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
Sunday 3rd May 2020
Welcome to Worship
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!
All Saints' Chiang Mai 
I listened to your last broadcast of last Sunday. Would dearly love to join you in worship this week. Hope I can connect. Blessings Fr Michael Rossouw, Philippines.
I hope you can join us! 7 pm Philippines time!