Monthly Archives: February 2020

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Our Ash Wednesday Service

Dear Friends,

The Season of Lent is a time for repentance and reflection, but not for sadness and depression.  We reflect on the love of God and our need for wholeness, but we also anticipate Easter and the joy of the resurrection.  “Giving up things” is not an action for its own sake, but rather a way of clearing the decks to make more room for God.  I am giving up chocolate, Pepsi, snacks, and Facebook!  Those who know me will know what this entails!

But Lent is a positive time, it is a time for saying “yes” to God and for working even harder to make this world a better place!  Exciting things are happening at All Saints, and we wait for the coming of God in power!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, and Matthew 4:1-11, and we will be singing the hymns Before the Throne of God Above, Forty Days and Forty Nights, For the Bread Which You Have Broken, and At the Name of Jesus!  Past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!  This is a great place to catch up if you’ve been away!  Each sermon only lasts around 15 minutes.

Ash Wednesday Service

We were only few in number, but this was a wonderful service.  If you didn’t come you missed out!  The presence of the Holy Spirit infused this time of reflection, quiet contemplation, and moving hymns of the faith!

Filming at All Saints

Last Saturday a film crew visited All Saints to make a short documentary about our work in reaching out to all.  They interviewed Gene, Caitlin, and myself, and were in the church for nearly four hours!  I will let you know when it is produced!

Chiang Mai Pride

A group of people from All Saints were able to take part in the Chiang Mai Pride march last Saturday, declaring the love of God for all!

Pancake Sunday

We had a wonderful Pancake Potluck last Sunday, with lots of delicious pancakes and scrumptious fillings!

Thanks to all involved!

Tham Pratheep Church

In December we held our Festival of Christmas Carols at Tham Pratheep Church.  Next Monday evening, some of the All Saints trustees will be meeting with elders of Tham Pratheep to see how we can develop stronger ties.

Please hold this in your prayers.

Discussion Group – At the Gymkhana Club

We are continuing to study Desmond and Mpho Tutu’s book, The Book of Forgiving.  Copies are available to be purchased on Sunday or at the group!  We meet on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Gymkhana Club (following lunch).  Email if you need directions.

All are welcome – I hope you can join us!

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

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

We are the Body of Christ!

PANCAKE POTLUCK THIS WEEK!

Dear Friends,

Next weekend will be busy at All Saints!  Firstly, all are invited to march behind our Christians at Pride banner on Saturday, see below for more information!  Then we will be sharing pancakes on Sunday as we anticipate the beginning of Lent!

In some ways Pride and Lent are opposites.  In Pride people proudly proclaim who they are and declare their desire to stand up and be counted.  In Lent we examine ourselves and acknowledge our failings and need of God.  But both Pride and Lent are about what it is to be human – rejoicing in who God has made us, but also turning to God for true wholeness and fulfilment.  May we have pride in God this Lent, and rejoice in God’s forgiveness and love!

Our scripture readings for  this Sunday will be Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9, and we will be singing the hymns All Creatures of our God and King, Be Thou My Vision, King of Kings Majesty, and Born in Song!  Past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!  This is a great place to catch up if you’ve been away!  Each sermon only lasts around 15 minutes.

Chiang Mai Pride 2020

This year’s Chiang Mai Pride march and events will be this Saturday, 22nd February.  People from All Saints are again invited to march behind our “Christians at Pride” banner.   We will meet at the Chiang Mai Religion Practice Center  at 5 p.m.  (This is at the bottom of the Thaphae Gate road, across from the Governor’s Mansion.) The Parade will begin at 7 p.m.

The route of the march is shown below:

All are welcome to join!

Youth Charity Foundation

On Tuesday we were able to transfer nearly half a million baht to the Youth Charity Foundation.  It is great to be a conduit for God’s blessings to these needy children.  Thanks to all involved!

Pancake Sunday Potluck!

There is only one more Sunday before Lent, so this Sunday we will have our, now traditional, Pancake Sunday Potluck.  Pancakes will be provided and you are ask to bring savory or sweet toppings to share!

Ash Wednesday Service – 26th February

Ash Wednesday is on 26th February.  We will have a special solemn service at 7 p.m. which will include the imposition of ashes.

Discussion Group

We are studying Desmond and Mpho Tutu’s book, The Book of Forgiving.  Copies are available to be purchased on Sunday or at the group!  We meet on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Gymkhana Club (following lunch).  Email if you need directions.

All are welcome – I hope you can join us!

Gymkhana Lunch

Our weekly lunch at the Gymkhana Club will again be at midday, today (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

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

We are the Body of Christ!

Dear Friends,

As we continue our voyage through Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Paul again emphasises the importance of being united.  In our Gospel reading, Jesus shares the same message: be reconciled to one another!  It doesn’t matter how we came to faith, our denominational background, or our favourite style of worship, what matters is that we are one in Christ and love one another!  Let us meet together this week as one people, united in love!

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, and Matthew 5:21-26, and we will be singing the hymns Praise to the Lord the Almighty, They’ll know we are Christians, One Bread One Body, and Oh for a thousand Tongues to Sing!

Past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!  This is a great place to catch up if you’ve been away!  Each sermon only lasts around 15 minutes.

Chiang Mai Pride 2020

This year’s Chiang Mai Pride march and events will be on Saturday 22nd February.  People from All Saints are again invited to march behind our “Christians at Pride” banner.  We will meet at the Chiang Mai Religion Practice Center  at 5 p.m.  (This is at the bottom of the Thaphae Gate road, across from the Governor’s Mansion.) The Parade will begin at 7 p.m.

All are welcome to join!

Pancake Sunday Potluck!

There are only two more Sundays before Lent, so on Sunday 23rd February we will have our, now traditional, Pancake Sunday Potluck.  Pancakes will be provided and you are ask to bring savory or sweet toppings to share!

Ash Wednesday Service – 26th February

Ash Wednesday is on 26th February.  We will have a special solemn service at 7 p.m. which will include the imposition of ashes.

Discussion Group

We are studying Desmond and Mpho Tutu’s book, The Book of Forgiving.  Copies are available to be purchased on Sunday or at the group!  We meet on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Gymkhana Club (following lunch).  Email if you need directions.

All are welcome – I hope you can join us!

Gymkhana Lunch

Our weekly lunch at the Gymkhana Club will again be at midday, today (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

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

What does it mean to have the Spirit?

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls his disciples Salt and Light.  Meanwhile, Paul in our New Testament reading talks of being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. How do these two concepts link together?  How can we be wise, Spirit-filled, and salt and light to our communities?  This will be the message of our sermon this week at All Saints.

Our bible readings this Sunday will be Isaiah 58:6-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, and Matthew 5:13-20, and we will be singing the hymns Awake My Soul and with the Sun, O Breath of Life, God is Love, and Salt of the Earth! Past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!  This is a great place to catch up if you’ve been away!  Each sermon only lasts around 15 minutes.

Chiang Mai Pride 2020

This year’s Chiang Mai Pride march and events will be on Saturday 22nd February.  People from All Saints are again invited to march behind our “Christians at Pride” banner.  More details to follow.  All are welcome to join!

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 will begin by studying Desmond and Mpho Tutu’s book, The Book of Forgiving.  Copies are available to purchase.  We will meet on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Gymkhana Club (following lunch).  Email if you need directions.

Copies of the book are available if you don’t already have one.  All are welcome – I hope you can join us!

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

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Discussion Group Book for 2020

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Our new discussion groups begin this week!  We will be studying Desmond and Mpho Tutu’s book, The Book of Forgiving.  If you did not pick up a copy on Sunday, copies will be available at the group.  We will look at Chapter 1 this week.

(You can read some of this if you click on “Look Inside” in the Amazon page found here or you could buy the Kindle Edition.)

The meeting times are Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Vicarage, and Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Gymkhana Club.  (We meet there for lunch at midday.)  See below for directions.

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Mpho and Desmond Tutu

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The Vicarage

Tuesdays 7 p.m.

299/50, Moo 5,
Mooban Nathong Ville I,
Chiang Mai – Lampang Road,
Tambon Tha Sala,
Amphoe Muang,
Chiang Mai

Google Maps Link  (Make sure you turn left immediately after the PTT gas station.)

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Gymkhana Club

Thursdays 1:30 p.m.

Chiengmai Gymkhana Club
349, Chiang Mai – Lamphun Road,
Nong Hoi,
Chiang Mai 50000

Google Maps Link

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For further information, call 0 904 604 304 or email me on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com

Hope to see you there,

God bless,

Iain