From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Clashes in Hong Kong on Tuesday
POTLUCK THIS WEEK!
Dear Friends,
Last week our deacon, Gene Bourquin, arrived from New York. He was a day late, delayed for 24 hours by the protests at Hong Kong airport. My mum is supposed to be flying back to the UK this Thursday, via Hong Kong, we don’t yet know if she will be leaving, after the airport was again closed for two days this week!
The protestors have a valid desire for freedom and democracy, but it is not clear how this can end well. It is ironic that the Chinese communist government is condemning the protestors as lawless violent terrorists, aren’t communists suppose to believe in revolution and direct action?
Peace seems to be in short supply in our world today! Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, yet in this week’s Gospel reading his words are challenging:
Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!
Jesus knew that wherever there is the struggle for justice and righteousness then opposition will arise. Those of us coming from relatively free stable western democracies easily forget that our rights did not fall out of the sky, but were the result of the struggle and even deaths of many men and women. Our challenge as Christians is to know how to live in this world of compromise and contradictions, while still holding fast to our faith and the message of Christ!
Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Jeremiah 23:23-29, Hebrews 11:29-12:2, and Luke 12:49-56, and we will be singing the hymns Praise my Soul the King of Heaven, Christ Be Our Light, Be Still for the Presence of the Lord, and Christ is made the Sure Foundation! The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!
New Teachers’ Potluck
This Sunday we will have a potluck lunch to welcome new teachers, and other people new to Chiang Mai, to All Saints. I have emailed ten international schools asking them to pass on the information to their new teachers so hopefully we will see some new people this week. Please bring food to share and invite your friends – just tell them that we are having a special service and lunch and ask them if they would like to come!
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
All Saints' Chiang Mai 