From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai
Dear Friends,
We are now well in to the new year of 2015, and this Sunday we will hold our Covenant Service. This is a Methodist tradition where the congregation recommit themselves to God, and his purposes for their lives, at the beginning of each year. We will say together the words of the Covenant Prayer:
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
exalted for you, or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.’
.
Further ahead, we are thinking about starting a Confirmation Class. Confirmation is the traditional way for publicly declaring your Christian faith and membership of the church. In doing so you confirm your baptism. If you have not already been baptised, then you can be baptised and then confirmed. It also signifies your receiving of the Holy Spirit. If anyone, of any age, is interested in being confirmed please see let me know.
This Sunday our readings are Jonah 3:1-5,10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, and Mark 1:14-20, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Comes with Clouds Descending, Come let us use the grace divine, Wonder of wonders here revealed, and Let All the World in Every Corner Sing. You can find the readings via this link. Our sermon will be reflecting on our commitment to God.
God bless,
Iain
All Saints' Chiang Mai 