Pentecost!

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Pentecost Last Year!

Click here to join the Service this Sunday!
(Remember to update your Zoom –
it only takes a couple of minutes!)

Dear Friends,

When I returned to the U.K. in March I wasn’t really expecting to be still here at Pentecost!  But here we are!  After Pentecost we enter what is called “Ordinary Time” but this year it will be anything but ordinary!

It is perhaps hard to be all fired up and full of the Spirit when we are alone – after all, the disciples were “all together in one place” when the Holy Spirit came!  But we are where we are and God is with us, and think how exciting it will be when we can finally meet together again!

But right now, I am still in England, and in Chiang Mai it is 40°C in the shade.  Worship in person, with masks, no air-conditioning or fans, and no singing either, does not seem attractive!  Not to mention the increased risk of Covid-19 to the more elderly members of our congregation!  So, as agreed by all the All Saints Trustees, for now we will continue as we are – worshipping together from our homes around the world – for he is risen, and the Holy Spirit is coming!

We will virtually 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!

Some of last week’s gathering!

Last week’s service can be viewed here!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, and John 7:37-39, and we will be singing the hymns Come Down O Love Divine, Spirit of God Unseen as the Wind, O Breath of Life Come Sweeping Through Us, and O God of Burning Cleansing Flame!

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.

Thursday Discussion Group

We will again meet at 8 p.m. Thai time this Thursday for our discussion group.  This week we will discuss how we show Christian love in the time of Covid-19.  Richard Rohr’s short meditation will be the springboard for our discussion and can be found here!  The link to the Zoom meeting is here!

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 me 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

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Hymn:   
Come Down, O Love Divine

The Greeting

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

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

Responsory

As we wait in silence,                         
fill us with your Spirit.
As we listen to your word,
fill us with your Spirit.
As we worship you in majesty,
fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your refreshing,
fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your renewing,
fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your equipping,
fill us with your Spirit.
As we long for your empowering,
fill us with your Spirit.

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.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles                      
Acts 2:1-21

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.

Prayer for Personal Renewal

Be with us, Spirit of God;
nothing can separate us from your love.
Breathe on us, breath of God;
fill us with your saving power.
Speak in us, wisdom of God;             
bring strength, healing, and peace.
Let us bless the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and bless God for ever.

Gloria:
Glory to God

The Collect

Psalm 104

The Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:3-13

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

Gospel Reading

Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful people
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Alleluia.

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

The Gospel Reading:
John 7:37-39

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

Sermon

The Creed
(From the New Zealand Anglican Prayer Book)

You, O God,
are supreme and holy.
You create our world
and give us life.
Your purpose over-arches
everything we do.
You have always been with us.
You are God.
You, O God,
are infinitely generous,
good beyond all measure.
You came to us
before we came to you.
You have revealed and proved
Your love for us
in Jesus Christ,
Who lived and died and rose again.
You are God.
Amen.

Hymn:
Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind

Prayers of Intercession

Response:     
Lord, come to bless us.
And fill us with your Spirit.

Let the fire of your divine love
descend upon us, O God,
to inspire and heal,
to renew and empower,
that the earth may be filled
with your glory,
and all creation
sing to you in praise,
through Jesus Christ
the Risen One,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord
be always with you!
And also with you!
Let us offer one another
a sign of peace.

Offering and Preparation of the Table

Hymn:
O Breath of Life,
Come Sweeping Through Us

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.
…. 

Therefore we join our voices with angels and archangels, and with all those in whom the Spirit dwells, to proclaim the glory of your name, for ever praising you and singing:

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

Being made one by the power of the Spirit,
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.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins 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

Faithful God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal:
open our lips by your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hymn:
O God of Burning, Cleansing Flame          

Blessing of Light
….

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

Filled with the Spirit’s power,
go in the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.