Male/Female?

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