From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Transgender Day of Remembrance – this Sunday!
Dear Friends,
A few years ago I helped organise a vigil for those killed in the Orlando Nightclub shooting, working alongside MPlus and the American Consulate in Chiang Mai. I was rather shocked to be attacked for doing so. “Why a vigil for them, and not all the other people in the world who are the victims of violence?” was the cry.
The same could be said about the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Every year hundreds of thousands of women are victims of domestic violence, why only remember the trans women?
It is a good point, but as I said in reply to the first case, if we held a vigil for every person, or group, subject to violence or injustice, we would be holding one every night of the year.
Trans people, in many countries, are a particularly despised and marginalised group. In Thailand they may usually be in a better situation, although they still have no specific legal rights, but in many countries coming out as trans can mean death and/or a decent into the twilight world of sex-work and people trafficking!
Over the years, All Saints has forged links with trans and LGBT groups in Chiang Mai and further afield, and we have trans people in our congregation. It is therefore right that we set apart one day a year to say that “we stand with you”.
This Sunday we will again be joined by people from MPlus and the Young Pride Club, Lee will share their testimony, and Christa will preach.
Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Ezekiel 34:11-16, Galatians 3:23-29, and Matthew 25:31-40, and our hymns will be Stand up stand up for Jesus, Lord we make this cry for freedom, Beauty for Brokenness, and Let Us Build a House!
Last week’s service can be viewed here!
Values Statement
We are now developing our Values Statement. Our current draft is below. Please let me have your feedback – it needs to be a statement of all our values!
Values Statement
All Saints Chiang Mai is first and foremost
Loving – We love God and our neighbors (all of them)
we express this love by
Worshipping – We Encounter God through the sacraments
Affirming – We value and accept people as they are
Connecting – We delight in relationships and fellowship
Growing – We seek individual and corporate growth in myriad dimensions
Being Compassionate – We stand alongside people in their struggles
Serving – We care for those in need
Being Healthy – We relate in an open and transparent manner
Peace-making – We proactively practice peace and reconciliation with all
Let me know what you think!
The Advent and Christmas Season
Advent Sunday
Celebrations for Advent and Christmas begin on 29th November when we will mark Advent Sunday. This will be followed by decorating the church for Christmas and a potluck lunch.
Thammapratheep Christmas Bazaar
We will join with Thammapratheep Church on 5th December from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. for their Christmas Bazaar. There will be Christmas decorations, food, desserts, secondhand items, cards, etc. for sale. Clarice will be selling her jams and chutneys, and the Youth Charity Foundation will be selling their cards.
Festival of Christmas Carols
On Saturday 19th December we will hold our Festival of Christmas Carols at Thammapratheep Church. We will be led by Lannacapella and some of the children from the Youth Charity Foundation.
The service begins at 7 p.m.
You can print tickets and posters by clicking on the links!
Thammapratheep Christmas Eve Service
There will be a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Thammapratheep Church on December 24th beginning at 7.30 pm. It usually lasts for around one and a half hours.
Refreshments will be served after the service for everybody. All Saints people are invited to participate and there will be English translation throughout the service.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
On Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, we will have our Midnight Mass beginning at 11:30 p.m. This is always a beautiful, peaceful service, and usually attended by a lot of visitors. It is a wonderful way to begin Christmas.
Christmas Day Eucharist
On Christmas Day we will have our Morning Worship at 11 a.m. followed by lunch! Please join us if you can! More information to follow!
All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch
The Wednesday Lunch
This is a weekly event! The lunch resumed this week! Why not join next week? (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!) We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!
My News
God willing, I shall return to Thailand on Saturday 9th January. My flight and quarantine hotel are booked and my Certificate of Entry is processed.
I just need my Covid test and fit to fly certificate and then I will be ready to go!
I should be back in Chiang Mai on 24th January!
Meanwhile, prayers and blessings to all! Rejoice in the Lord – for God is good!
God bless,
Father Iain
All Saints' Chiang Mai 