From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Dear Friends,
Lent is here once again. When we began Lent 2020, Covid-19 was a little-known virus still mostly confined to China. But I only made the first two Sundays of Lent before flying off to the UK, and All Saints had one more Lenten service before moving on to Zoom!
This year, at least in Thailand, Lent should be more normal and we should be able to celebrate Easter together in the church! This last year has seen people around the world give up so much in order to keep others safe. In many parts of the world, people are still largely confined to their homes. In this context, it is interesting to ask what we should give up for Lent this year, or should we instead give thanks for all that we don’t have to give up?
Why not join one of the Lent Groups – we are lucky that we can!
At Worship Last Sunday!
Our scripture readings for Ash Wednesday will be Isaiah 58:1-12 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, and our hymns will be Abide with Me, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, and The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended.
And our scripture readings for Sunday will be Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15, and our hymns will be Before the Throne of God Above, Forty Days and Forty Nights, For the Bread Which You Have Broken, and At the Name of Jesus!
Video of last week’s service can soon be viewed via the Audio-Visual page of the church website!
Lent Groups – Anglican 101
These will be on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons at Mark and Christa’s home and the Gymkhana Club.
The course is not designed to convert people to one particular Christian tradition, but it will be a time for all of us to share from our traditions and get to know where we all come from. There will be time for sharing and prayer, too! The five sessions are:
Henry VIII, and all those wives. – How it all began?
Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and authority. – Who does what and why?
Liturgy and Sacraments. – How we worship and encounter God.
Bells and Chasubles. – Symbols and Ceremony.
Hidden Anglicanism. – The theology beneath it all.
Pancake Sunday – Last Sunday!
Thanks to all who made this such a great event – especially to Rebecca and Blaine, and Arthur and Phyliss, for hosting!
Ash Wednesday
We had a special Ash Wednesday Service at 7 p.m. on 17th February. This included the imposition of ashes.
Our congregational AGM is on Sunday 28th February, where we will formally ratify out new constitution and elect Council members. Copies of the constitution have been sent to people on the membership list of All Saints and were also available in church last Sunday.
In addition, we will have a “Town Hall” meeting following the service this coming Sunday, 21st February, so that people can ask questions about the new constitution before voting on it the following week. Members will be able to vote by paper ballot or electronically.
The relevant documents are also available here:
All Saints Church Constitution 2021
Notes on the formulation of All Saints 2021 Constitution
All Saints Mission, Values, and Vision Statements
Events Timeline:
Sunday 14th February: Distribution of documents
Sunday 21st February: Town Hall Meeting to answer questions on the 2021 constitution
22nd – 27th February: Online voting on Constitution and for Council Members
Sunday 28th February: Annual General Meeting, Formal Ratification of 2021 Constitution, Church Reports, In person voting for Council Members, Adoption of budget for 2021
New Council Members
Assuming the new constitution is approved, we will need to elect four people to serve on the new Church Council. Are you interested, or would you like to nominate someone? Each candidate will need to be nominated by two other church members and be a member themself.
Nomination forms will be available in church this Sunday. The timeline is tight, so you will need to fill them in and submit them this week, as online voting will begin the following day!
Wednesday Lunch
Lunch!
Our lunch will be on Wednesday! I am looking forward to being there again! Why not come along? (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)
Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service.
Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together.
God bless,
Father Iain
All Saints' Chiang Mai 