ChadNet – no 47

ChadNet – no 47 – Sunday 14th February 2021

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:

There are no services in church for the time being but the church remains open for private prayer and Worship on the Web continues online.


View from the Vicarage

Maureen Hoobs

So just when you thought the lockdown could not get any worse….   Along comes Lent!

This Wednesday coming is Ash Wednesday, the start of 40 days (excluding Sundays!) leading up to Holy Week and Easter. It’s a time for many to do a bit of interior spring cleaning. To look rather deeper into our minds and souls and apply a metaphorical feather duster; bringing to light the things we rather wish had stayed more comfortably buried in the darker corners of our psyche.

“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return”; the words that normally I would be saying over every person who comes to the altar rail for imposition of ashes – marking their head or hand with the sign of the cross.  A reminder of our own mortality certainly and an invitation to humility, but maybe this year we are all too aware of the fragility and vulnerability of human life. But these words can also remind us – if we allow them to – of the opening verses of the book of Genesis, where God forms the first human being, Adam, from the  adama – the dust of the earth. So also an opportunity to get back to our origins, our essential selves and check that all is as it should be there. And if not – then to do something about it.  That is why I have come to value the ceremonies around Ash Wednesday – not as a symbol of misery, but a reminder that I am made in God’s image (as are we all) and that I have a responsibility to make sure I live up to that. And the cross reminds me of God’s love that is with me always.

Ash Wednesday cards

Well, this year we cannot hold our Ash Wednesday services in church – although I hope to be putting something on-line for people to follow. And I am not allowed to touch anyone, so no crosses on foreheads or hands unless you do it for yourselves at home – which you certainly can. (Please be careful if burning palm crosses yourselves – it is not the easiest of tasks; should be done out of doors or in the garage because of the smell and the smoke. And any ashes – once cooled – may be used ‘dry’ or mixed with a little oil to mark each other or yourself. Don’t use water – it can cause a caustic reaction with the ash) But as an alternative, I have produced a number of Ash Wednesday Cards as you will see from the photo. These have an individual ash cross marked on them and some prayers on the reverse that may be used throughout Lent as you wander the wilderness with Jesus…. The cards will be placed in the Church porch on Tuesday 16th February so you can collect them (one per household please) in readiness for Wednesday. Anyone who needs one posted; please let me know and I will be happy to send you one.

Obviously there can be no Lent lunches this year, but I do plan to offer a Lent Course on-line for those who would care to join me… It is based on a book called “Broken Bits and Weirdness – but God still loves us”. Each week we will be exploring some of the rather stranger characters or flawed heroes you can find in the Bible – Naaman, David, Ruth, Martha and Jonah; reading their stories and pondering how we might have reacted and behaved if facing the same dilemmas that they did. But it doesn’t stop there. Each week there will be optional Colouring pages if you would like to use that as an aid to meditation and prayer; a craft suggestion, a recipe to cook, suggested outdoor activities linked with the theme and a prayer. The idea is not to attempt everything but to choose whatever brings you closer to God.

I will offer Zoom sessions at 7.30pm on a Monday evening, starting on Monday 22nd February, but for those who might prefer a day-time option, also on Thursday afternoons, starting on Thursday 25th February at 2.30pm. Look in next week’s ChadNet for the Zoom link.

May we together experience a productive and thoughtful walk with God and his Christ through the season of Lent.

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 14th February – Sunday next before Lent

There will be no service in church. The Worship on the Web service is led by the Youth Group. The theme is “Trust”. Pause for Thought is given by Henry Ibbserson. It will be on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10.00 am. 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.

Until Palm Sunday the diocese is providing sermons for parishes to use. This week’s preacher for Racial Justice Sunday is Revd Simon Foster, Chaplaincy and Mission Strategy Enabler. The sermon can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ftZCNp4QGbE

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


Wednesday 17th February – Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent

Ash cross

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.

There will be no service in church. There will be a Worship on the Web service which 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 the same time.

Ash Wednesday cards will be available in the church porch to collect from Tuesday.

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

The Lent course based on the book “Broken Bits and Weirdness – but God still loves us” will start next week by Zoom. Alternative sessions will be available – on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons. The Zoom link will be in next week’s ChadNet.

The Church of England is offering daily Lent reflections by email from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day. There is also a phone app available. Details can be found at https://www.churchofengland.org/livelent/ – to sign up for the emails go to https://www.churchofengland.org/node/27518


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 Archbishops invite us to continue to Pray for the Nation particularly at 6pm each day. Find out more at https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/prayer-nation

The church will be open for private prayer every 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 keeping apart from anyone else who is already in there.

Wednesday is the copy date for the March magazine. Send articles to Mike Moss at


Sunday 21st February – First Sunday of Lent

There will be no service in church. The Worship on the Web service will be led by Ken. It will be available 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.


Sale of pews

A reminder that the closing date for bids is Monday 22nd February. Full details of the pews and the process can be found on the church website at https://www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk/web/pews-for-sale/

Enquiries should be directed to Gena Richards on 01902 700188. Please note that in the article in the magazine Gena’s address is incorrect. It should be 10 Westbeech Road, Pattingham WV6 7AQ


From the Memorial Book

Those whose anniversaries occur between 7th and 21st February.

Beville Bentley – 7th February 1999
David Stephen Patrick – 8th February 2008
Brian William Broxton – 8th February 2011
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

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 resources 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 normally comes out each Saturday. This week’s is Lent! What Even Is It? (Plus A New VSS Friend!)

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 95 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.

We have a JustGiving page to enable people to make one off donations. It’s at www.justgiving.com/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 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