingham-church. 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.

If you wish to make a payment by bank transfer the details of our bank account are: Account name: Pattingham Parochial Church Council – Sort Code: 20-97-78 – A/c No: 50655023. If you wish to gift aid it contact the Gift Aid Secretary or the Treasurer.


Parish News magazine

Due to the current lockdown restrictions we have to suspend publication of the magazine. We will resume as soon as it is possible to distribute it safely. Some of the information which would have been in the magazine will be available on the church website.


Worship on the Web

While the church building remains closed there are a number of opportunities for worship and prayer online. Details of these are on the Worship on the Web page of the website. Maureen is offering daily prayer from the Vicarage which is streamed live on Facebook and is then available on the Worship on the Web page. Every Sunday there will be a service on the Worship on the Web page.

There is a page of Resources Available Online which gives links to various resources which you may find helpful.


Changes due to the current situation

The church building is closed but the church community remains active. Further details can be found on the church website. There is an update page which gives more information.

  • The Annual Church Meeting has been postponed. A new date will be fixed in due course.
  • The Century Club draws are suspended until further notice.
  • The Who’s for Lunch lunches are suspended for the time being.
  • The church clock has stopped as guidance from the Church of England prevents it from being wound. The carrilon continues to play automatically three times a day.
  • The same guidance also prevents us from flying the flag for Easter.
  • Publication of the magazine is suspended for the moment.

EcoChurch

Eco Church Bronze award winner

We have been awarded the bronze level Eco Church award.

The vision of the Eco Church scheme is to create a vast network of churches as local centres of creation care in the community – shining beacons of hope for a brighter environmental future.

More details can be found on the church website.


Pattingham Friends

The piece in the April magazine about the Pattingham Friends, who can help those in need, is on the website together with the list of contacts.


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