Monthly Archives: March 2019

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

God always welcomes us back!

AIR-FILTER IN OPERATION THIS WEEK

Dear Friends,

The story of the Prodigal Son is a parable, just a story, but what a wonderful story it is!  It shows us that God’s love never ends, that he forgives and welcomes us back, that we are never lost!  This Sunday Nate Tipton will be preaching and bringing us this wonderful good news!

Our scripture readings this week will be Joshua 5:9-12,  2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, and we will be singing the hymns Immortal, Invisible, God only wise; Amazing Grace; Jesus calls us! o’er the tumult; and God is Love!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Air Pollution

Although things seemed to have improved a little since last Sunday, the air quality in Chiang Mai remains poor.  All Saints has now purchased its own air-filter and this will be in operation this week.

Lent Study Groups – The Power of Love!

This year, our weekly Lent Study Groups are looking at the book The Power of Love by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry.  It is a collection of his sermons, beginning with the one which he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and which was watched by an estimated audience of over a billion people!  (That sermon can be viewed here!)

The groups continue to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Aldis’ house in Hang Dong and the Chase’s house in Sansai.   If you would like to join a group please sign up at the back of the church.

Preaching in Lent

We are mightily blessed at All Saints to have a whole host of preachers.  Throughout the Season of Lent, I am handing over the pulpit to five of them.  Over the next two weeks we will hear from Nate Tipton, and David McPhee!  Thanks to Taylor Pfaff, Christa Crawford, and Helga Spring for their words for the last three weeks.

Church Finances

All Saints trustees, Chris Tananone and Bill Moeller, have taken over most of the treasurer’s role until a permanent replacement can be found, and all our accounts are up to date and in order.

The Thai banking system does not allow recipients to identify who has made deposits into an account, and this month there has been a weekly deposit of THB 1,000 and a one-off deposit of THB 9,000.  If people wish to give anonymously then that is fine, but if you would like a receipt or acknowledgement of your donation, please email me or Chris or Bill.

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

Dear Friends,

Lent is a time for reflecting on our failings!  That probably sounds rather depressing – certainly with all the pollution in Chiang Mai these days we all feel a little under the weather!

But the good news is that, whatever our failings, with God we always have a second chance!  Did you do wrong yesterday?  Never mind, tomorrow is a new chance, don’t do wrong again!  In this week’s Gospel reading we have Jesus telling the parable of the fig-tree.  The owner says cut it down, the gardener argues for one more year!  With God there is always the offer of one more chance!

Those of us from the UK, will perhaps find out this week whether the EU will grant an extension to Article 50!   Will we be given more time to sort everything out?  But with God, the answer is already clear – we have an extension, for God waits for us to turn to God!

Our readings this week will be Isaiah 55:1-5, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Luke 13:1-9, and we will be singing the hymns Praise to the Lord the Almighty, The Barren Fig-tree, For the Bread Which You Have Broken, and Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Gender Discrimination Committee

Last week I flew down to Bangkok to speak before the Thai government committee on the Determination of Unfair Gender Discrimination.  This is a follow-on from my award for Strengthening and Empowering the LGBTI Community last December.

I was asked to address the committee on my pastoral experience and views regarding same-sex marriage.  All went well, and it was good to be able to give a positive message that God values and honours the love between all people.  I was also able to share my experience of those who have suffered for lack of legal recognition of their relationships.

Lent Study Groups – The Power of Love!

This year, our weekly Lent Study Groups are looking at the book The Power of Love by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry.  It is a collection of his sermons, beginning with the one which he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and which was watched by an estimated audience of over a billion people!  (That sermon can be viewed here!)

The groups continue to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Aldis’ house in Hang Dong and the Chase’s house in Sansai.   If you would like to join a group please sign up at the back of the church.

Preaching in Lent

We are mightily blessed at All Saints to have a whole host of preachers.  Throughout the Season of Lent, I will be handing over the pulpit to five of them.  Over the next three weeks we will hear from Taylor Pfaff, Nate Tipton, and David McPhee!

It will be great for me to hear them preach, and for the church to have a rest from my voice!  We are all part of the body of Christ and we can all share with one another!  Thanks to Christa Crawford and Helga Spring for their words for the last two weeks.

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

Pray for the Peace of the City

Dear Friends,

Our world seems to be in turmoil, and Jerusalem seems to lie at the heart of the maelstrom as wars continue to the north in Syria and to the south in Yemen.  Accusations of anti-semitism have become political tools in the UK and US, and internal division and controversy rocks the Israeli State.

Our preacher this Sunday will be Helga Spring and the Gospel reading from Luke chapter 13 tells us of Jesus’ lamenting over Jerusalem.  “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” cries Jesus.

Lent is a time for re-orientating ourselves, turning once again towards God.  That is what repentance means.  You can join us for worship each Sunday, or join one of our two Lenten Study Groups!

Our readings this week will be Genesis 15:1-7,18, Philippians 3:17-4:1, and Luke 13:31-35, and we will be singing the hymns Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah,   King of Kings Majesty, Jesus Thou Joy of Loving Hearts, and Great is Thy Faithfulness!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Gender Discrimination Committee

This Thursday I will be in Bangkok to speak before the Thai government committee on the Determination of Unfair Gender Discrimination.  This is a follow-on from my award for Strengthening and Empowering the LGBTI Community last December.  I have been asked to address the committee on my pastoral experience and views regarding same-sex marriage.

Please pray that I may speak wisely and that all will go well!

Lent Study Groups – The Power of Love!

This year, our weekly Lent Study Groups are looking at the book The Power of Love by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry.  It is a collection of his sermons, beginning with the one which he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and which was watched by an estimated audience of over a billion people!  (That sermon can be viewed here!)

The groups will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Aldis’ house in Hang Dong and the Chase’s house in Sansai.   If you would like to join a group please sign up at the back of the church.

Preaching in Lent

We are mightily blessed at All Saints to have a whole host of preachers.  Throughout the Season of Lent, I will be handing over the pulpit to five of them.  Over the four weeks we will hear from Helga Spring, Taylor Pfaff, Nate Tipton, and David McPhee!  It will be great for me to hear them preach, and for the church to have a rest from my voice!  We are all part of the body of Christ and we can all share with one another!

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

Memories from Lent 2017

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE THIS WEDNESDAY

Dear Friends,

It has been another wonderful week!  Last Saturday I had a great visit to the Youth Charity Foundation and we are hoping we can help them more!

We are now entering the Season of Lent and we will begin with our Ash Wednesday service, tonight at 7 p.m.  Lent is a time for re-orientating ourselves, turning once again towards God.  That is what repentance means.  Join us for worship tonight and each Sunday, or join one of our two Lenten Study Groups!

Our preacher this Sunday will be Christa Crawford and the Gospel reading from Luke chapter 4 tells us of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  Our readings this week will be Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8-13, and Luke 4:1-13, and we will be singing the hymns O Worship the King, Forty Days and Forty Nights, Take My Life and Let it Be, and What a friend we have in Jesus!

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

Ash Wednesday – Tonight!

We will have a special Ash Wednesday service this Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m.  The service will include the imposition of ashes.  Please come and join in this moving service if you can!

Lent Study Groups – The Power of Love!

This year, our weekly Lent Study Groups will look at the book The Power of Love by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Michael Curry.  It is a collection of his sermons, beginning with the one which he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and which was watched by an estimated audience of over a billion people!  (That sermon can be viewed here!)

The groups will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Aldis’ house in Hang Dong and the Chase’s house in Sansai.   If you would like to join a group please sign up at the back of the church.   (As the Aldis’ are travelling next week, the first Tuesday meeting will be here in the church.)

Preaching in Lent

We are mightily blessed at All Saints to have a whole host of preachers.  Throughout the Season of Lent, I will be handing over the pulpit to five of them.  Over the five weeks we will hear from Christa Crawford, Helga Spring, Taylor Pfaff, Nate Tipton, and David McPhee!

It will be great for me to hear them preach, and for the church to have a rest from my voice!  We are all part of the body of Christ and we can all share with one another!

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