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 here, Good 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)
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.
All Saints' Chiang Mai 