ChadNet – no 5 – Sunday 26th April 2020
Welcome to the fifth edition of ChadNet – the eBulletin of St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull.
View from the Vicarage:
Cupcakes, Roses and Social Distancing
As many of you are aware (and thanks for all the good wishes and cards) it was my birthday this week. One of the oddest I think I have spent. At home; alone; with just the dog for company! – and pretty good company she is I might add. The day was quite busy. I was recording parts of our Sunday Worship and I had a Chapter meeting with clergy colleagues by Zoom; not to mention a goodly number of phone calls from friends, neighbours and someone needing cat litter! (I kid you not!) But still, it was a bit peculiar not celebrating with others this particular milestone in my life. Then again, 2020 is turning out to be one of the oddest years for all of us. And I am very thankful that so far, I am well and coping relatively well mentally with the lockdown.
“Do something nice for you” I was urged by more than one person, so I did. I baked some cupcakes so that if not exactly a birthday cake, I would have some sort of sweet to enjoy on this day. And very nice they are too (though I say so myself). Sorry I cannot share them with you personally – but have a virtual cupcake!
“Lord, let me know my years, and the number of my days” – so wrote the psalmist (Psalm 39) But actually I think few, if any of us, really want to know how long our life will be. We try to kid ourselves that we can live for ever, and cannot really imagine a time when the world will continue without our being a part of it. And yet, of course we know this is not the case. And with the News being full of statistics about death rates and illness, we are forced to confront the very real possibility of our own mortality. One of the duties of a parish priest – according to the BCP – is to encourage my parishioners to make sure their affairs are in order. This stems from a time when death was a much more common reality than it is today. But I guess this is as good a time as any for all of us to start to think about our Last Will and Testament. Have you made a Will? Is it up to date? And what will your legacy be?
I don’t mean in material terms, although that is important of course, but more particularly, how will you have left this world a better place than when you entered it? That is a sobering thought, isn’t it!?
Enough of the serious stuff, I hear someone say. OK – Eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow you ??? (Luke 12.19) They knew a thing or two didn’t they, these Gospel writers?
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 26th April – 3rd Sunday of Easter
There will be a service on the Worship on the Web page of the website from 10 am. It is a Service of the Word, exploring the story of the Journey to Emmaus, NB Social distancing maintained throughout!
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 School continues to be online on the Sunday School on the Web page of the website.
Sunday 3rd May – 4th 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.
For those without internet access – listen to a church service by phone
We recognise that some people cannot follow our services on the internet either because they do not have internet access or are not comfortable using it. We now have a dedicated phone number – 01902 906585 – which has a recording of part of our latest service. It is easy to use – just dial the number and listen. After a short welcome message and a pause the recording of the service starts playing. You can listen to the whole of it or hang up part way through. Calls are charged at normal rate. This, of course, is aimed at people who do not read this bulletin. If you know someone who might find it useful please let them know.
Dan Fox
Martin Fox was one of the organists here until 2018 and his wife, Cath, sang in the choir. Their son, Dan, had a brain injury last year. They have produced an update giving details of his progress since then. He is making progress and is now in a Rehabilitation Unit. Find the update on the website here.
ChadNet
This bulletin is sent to those who have requested it. We now have 61 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
What do you think?
As asked last week whether we are providing what is wanted and needed during this period of lockdown. If you have a comment to make and haven’t yet sent it please think about doing so. The PCC is meeting (by Zoom video conference) on Tuesday so will be able to consider any suggestions which are made.
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.
We 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 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.
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
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St Chad’s Church, Pattingham with Patshull Registered charity no 1151604