From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Ash Wednesday 2021
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we will have our Annual General Meeting, ratify our new 2021 Constitution, and elect four Church Council members. These may not seem very exciting events, but they are! They set the governance and way-forward for All Saints for the next number of years!
If you are a member you should have received your online voting form on Monday. Please vote, even if you are 100% happy with the choices, 100% unhappy with the choices, or feel your view is not important and others can decide. We need your vote to ensure we have a sufficient voting quorum!
Last Sunday’s “Town Hall” Meeting
Lent has just begun, but Easter is coming. It will be an exciting time of celebrating the life of Jesus and his death and resurrection. Don’t forget – last year we were confined to our homes and worshipping on Zoom! Plans are not completely finalized, but there should be four services over the Easter period on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday! More details to follow!
We remain faithful to God, for God is faithful to all!
Our scripture readings for Sunday will be Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, and Mark 8:31-38, and our hymns will be The God of Abraham Praise, Men of Faith, Be Still for the Presence of the Lord, and Onward, Christian People.
Video of last week’s service can soon be viewed via the Audio-Visual page of the church website!
Ash Wednesday Service
Last Wednesday’s service was a moving time for all who attended!
Our congregational AGM is this 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 had a “Town Hall” meeting following the service last Sunday so that people could ask questions about the new constitution before voting on it.
The relevant documents are also available here:
Final revised 2021 Constitution
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
There were only four nominations for the four elected Church Council positions:
Bill Moeller
Helga Spring
Chris Tananone
Hannah Alexander-Herrick
Members are now voting whether to confirm these nominations.
Lent Groups – Anglican 101
These are held on Tuesday evenings at Mark and Christa’s home, and Wednesday afternoons at the Gymkhana Club.
The theme 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! Last Tuesday, the best part was the general discussion after the “Anglican” part!
Next week’s topic: Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and authority. – Who does what and why?
The Youth Charity Foundation – Welcome Back!
Last Saturday, YCF hosted a Welcome Back event for me and one of their teachers. It was good to see their smiling faces once again. Bill Moeller and Mee, and Ratcha and I, attended from All Saints.
I am meeting with their Director, Khun Tasnee, on Friday to discuss maybe starting a children’s choir with the children of YCF to help lead our worship at All Saints. Please pray about this venture.
Movie Time – Postcards from Babylon!
Next Sunday, there will be a showing of the movie Postcards from Babylon at 5 p.m. at the MCC office.
Postcards From Babylon is a documentary featuring author and pastor Brian Zahnd as he investigates possibly the most important question for the church in North America today, a church often characterized by Christian Nationalism: How does the church stay faithful to the beautiful way of Jesus while situated in one of the most divisive political climates in our nation’s history?
Following the film, a discussion panel including Brian Zahnd, Shane Claiborne, Lisa Sharon Harper, Kristin Du Mez, Keith Giles, Peter Wehner, and filmmakers David & Kathi Peters will delve further into its themes and where we can go from here.
All are welcome – bring snacks to share!
Wednesday Lunch
Lunch – last Wednesday!
Our lunch will continue next 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 