From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Hidden Growth!
POTLUCK LUNCH THIS SUNDAY!
Dear Friends,
Those of you who were at church last Sunday, or who look at the All Saints Facebook Page, will know that about a week ago one of my rabbits gave birth. The first I knew about it was last Friday morning when I saw a nest full of five or six wriggling bodies in the compost heap behind my house.
We were shocked when we checked again on Friday evening to find them gone – seemingly buried alive! After a quick Google search I found that rabbits do this – burying their young to keep them safe and then opening up the nest once or twice a day to feed them milk.
It wasn’t until Sunday lunchtime that we saw them again and found out that they weren’t dead but were safe and growing. As I write this on Wednesday night, at least two babies are well and thriving and there may be others deeper in the nest which can’t be seen.
Mother and one of the babies (behind the leaf)
This made me think of All Saints, and of how spiritual growth is often something which is hard to see, but which may be going on below the surface, where only God knows whether it is thriving or struggling. We have seen numerical growth at All Saints over the Christmas period, but only God knows what is in our hearts and souls.
This is going to be an exciting year at All Saints with many new possibilities ahead, but for us to proceed we need to be united in vision and love. That is theme of our New Testament reading this week and will be the subject of my sermon also.
People of All Saints last Sunday
Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, and Matthew 4:12-23, and we will be singing the hymns All People that on Earth do Dwell, Bind Us together Lord, Blest Be the Tie That Binds, and Christ Be Our Light! Past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!
Potluck Lunch – This Week!
Our next potluck will be this Sunday! Please bring food to share!
Discussion Groups for the New Year
In previous years we have had very popular Lent Groups, but this year we would like to begin the groups earlier – and maybe continue longer!
We are thinking of one group being held on Tuesday night at the vicarage, and another on Thursday afternoon following the lunch at the Gymkhana Club. (Attendance at the lunch would not mandate attendance at the discussion group!)
Let me know if you are interested – and if you have any suggestion for a book/topic to study!
Gymkhana Lunch
Our weekly lunch at the Gymkhana Club will again be at midday on Thursday! Please feel free to join us!
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 