From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai
Dear Friends,
We are entering the season of remembrance. Of course,all the world know that 31st October is Halloween when ghosts are said to walk the earth, but Halloween is short for All Hallows’ Eve, the day before All Hallows’ Day, more usually called All Saints‘ Day. That is what we will be celebrating at All Saints this Sunday, November 1st!
The picture above shows some of my family in 1965 – the year before I was born. From the left are my Grandma, Auntie Eva, my Grandad Baxter, my Grandad Kelso, my Mum, my Grannie, and my Auntie Ju. Only my Mum and my Auntie Ju are still alive. On All Saints‘ Day we remember that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before. In many European countries it is the tradition to visit the graves of loved ones on All Saints‘ Day, but our forebears are scattered over the four corners of the earth. However, if you would like to bring photos of loved ones to place upon the altar this Sunday, please do so.
Our services will be ones of joy as we remember and give thanks, and we will have live music at both services with Nancy playing at 9:15 a.m. and Anders at 11 a.m. Much thanks to them both.
Our theme of remembrance continues the following week on Sunday 8th November when we mark Remembrance Sunday and remember those who have been victims of war. This combined service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include two minutes silence at 11:00 a.m. On Wednesday 11th November, you are also invited to attend a short ceremony at the Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery beginning at 10:30 a.m. organised by the Royal British Legion. This will be followed by lunch at the Gymkhana Club.
Finally, a reminder that the first choir rehearsal for our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be at 7:00 p.m. tonight, in the new band room of CMIS. Please be sure that Harvey has your name so that you can get into the school.
Our readings for All Saints‘ Day are Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6, and John 11:32-44, and we will be singing the hymns For all the Saints, Sing with all theSaints in Glory, Lord when I came into this life, and Oh when the Saints! The readings can be found via this link! Our sermon is entitled Death where is your sting?
God bless,
Iain
All Saints' Chiang Mai 