Monthly Archives: April 2020

I am the Gate!

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai


Military Defense?

Click here to join the Service this Sunday!

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls himself the gate for the sheep.  He would have been using a very familiar image.  He says “I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep…. I am the gate for the sheep.”

As you all know, I have rabbits.  I have previously, at different times, had a dog and cats, but rabbits are very different.  Like sheep, they are prey animals.  Again and again we have strengthened the defenses in my Chiang Mai garden to keep dogs out.


Keeping them safe!

Last week, two dogs again got in to the garden, and my friend, Cross, built the new defenses shown in the photo at the top of the page!  Am I a good shepherd of my rabbits?  Well, I do my best but still have been unable to completely keep predators out.  Dogs are a threat to the bigger rabbits and cats to the babies.  Snakes could threaten both!

But Jesus is the Gate and the Good Shepherd!  He says: “Whoever enters by me will be safe, and will come in and go out and find pasture…. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

In the midst of this pandemic we are ultimately safe, for we are in God’s hands.

We are the Body of Christ, and so we are Christ to one another.  Please support one another, call one another, pray for one another.  You can call me any time on Line, Facebook Messenger, or Whatsapp, or email me on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com  None of us are alone, even if we may feel that we are!  God is with us, and we are all together in this, even as we are apart.

We will meet again this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Thailand, to worship together.  (7 a.m. in New York, midday in the U.K., and 1 p.m. in Europe and Egypt!)

Click here to join the Service this Sunday!

If you missed it, last week’s service can be see here.


Last week’s congregation!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10, and we will be singing the hymns Christ the Lord is Risen Today, The Lord’s My Shepherd, The Lord’s My Shepherd / I will trust in You, and The King of Love my Shepherd Is!

Our service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.  If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.

The words of this Sunday’s bulletin is pasted below at the end of this email, or you can download it as a pdf to view or print from this link.  You can then read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Weekly Discussion Group

We will continue our discussion group tonight (Thursday) at 8 p.m.  Just click on this link to join.  The meeting ID is 829-4307-6518.

We will begin by discussing the ideas in Terry Hershey’s Sabbath Moment which can be read here.  All are welcome to join – it is a chance just to be together!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

Although we are not meeting together face-to-face, the expenses of All Saints remain – indeed, they may increase as we seek to support those in need!

Although there is no basket being passed around in our service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given – we are receiving approximately our normal monthly offering!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email Don on dbjkwms@gmail.com  if you would like a receipt.

Keeping in Touch

At this time of isolation it is important that we keep in touch with each other.  We have an All Saints church directory with a list of many people’s phone numbers, so if you would like a copy please email me, on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to share this email.  People may be feeling especially alone and vulnerable at this time.  Let them know that we are there for them and that God is with us!

God bless,

Father Iain

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 3rd May 2020
Welcome to Worship

 

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Hymn:
Christ the Lord is Risen Today

The Greeting

The Lord be with you!
And also with you!

Words of welcome

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him, and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever.
Amen.

….

Lord our God,
we have avoided your call.
Our love for you
is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us;
deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds
and revive us;

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gloria – Mass of Gregory the Great             

The Collect

The First Reading: Acts 2:42-47

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
therefore can I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down
in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul
and guide me in the paths
of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You spread a table before me
in the presence of those
who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil
and my cup shall be full.
Surely goodness and loving mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,

And to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be

World without end, Amen

The Second Reading:
1 Peter 2:19-25

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Gospel Reading

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia. 
He has defeated the powers of death.
Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.
Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.
Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading:
John 10:1-10

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed            

I trust in God,
the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.
I trust in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.

I trust in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.  

Hymn:
The Lord’s My Shepherd

Prayers of Intercession

Response:     
Lord, open the gates
of your kingdom for us! 
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Through the resurrection
of your son, O God,
you destroy the power of death.
By the power of the Spirit,
raise us to life,
and seat us at the paschal feast,
that we may rejoice
in the gift of salvation

Jesus has won for us.  Amen.

The Peace

Then were they glad
when they saw the Lord.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
And also with you. Alleluia.

Offering and Preparation
of the Table

Hymn:
The Lord’s My Shepherd
/ I will trust in You

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.                          
It is right to give
thanks and praise.

….

And so, in the joy of this Passover,
earth and heaven
resound with gladness,
while angels and archangels
and the powers of all creation
sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,

heaven and earth
are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. 
….

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven…

Breaking of the Bread

Jesus says, I am the bread of life,
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Lord, our hearts hunger for you;
give us this bread always.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Alleluia.

We share in the Body and Blood of Christ

Prayer after Communion

Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ
to be the good shepherd,

and in his love for us
to lay down his life and rise again:

keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace
to follow in his steps;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hymn:
The King of Love my Shepherd Is

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Praise the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope
by raising Jesus from the dead.

God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
be among you
and remain with you always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ.  Amen!

On the Road to Nowhere?

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai


Going nowhere fast?

Dear Friends,

This is dragging on!  We’re probably all feeling like we’re on the road to nowhere – going nowhere fast!

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading we read of two unnamed disciples hightailing it out of Jerusalem – it was already getting dark but they were determined to put as many miles between themselves and the failed mission of Jesus as they could.  (We would probably just value the chance to go anywhere!!!)

But in the words of the hymn, “Lo! Jesus meets them, risen from the tomb!”  He appears to them on the road, just as he appeared to the women by the empty tomb that morning, and as he would appear to the disciples hidden in the upper room that night.

Maybe we are asking where God is in all this?  The answer is, God is with us in the midst of it, God is with us as we shelter alone, God is with us in illness, loneliness, despair, or even in our times of peace and contentment!

We are the Body of Christ, and so we are Christ to one another.  Please support one another, call one another, pray for one another.  You can call me any time on Line, Facebook Messenger, or Whatsapp, or email me on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com

None of us are alone, even if we may feel that we are!  God is with us, and we are all together in this, even as we are apart.

To help us stay connected, we are starting a discussion group tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m.  Just click on this link to join.   The meeting ID is 463 638 9024  We will begin by discussing the ideas in Terry Hershey’s Sabbath Moment which can be read here.  All are welcome to join – it is a chance just to be together!

Then, we will meet again this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Thailand, to worship together.  (7 a.m. in New York, midday in the U.K., and 1 p.m. in Europe and Egypt!)

Click here to join the Service this Sunday!

If you missed them, last week’s service can be see here, our Easter Sunday Service can be seen hereGood Friday Service can be seen here, and last week’s Palm Sunday service can now be seen here!


YCF Kids at our Easter Sunday Service

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 2:14, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, and Luke 24:13-35, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today, The Day of Resurrection, and Thine Be the Glory!

Our service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.

If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.

The words of this Sunday’s bulletin is pasted below at the end of this email, or you can download it as a pdf to view or print from this link.

You can then read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Weekly Offering to All Saints

Although we are not meeting together face-to-face, the expenses of All Saints remain – indeed, they may increase as we seek to support those in need!

Although there is no basket being passed around in our service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email Don on dbjkwms@gmail.com  if you would like a receipt.

Keeping in Touch

At this time of isolation it is important that we keep in touch with each other.  We have an All Saints church directory with a list of many people’s phone numbers, so if you would like a copy please email me, on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to share this email.  People may be feeling especially alone and vulnerable at this time.  Let them know that we are there for them and that God is with us!

God bless,

Father Iain

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Hymn:
Jesus Christ is Risen Today! 

The Greeting

The Lord be with you!
And also with you!

Words of welcome

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him, and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever.
Amen.

Christ our passover lamb
has been sacrificed for us.
Let us therefore rejoice
by putting away all malice and evil
and confessing our sins
with a sincere and true heart.
1 Corinthians 5.7,8

Lord our God,
we have avoided your call.
Our love for you
is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us;
deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds
and revive us;

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gloria – Mass of Gregory the Great             

The Collect

The First Reading: Acts 2:14, 36-41

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Psalm 116

I love the Lord,
for he has heard the voice
of my supplication;
because he inclined his ear to me
on the day I called to him.

The snares of death
encompassed me;

the pains of hell
took hold of me;

by grief and sorrow
was I held.

Then I called upon
the name of the Lord:

‘O Lord, I beg you,
deliver my soul.’

Gracious is the Lord
and righteous;

our God is full
of compassion.

I will fulfil
my vows to the Lord

in the presence
of all his people.

Precious
in the sight of the Lord

is the death
of his faithful servants.

O Lord, I am your servant,
your servant,
the child of your handmaid;

you have freed me
from my bonds.

I will offer to you
a sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call upon
the name of the Lord.

I will fulfil
my vows to the Lord

in the presence
of all his people,

In the courts
of the house of the Lord,

in the midst of you,
O Jerusalem.

      Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,

And to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be

World without end, Amen

The Second Reading:
1 Peter 1:17-23

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Gospel Reading

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia. 
He has defeated the powers of death.
Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.
Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.
Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading:
Luke 24:13-35

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
give praise to his name!

Sermon

The Creed

We trust in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We trust in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,

eternally begotten
of the Father,

God from God,
Light from Light,

true God from true God,
begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;
through him
all things were made.

For us
and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,

was incarnate
from the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

 For our sake he was
crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death
and was buried.

On the third day
he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We trust in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken
through the prophets.

We trust in one
holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for
the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of
the world to come.
Amen.

Hymn:
The Day of Resurrection

Prayers of Intercession

Response:     
Lord, help us to see
through the mists and
distortions of this world
to your reality beyond:
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Through the resurrection
of your son, O God,
you destroy the power of death.
By the power of the Spirit,
raise us to life,
and seat us at the paschal feast,
that we may rejoice
in the gift of salvation

Jesus has won for us.  Amen.

The Peace

The risen Christ came
and stood among
his disciples and said,
‘Peace be with you.’

Then were they glad
when they saw the Lord.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
And also with you. Alleluia.

Offering and Preparation
of the Table

Hymn:
The Living Bread     

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.                          
It is right to give
thanks and praise.

….

And so, in the joy of this Passover,
earth and heaven
resound with gladness,
while angels and archangels
and the powers of all creation
sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,

heaven and earth
are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. 
….

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven…

Breaking of the Bread

Jesus says, I am the bread of life,
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Lord, our hearts hunger for you;
give us this bread always.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Alleluia.

We share in the Body and Blood of Christ

Prayer after Communion

Living God,
your Son made himself known
to his disciples

in the breaking of bread:
open the eyes of our faith,
that we may see him
in all his redeeming work;

who is alive and reigns,
now and for ever.  Amen.

Hymn:
Thine Be the Glory

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Praise the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope
by raising Jesus from the dead.

God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
be among you
and remain with you always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ.  Amen!

Locked Doors?

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai


Worship at Home

Dear Friends,

This is the Easter Season – it should be a time of rejoicing, a time of resurrection, yet for many of us it is a time of lockdown and isolation.

I have had enough now, I want to get back to Thailand, I want to be able to meet with friends, to eat together and share fellowship, to worship with others, side by side, face to face!

We have managed to worship online and done a reasonable job – but how much longer will this go on for?  I have friends in Thailand and the Philippines who have lost their jobs and are in very difficult situations.  Our friends in the Anglican Church of India are struggling to provide food to the people there who are destitute, who cry “How long Oh Lord?”


Bishop Henry’s church serving those in need!

But perhaps it is like that first Easter day.  We read in this week’s Gospel reading that the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews.  The disciples were “self-isolating” not from fear of disease, but from fear of the authorities.  They were afraid, but Jesus came and stood among them and their whole view changed – but not quite!  They actually stayed largely hidden until Pentecost seven weeks later, when the Holy Spirit came!

God willing, in seven weeks time we will be a little bit back to normal, but until then we can know that Jesus is risen and God is with us!

Christ is risen from the dead!  Alleluia!

We will meet again this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Thailand, to worship together.  (7 a.m. in New York, midday in the U.K., and 1 p.m. in Europe and Egypt!)

Click here to join the Service this Sunday!

If you missed them, our Easter Sunday Service can be seen hereGood Friday Service can be seen here, and last week’s Palm Sunday service can now be seen here!


YCF Kids at our Easter Sunday Service

Our scripture readings for Sunday will be Acts 2:14, 22 32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 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!

Our service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.

If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.

The words of this Sunday’s bulletin is pasted below at the end of this email, or you can download it as a pdf to view or print from this link.

You can then read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Easter Sunday Service!

If you missed it then it’s worth watching!  Our service included music from the children of the Youth Charity Foundation, the confirmation of Johan and Uni in Bangkok, and we were joined from New Jersey by Bishop Henry of the Anglican Church of India.

The service can be viewed here!

Father Rick with Johan and Uni

Bishop Henry – Joining us from New Jersey!

The Youth Charity Foundation

YCF is using this time of lockdown to get on with building with help from some of the older children!

Building together!

If you would like to support this work you can send the money to All Saints using the methods below, and email me and our treasurer to say the money if for the Youth Charity Foundation.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

The time delay means it is impossible to sing together on our Zoom service, but by pre-recording and with special software you can edit it together.  Here is a beautiful version of Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

Although we are not meeting together face-to-face, the expenses of All Saints remain – indeed, they may increase as we seek to support those in need!

Although there is no basket being passed around in our service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email Don on dbjkwms@gmail.com  if you would like a receipt.

Keeping in Touch

At this time of isolation it is important that we keep in touch with each other.  We have an All Saints church directory with a list of many people’s phone numbers, so if you would like a copy please email me, on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to share this email.  People may be feeling especially alone and vulnerable at this time.  Let them know that we are there for them and that God is with us!

God bless,

Father Iain

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday 19th April 2020
Welcome to Worship
(Congregational Copy)

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Hymn:             Alleluia! Sing to Jesus         

The Greeting

The Lord be with you! And also with you!

Words of welcome

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him, and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever. Amen.

Gloria – Mass of Gregory the Great

The Collect 

The First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-32

This is the word of the Lord.    Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia, give praise to his name!

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge;
I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my lord,
all my good depends on you.’

  All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land,
   upon those who are noble in heart.

  Though the idols are legion
      that many run after,
   their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
  neither make mention of their names upon my lips.

  The Lord himself is my portion and my cup;
   in your hands alone is my fortune.
  My share has fallen in a fair land;
   indeed, I have a goodly heritage.

  I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel,
   and in the night watches he instructs my heart.
  I have set the Lord always before me;
   he is at my right hand; I shall not fall.

  Wherefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices;
   my flesh also shall rest secure.
  For you will not abandon my soul to Death,
   nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit.
  You will show me the path of life;
      in your presence is the fullness of joy
   and in your right hand
are pleasures for evermore.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be

World without end, Amen

The Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

This is the word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia, give praise to his name!

Gospel Reading

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.               Alleluia.
He has defeated the powers of death.            Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.              Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.                     Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia, give praise to his name!

Sermon

The Creed

We trust in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We trust in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We trust in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We trust in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.    Amen.

Hymn:             The Day of Resurrection

Prayers of Intercession

Response:      Lord, though we have not seen you,
yet we believe: Help thou our unbelief.
                        Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Through the resurrection of your son, O God,
you destroy the power of death.
By the power of the Spirit,
raise us to life,
and seat us at the paschal feast,
that we may rejoice in the gift of salvation
Jesus has won for us.  Amen.

The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
And also with you. Alleluia.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Offering and Preparation of the Table

Hymn:             Hail the Day that sees Him Rise

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
….
And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. 
….

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
….

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  
Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Jesus says, I am the bread of life,
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Lord, our hearts hunger for you;
give us this bread always.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

We share in the Body and Blood of Christ

Prayer after Communion

Lord God our Father,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ
you have assured your children of eternal life
and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin
and raise us to new life in your love,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Hymn:             All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope
by raising Jesus from the dead.

God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

This is Holy Week!

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai


Good Friday in 2018

Dear Friends,

This will be a Holy Week like no other.  From Rome to Jerusalem, New York to Chiang Mai, churches will stand empty!  But, God’s people will still be “meeting” together, we will still be remembering the events of Good Friday and celebrating the joy of Easter Day!

At All Saints you can join us at 6 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Sunday on the Zoom app.  The services will later be available on YouTube for those who can’t manage Zoom.

The links to both services are here.  Simply click on the links around 15 minutes before each service.  (This gives time to iron-out any technical difficulties!)

Click here to join the Good Friday Service!

Click here to join the Easter Sunday Service!

If you missed it, last week’s Palm Sunday service can now be seen here!


Our Palm Sunday gathering!

6 p.m. in Thailand, is midday in the UK, 1 p.m. in Europe and Egypt, and 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in the US.  We will again be joined by friends around the world!

In this time of lock-down, health workers, and others, around the world are risking their own lives to save others.  They could chose to stay safely at home, to “self-isolate” like most of the rest of us, yet  they are putting their lives on the line for us!  This can be a metaphor for the Christ who chose to go to the Cross for us.  Who, in the Garden of Gethsemane, said to the Father, “Your will, not mine be done!”, who was urged by the thief on the Cross to “Save himself!”, and yet did not!

It is the calling on our lives, where called upon, to lay down our lives for others too!  May we remember this this Holy Week of 2020!


Good Friday last year!

Meanwhile, let us worship God together and give thanks for all we do have!

On Good Friday we have a special Tenebrae Service at 6 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!

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!


Easter Sunday last year

Then on Easter Sunday we will have our joyous resurrection Eucharist also at 6 p.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!


Our Palm Sunday Eucharist last week

Our Easter Sunday service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship – and we will have some hymns this week!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.

If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.  Whether “virtual communion” is effective is something for a theological discussion, but I am sure that God will bless our actions at this time if we act in a loving and reverent manner.

The words of the Good Friday and Easter Sunday bulletins are on our “EASTER SERVICES” page, or you can download them as a pdf to view or print from these links:

Good Friday 
Easter Sunday

You can then read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Weekly Offering to All Saints

Although we are not meeting together face-to-face, the expenses of All Saints remain – indeed, they may increase as we seek to support those in need!

Although there is no basket being passed around in our service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email Don on dbjkwms@gmail.com  if you would like a receipt.

Keeping in Touch

At this time of isolation it is important that we keep in touch with each other.  We have an All Saints church directory with a list of many people’s phone numbers, so if you would like a copy please email me, on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to share this email.  People may be feeling especially alone and vulnerable at this time.  Let them know that we are there for them and that God is with us!

God bless,

Father Iain

Hosanna!

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai


Last Week’s Worship!

Dear Friends,

Last year we paraded into church singing Hosanna and waving palm branches.  This year we will be waving our palm branches alone in our homes!

I hope you can join us this Sunday!  This is the link to this week’s “meeting”.  Just click here before the service on Sunday to join.

Those crowds shouting hosanna would now be forbidden by rules on social distancing.  The Passover week festivities would have been cancelled and the Temple and synagogues closed.  Jesus would have been able to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, but only if his journey was “strictly necessary!”

Last Year’s Palm Sunday Service!

These are strange and unprecedented times.  Even in World War I and II the churches remained open and people were able to celebrate the Christian feast together.

But… God is with us!  And we can count our blessings.  We may be confined to our homes, but we have homes, and we have food to eat and beds to sleep in, and friends to talk to – even if it is remotely!

Yesterday we had our All Saints Trustees Meeting via Zoom, and we have decided to continue paying our organist and cleaner in full during this time – they need our continuing support.

The trustees also agreed to send THB 15,000 to Bishop Henry of the Anglican Church of India, with whom we are developing links.  He is stuck in the US, but he and his wife has been buying food for the destitute in their congregation using their credit cards!  Things will be hard for people in Thailand, but they will be catastrophic for many in India!

Image may contain: 4 people

Bishop Henry in the slums in Delhi

Hopefully, the children of the Youth Charity Foundation will again join us in our worship this week, and we will see how we can help them also!

YCF Kids Last Week

Which brings me to my next point.  Although we are not meeting together face-to-face, the expenses of All Saints remain – indeed, they may increase as we seek to support those in need!

Although there is no basket being passed around in our service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email Don on dbjkwms@gmail.com  if you would like a receipt.

Meanwhile, let us worship God together and give thanks for all we do have!

The scripture readings for this Sunday will be Matthew 21:1-11, Philippians 2:5-11, and Matthew 27:11-54, and we will be singing the hymns Hosanna in the Highest, All Glory Laud and Honour, Hosanna Loud Hosanna, and Ride on Ride on in Majesty!  

I hope you can join us on Sunday!  This is the link to this week’s “meeting”.  Just click here before the service on Sunday to join.

(The meeting ID is 548 801 501 if you need it!)

The service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship – and we will have some hymns this week!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.

If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.  Whether “virtual communion” is effective is something for a theological discussion, but I am sure that God will bless our actions at this time if we act in a loving and reverent manner.

The words of the bulletin are pasted below at the end of this email, or you can download them as a pdf to view or print from this link, so that you can read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Easter Services for 2020


Good Friday last year!


Easter Sunday last year

We will not be able to meet together in person – but we can still worship together.

We will have a Tenabrae Service on Good Friday, 10th April, and our Easter Sunday Eucharist on Easter Day, 12th April!  Both services will begin at 6 p.m.  The services will be on Zoom and we hope they can also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube!

Keeping in Touch

At this time of isolation it is important that we keep in touch with each other.  We have an All Saints church directory with a list of many people’s phone numbers, so if you would like a copy please email me, on iain@AllSaintsChiangMai.com and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to share this email.  People may be feeling especially alone and vulnerable at this time.  Let them know that we are there for them and that God is with us!

God bless,

Father Iain

Palm Sunday
 
Sunday 5th April 2020
Welcome to Worship
(Congregational Copy)

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

This is the Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

Let us go forth, praising Jesus our Messiah.

Hymn: Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest!
Youth Charity Foundation

The Greeting

The Lord be with you! And also with you!

Words of welcome

Hymn:  All Glory, Laud and Honour

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.  Amen.

The Collect

Psalm 31

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in trouble;
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
my soul and my body also.
For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails me because of my affliction,
and my bones are consumed.

  I have become a reproach to all my enemies
and even to my neighbours,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
when they see me in the street they flee from me.

  I am forgotten like one that is dead, out of mind;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is on every side;
they scheme together against me,
and plot to take my life.

  But my trust is in you, O Lord.
I have said, ‘You are my God.
‘My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
‘Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and save me for your mercy’s sake.’

New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

This is the word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Christ humbled himself
and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and given him the name that is above every name.

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading: Matthew 27:11-54

This is the Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Creed

We trust in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We trust in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,

begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, 

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary

and was made man. 

For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.   
On the third day he rose again 
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead, 

and his kingdom will have no end.   

We trust in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son, 
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,    

who has spoken through the prophets. 

We trust in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. 
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.          

We look for the resurrection of the dead,   
and the life of the world to come. 

Hymn:  Hosanna, Loud Hosanna     

Prayers of Intercession

Response:      Lord, give us grace this Holy Week
to follow in your Son’s path
from death to resurrection,
from darkness to light:
                        In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, whose son rode through the streets
to a triumphant welcome,

We welcome you today into our hearts.
We ask you to enter our Church,
permeating every hidden corner,
so that we in turn may proclaim
your name to the whole world. Amen.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you!
And also with you!

Peace be with you Name.  Peace to All!

Offering and Preparation of the Table

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
thanks and praise.

… for ever praising you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the Highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest.
….

Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

….

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.   Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

Giving of Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed. 
Most merciful Lord,
your love compels us to come in. 

Our hands were unclean,
our hearts were unprepared;

we were not fit even to eat the crumbs
from under your table.

But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,
and share your bread with sinners. 
So cleanse and feed us
with the precious body and blood of your Son,
that he may live in us and we in him;
and that we, with the whole company of Christ,
may sit and eat in your kingdom.
Amen.

We share in the Body and Blood of Christ

Prayer after Communion

Lord Jesus Christ,
you humbled yourself
in taking the form of a servant,
and in obedience died on the cross
for our salvation:
give us the mind to follow you
and to proclaim you as Lord and King,
to the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Hymn:             Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!

May the Father, who so loved the world
that he gave his only Son,
bring you by faith to his eternal life.   Amen.

May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice
in obedience to the Father’s will,
keep you steadfast as you walk
with him the way of his cross.   Amen.

May the Spirit, who strengthens us
to suffer with Christ
that we may share his glory,
set your minds on life and peace.  Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.  Amen.