Monthly Archives: October 2018

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

We are all people of All Saints!

POTLUCK THIS WEEK!

Dear Friends,

Another year has passed, and we are again about to celebrate our patronal festival.

All Saints is called All Saints to emphasise that all – saints or sinners – are welcome!  This will be the theme of our worship this week!  All – you included – are warmly invited to join us!  If you haven’t been for a while, why not come this week to renew old friendships and join in worship of the God who has made us all!

Our readings this Sunday will be Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, and John 11:32-44, and we will be singing the hymns For All the Saints, Sing with all the Saints in Glory, The saints of God their conflict past, Let us Build a House, and O When the Saints!

The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When page.

All Saints’ Day – Sunday 4th November

All Saints’ Day is our patronal festival, and following the service we will have a short congregational meeting to update everyone on the year past and the year ahead.  There will also be the opportunity for people to sign a pledge card for the following year.  This will be followed by a soup and sandwich potluck.  Please bring bread products and sandwich fillings, etc, to share – see below!

Remembrance Sunday 

Don’t forget!!!!  On Sunday 11th November, our service at All Saints will begin at 9:30 a.m. to accommodate the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Foreign Cemetery.

Season of Remembrance

November will again be our Season of Remembrance.  Each Sunday will have a different emphasis.

Remembrance Day will mark the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War, and this year falls on a Sunday.  All Saints’ regular Sunday service will begin at 9:30 a.m. to enable those who wish to attend the ceremony at the Foreign Cemetery to do so.

Sunday 4th November 11 a.m.
All Saints Day Service
– when we remember all those who have died

Sunday 11th November 9:30 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Service
–  at All Saints remembering all victims of war

Sunday 11th November 10:45 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
– at the Foreign Cemetery

Sunday 18th November 11 a.m.
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sunday 25th November 11 a.m.
Thanksgiving – Remembering the Earth

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

How is Jesus our Great High Priest?

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Dear Friends,

Raised as a Methodist, I grew up in a church that put great emphasis on the priesthood of all believers, and that is correct for we all have direct access to God without the need for another mediator, and we can all pray for one another.  But what is priest, and are some especially called to the priesthood?  And what of Jesus, the one who is called our Great High Priest?  What does that mean, and what does it mean for us?  That will be at the centre of the message this week at All Saints!

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Jeremiah 31:7-9, Hebrews 7:23-28, and Mark 10:46-52, and we will be singing the hymns All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, Let us Break Bread Together, and And Can it be?

The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When page.

Low Service

Last week’s “Low Service” seemed to go well.  The feedback I have received so far was that it wasn’t reallythat low, and that it was nice to have some variety – and this from both low and high church people!  People also appreciated the intention to make all feel welcome and valued.

One former Roman Catholic shared how he hated bells in the communion, and one former Southern Baptist shared how much she appreciated them!!!

The Potluck to celebrate the 40th Wedding Anniversary of Pat and Julia was also a great success.  Thanks to Emily, Pamela, and Ken, for organising this, along with Pat and Julia!

A great Potluck!

Pat and Julia – cutting the cake again after 40 years!

All Saints’ Day – Sunday 4th November

All Saints’ Day is our patronal festival, and following the service we will have a short congregational meeting to update everyone on the year past and the year ahead.  There will also be the opportunity for people to sign a pledge card for the following year.  This will be followed by a soup and salad potluck.  Please bring bread products and salad to share – contact Emily for details!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Jufil and Shem helping at at our 2017 Christmas Lunch

LOW SERVICE AND POTLUCK THIS SUNDAY

Dear Friends,

One of the things I love about my Filipino friends is how they seem to delight in giving service with a smile.  Thailand is called the land of smiles, and I love the friendly smiles I get in the street here when you catch someone’s eye, but people from the Philippines really seem to delight in service!

That is the call on all of us as Christians. In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus says: “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  Our lives are called upon to be lives of service, and as I remember my dad, I cannot help but be inspired, for that is the life he led!  How much more is the life of Jesus a life of service for us to follow?

Low Service

This Sunday we will be having a special “low service”.  Many of our congregation come from non-Anglican or non-Catholic backgrounds.  Some are Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, or Quaker.

This week we will worship without candles, bells, and vestments, but in simplicity before God.  It will be a stately and reverent service, in the Anglican tradition, which I hope will be a sign of welcome to those in our congregation who are from a less liturgical tradition.  It will not become our regular mode of worship, but possibly, once a month, we would have such a service.

I will not be wearing vestments for the service, but will be wearing black clericals and a stole.  Our worship will continue to be led by the organ and we will sing our usual traditional hymns, but will be using a said liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer rather than a sung liturgy.

If this receives positive feedback, then we may have a similar service each third Sunday of the month, although not in November or December due to our Season of Remembrance and then Christmas!  Normal service will be resumed the following week!

This week we will also have a Potluck to celebrate the 40th Wedding Anniversary of the Wards!  Congratulations, Pat and Julia!  Please all bring food to share!

Our scripture readings this week will be Hebrews 5:1-10 and Mark 10:35-45, and we will be singing the hymns Let Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, There’s a Spirit in the Air, O Jesus I have Promised, Take My Life and Let it Be, and Born in Song!

The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When page.

Season of Remembrance

November will again be our Season of Remembrance.  Each Sunday will have a different emphasis.

Remembrance Day will mark the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War, and this year falls on a Sunday.  All Saints’ regular Sunday service will begin at 9:30 a.m. to enable those who wish to attend the ceremony at the Foreign Cemetery to do so.

Sunday 4th November 11 a.m.
All Saints Day Service
– when we remember all those who have died

Sunday 11th November 9:30 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Service
–  at All Saints remembering all victims of war

Sunday 11th November 10:45 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
– at the Foreign Cemetery

Sunday 18th November 11 a.m.
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sunday 25th November 11 a.m.
Thanksgiving – Remembering the Earth

Festival of Carols 2018

We now have a place and date for our 2018 Festival of Carols.  (Renamed from Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols as there may not be nine, and people don’t know what lessons means, and also as we will vary a little from the exact format used previously!)

We will gather at 7 p.m. on Saturday 15th December in the Chiang Mai Christian School Chapel.  This was the original First Church, and is the oldest church building in Chiang Mai!  It sits on the banks of the Ping River just down from the Nawarat Bridge.  The event will be in aid of the Youth Charity Foundation – the orphanage we hosted at our Harvest Festival on the farm.

Put the event in your diary now, and if you like singing why not join the Lannacapella Choir?  They meet at All Saints at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and have begun rehearsals for the Christmas event.  Contact Chris on christinebaw@gmail.com if you would like to join!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Can you really trust God?

Dear Friends,

We live in a fast changing world, a world where governments seem unreliable and big business untrustworthy.  Can you really trust that bank or your pension provider?  It is easy to wonder just what, or who, we can really trust.

And what about God? Is God really to be trusted?  After all, prayers are not always answered and good people suffer!  We will tackle this difficult issue this Sunday at All Saints, starting at the beginning and asking “Who is God anyway?”

Our scripture readings this week will be Amos 5:10-15, Hebrews 4:12-16, and Mark 10:17-31, and we will be singing the hymns Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, All to Jesus I surrender, King of Kings Majesty, and All My Hope on God Is Founded!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When page.

Low Service

The service on Sunday 21st October will be a little different.  We will have a paired-down liturgy, without bells, vestments, and liturgical music.  This is to help accommodate those who are used to a more simple service.  If it goes well, we may have a similar service on the third Sunday of each month—though not in November or December!  Let me have your feedback!

Season of Remembrance

November will again be our Season of Remembrance.  Each Sunday will have a different emphasis.

Remembrance Day will mark the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War, and this year falls on a Sunday.  All Saints’ regular Sunday service will begin at 9:30 a.m. to enable those who wish to attend the ceremony at the Foreign Cemetery to do so.

Sunday 4th November 11 a.m.
All Saints Day Service
– when we remember all those who have died

Sunday 11th November 9:30 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Service
–  at All Saints remembering all victims of war

Sunday 11th November 10:45 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
– at the Foreign Cemetery

Sunday 18th November 11 a.m.
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sunday 25th November 11 a.m.
Thanksgiving – Remembering the Earth

Festival of Carols 2018

We now have a place and date for our 2018 Festival of Carols.  (Renamed from Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols as there may not be nine, and people don’t know what lessons means, and also as we will vary a little from the exact format used previously!)

We will gather at 7 p.m. on Saturday 15th December in the Chiang Mai Christian School Chapel.  This was the original First Church, and is the oldest church building in Chiang Mai!  It sits on the banks of the Ping River just down from the Nawarat Bridge.

The event will be in aid of the Youth Charity Foundation – the orphanage we hosted at our Harvest Festival on the farm.

Put the event in your diary now, and if you like singing why not join the Lannacapella Choir?  They meet at All Saints at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and are about to begin rehearsals for the Christmas event.  Contact Chris on christinebaw@gmail.com if you would like to join!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

What is the balance?

Dear Friends,

Last week I went on the Chiang Mai International Churches’ Men’s Retreat.  I mostly enjoyed it, but there were some men there who complained that women had taken over the world!  Other’s argued that men and women are so different that we cannot really understand each other the way two men can.  What is the real position?

In last week’s sermon, Taylor Pfaff preached on the story of Queen Esther and how she interceded for her people.  Is she a feminist Christ figure? he asked!  This week our Old Testament reading is the story of Adam and Eve.  What does that tell us about gender and God’s will for man – and woman – kind?  Find out more at All Saints this Sunday!

Our scripture readings this week will be Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-7, 10-12, and Mark 10:2-16, and we will be singing the hymns When Morning Gilds the Skies, The God of Abraham Praise, Mothering God, and Stand up stand up for Jesus!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When page.

Theology on Tap – this Friday!

Coming up! The next Theology on Tap will be this Friday, 5th October, at 7 p.m. at the UN Irish Pub.  This is a great opportunity to have a drink, or a meal, and have an open conversation about some aspect of Christian theology.   The topic will be Sex, Gender, and the Bible!

Some reading around the subject from different viewpoints is available here:

http://queergrace.com/genesis-and-gender/
http://www.colorq.org/bible/?d=Tanakh&x=women
http://www.jubilee-centre.org/gender-fluidity-bible/
https://www.crossway.org/articles/5-things-to-avoid-when-discussing-the-bibles-teaching-on-gender/

No previous knowledge is required, just come with your eyes open and your brain engaged!  No view is too strange or too simple!  All are very welcome!

Festival of Carols 2018

We now have a place and date for our 2018 Festival of Carols.  (Renamed from Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols as there may not be nine, and people don’t know what lessons means, and also as we will vary a little from the exact format used previously!)

We will gather at 7 p.m. on Saturday 15th December in the Chiang Mai Christian School Chapel.  This was the original First Church, and is the oldest church building in Chiang Mai!  It sits on the banks of the Ping River just down from the Nawarat Bridge.  The event will be in aid of the Youth Charity Foundation – the orphanage we hosted at our Harvest Festival on the farm.

Put the event in your diary now, and if you like singing why not join the Lannacapella Choir?  They meet at All Saints at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and are about to begin rehearsals for the Christmas event.  Contact Chris on christinebaw@gmail.com if you would like to join!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain