Monthly Archives: April 2019

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Jesus calls us to himself!

Dear Friends,

I am in the UK for the next three weeks having a very welcome break!  Rev. Mark Crawford will be preaching and presiding this Sunday as we continue to celebrate the Easter Season!  This week’s Gospel sees Jesus in Galilee and tells of his encounter with the disciples after his resurrection.  He meets them over breakfast and calls on Peter to feed his sheep!  God calls us all to love and care for one another.

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 9:1-20, Revelation 5:11-14, and John 21:1-19, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia Alleluia Give Thanks, One Bread One Body, and Thine Be the Glory!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

All Saint Chiang Mai Mission

The first meeting of the UK charity All Saints Chiang Mai Mission will take place at Carterknowle Methodist Church, Sheffield, UK, this Sunday.  ASCMM exists to support the work of All Saints, financially and in prayer and oversight.

I will be there in my role as ASCMM secretary, and Pat Ward will also be there in his role as ASCMM Chair, while David Cartwright, the other Thailand-based trustee, will join us by Skype.  The three UK-based trustees, Diane Maragh, Fiona Champion, and Nigel Brooke-Smith will be there, and Nigel has agreed to serve as our treasurer.

Please hold the trustees and all those involved in your prayers.

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

Our wonderful Easter Eucharist!

Dear Friends,

We had a wonderful Easter weekend at All Saints.

Firstly on Good Friday we had a moving Tenebrae Service as we remembered the last days of Jesus as he journeyed to the Cross.  Then on Holy Saturday some of us went out to the Youth Charity Foundation orphanage to organise an Easter Egg hunt and other fun activities for the children.  Then finally on Easter Sunday we had our joyful Easter Eucharist followed by a potluck and Easter Egg hunt for the children of All Saints.

Easter Sunday Eucharist – He is Risen!

More details and pictures below!

This week, our Gospel reading tells the story of doubting Thomas.  As I read the familiar story once again, I was struck by the importance of touch.  Thomas said “Unless I put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”  We often say seeing is believing, but touch is even more so.  It is a hug that can really show when someone loves us, and it is often a touch that can bring healing when nothing else can.

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8, and John 20:19-31, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia! Sing to Jesus, The Day of Resurrection, Hail the Day, and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Good Friday

Emily Chase giving the First Reading

Our solemn Good Friday Tenebrae service consisted on seven readings telling the story of the events leading up to the crucifixion and ending as Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb.  The palm branches from Palm Sunday remained in place, but now they were dry and wilted, showing only death and decay.

After each reading another candle was extinguished, and at the end of the service we left the church in silence and darkness.

Easter Orphanage Visit

On Holy Saturday, seven people from All Saints took gifts to the children of the Youth Charity Foundation.  Our visit included an Easter Egg Hunt and egg dipping, and Warren donated a huge pile of clothes given by visitors to his farm.

Many thanks to all who made this great event possible!

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, thirty-six of us gathered to celebrate the resurrection!  It was great to see so many kids taking part, with Sam controlling the sound, Jeff lighting the Easter Candle, and Cambree and Nora lighting the altar candles before the service.

Lighting the Easter Candle

Lyla looking very cute – and me less so!

Video of the whole service can be found here.

After our worship we has an incredible pot-luck lunch, with delicious piping-hot food, and scrumptious desserts.  Thanks to all who made this possible!

Our delicious potluck!

Our celebrations of the Easter Season will continue this Sunday!

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

The Cross Shines Defiant

Dear Friends,

This week we all watched in horror as the Cathedral of Notre Dame burned.  The roof collapsed, and at one point all seemed lost.  But this is Holy Week, and more than one commentator has spoken on the theme of death and resurrection.  Of course, a cathedral is only wood and stone, but its destruction and rebuilding can act as a symbol that resurrection is possible!  In fact, in the Christian life it is not only possible, it is a fact of our salvation.

That is the message of Easter.  God had opened the way to life, to new beginnings, to wholeness and healing, to communion with God and all!

From the flames can come resurrection!

On Good Friday we will have a special Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m.  This is a solemn and moving service of hymns and readings, where candles are extinguished as the service progresses through the last days of Jesus life leading up to the crucifixion!  We will leave the church in darkness.

Our scripture readings for Good Friday will be Matthew 26:17-29, Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 15:1-15, Matthew 27:45-54, Isaiah 52:13-53:5, and Matthew 27:62-66, and we will sing the hymns When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, How deep the Father’s love for us, My Song is Love Unknown, Were You There When They Crucified My Lord, and O Love that Will Not Let Me Go!

Then on Easter Sunday we will have our joyous resurrection Eucharist at our usual time of 11 a.m.

Our scripture readings for Easter Sunday will be Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, and John 20:1-18, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today, The Day of Resurrection, Christ is Alive, and Thine Be the Glory, along with a new setting of the Gloria by David Thorne!

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

The Easter Sunday service will be followed by a potluck lunch and Easter Egg Hunt!

Palm Sunday Service

The video of highlights of our Palm Sunday Service is available here, or you can just watch the sermon, The Magic of the Cross, here!

Orphanage Easter Egg Hunt

Getting Ready Last Sunday

This Saturday we will be meeting at the Youth Charity Foundation for an Easter Egg hunt and other Easter-themed activities.  The people of All Saints have crocheted an Easter basket for each child, and we have gifts of candy, too!  If you would like to join us, meet at the Youth Charity Foundation at 10 a.m., or at church at 9:30 a.m. if you would like a lift!

Click here for the YCF location and directions!

Coffee

The coffee we drink after church at All Saints is supplied by the Chase family.  With their Thai partners, they have just launched the Drooling Lion brand of locally grown organic coffee for export!  If you would like to get a bag, you can do so after church on Sunday.  If all goes well, they hope to launch a special blend in aid of the Youth Charity Foundation.

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

His palms were pierced for us!

Dear Friends,

In English, the word palms has two meanings: it refers to the branches of the palm tree, which we wave on Palm Sunday, but it also refers to the softest and most vulnerable part of our hands.  Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, and these seven days fill nearly half the chapters of the four gospels.  There is a lot of story to include!

Palm Sunday 2018 at All Saints

Traditionally, the church has had many special services for Holy Week: Palm/Passion Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Spy Wednesday, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Day.

Spy Wednesday – Judas agrees to betray Jesus

On Holy Monday some observe the anointing of Jesus at Bethany or the Cleansing of the Temple, on Holy Tuesday Jesus’ prediction of his own death is often marked, and on Spy Wednesday the story of Judas arranging his betrayal of Jesus is often told.

Tenebrae is celebrated on the evening before or early morning of Maundy Thursday, Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent death, and after sundown on Holy Saturday is the traditional time for Easter Vigil.  Then on Easter Sunday the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated!

The Last Supper – marked on Maundy Thursday

This year All Saints will only have services on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

In previous years we have celebrated Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and saved the subsequent parts of the Easter story for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, ignoring the fact that Palm Sunday is also Passion Sunday, the Sunday when we remember Jesus’ Passion, his death on the Cross for us!

This year we will mark Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, but I will be preaching on the Magic of the Cross!  Magic, you may ask, is that a Christian word?  Is that a suitable term to apply to Jesus death on the Cross?  You will have to come this Sunday, or watch the video afterwards, to find out!

Our scripture readings for Palm Sunday will be Luke 19:28-40, Philippians 2:5-11, and Luke 23:13-25, 32-49, and we will be singing the hymns Hosanna in the Highest, All Glory Laud and Honour, Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, My Song is Love Unknown, and Ride on Ride on in Majesty!

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

Easter Services for 2019

Good Friday Service 19th April 7 pm
– a solemn tenabrae service

Easter Sunday Service 21st April 11 am
– followed by potluck and Easter Egg hunt

Air Pollution

Although things seem better in the afternoon, the morning air quality in Chiang Mai remains poor.  All Saints’ new air-filter worked well last Sunday and this will be in operation this week.

Preaching in Lent

We are mightily blessed at All Saints to have a whole host of preachers.  Throughout the Season of Lent  I handed over the pulpit to five of them.  Thanks to David McPhee, Nate Tipton, Taylor Pfaff, Christa Crawford, and Helga Spring for their words over the last five weeks.  All the sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

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,

Our world is a place which needs lots of help.  Poverty, injustice, and environmental degradation, are serious issues which require our time and our commitment, but there has to be more.  Full and living life needs love, beauty, and worship.   That is why some of us have been looking at new possibilities for All Saints this week.  Nothing is likely to happen soon, but worship of God is the core activity of All Saints, we are a worshipping community, and while we worship in our actions and in our daily lives, we also worship by bringing our best to God in music, art, and liturgy.

This is the theme of our Gospel reading this Sunday.  Mary, the sister of Martha, was devoted to Jesus and she worships him by washing his feet with costly perfume.  She is criticised for “wasting money” which could have been given to the poor, but Jesus rebukes her detractor.  As in most things, there is need for a balance, a need for wisdom, but part of our calling is to bring a holy worship to God and this we will try to do!

This Sunday we will have the great pleasure of hearing David McPhee preach on this passage.  Our scripture readings this week will be Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, and John 12:1-8, and we will be singing the hymns All People that on Earth do Dwell, I will offer up my life, Be Thou My Vision, and Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts!

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

Easter Services for 2019

Palm Sunday Service 14th April 11 am
– with Parading of the Palms

Good Friday Service 19th April 7 pm
– a solemn tenabrae service

Easter Sunday Service 21st April 11 am
– followed by potluck and Easter Egg hunt

Air Pollution

Although things seem better in the afternoon, the morning air quality in Chiang Mai remains poor.  All Saints’ new air-filter worked well last Sunday and this will be in operation this week.

Amplification

The air-filter, whilst cleaning the air, does add slightly more background noise to our worship.  Last Sunday we used a microphone on the lectern for the first time and this was very successful and will be used again this week!

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.  This week we will hear from David McPhee!  Thanks to Nate Tipton, Taylor Pfaff, Christa Crawford, and Helga Spring for their words for the last four 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