From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Queen Elizabeth II
Dear Friends,
Since last week’s email was sent, we have all heard the sad news of the death of the British Queen, Queen Elizabeth II. She had a strong Christian faith and, in a role where she was constrained from making any political statement, she did not shrink from sharing her belief in Jesus Christ in her yearly Christmas broadcasts.
The special prayers issued by the Church of England include the words:
Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that we are made in your image and reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of our late Sovereign Lady QUEEN ELIZABETH, for the love she received from you and showed among us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ. And we ask that in due time we may share with your servant Elizabeth that clearer vision promised to us in the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
We can echo that prayer, as we too share the hope of resurrection.
It is very appropriate that our New Testament reading this Sunday includes the words from Saint Paul urging that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions.
There will be a special gathering at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club next Monday, 19th September, to view the funeral from London on two big screens. This will be followed by a short Service of Commemoration which I will be leading and in which the consuls of a number of Commonwealth nations will take part. The Governor of Chiang Mai and other dignitaries will be in attendance.
People can arrive from 2 p.m. and the funeral service itself will begin at 5 p.m. Thai time. Our short Service of Commemoration will begin at 7 pm and will include the Last Post and a twenty-one gun salute.
The scripture readings at All Saints this Sunday will be from Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-7,and Luke 16:1-13, and we will be singing the hymns Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, Take My Life and Let it Be, Let us Break Bread Together, and A Mighty Fortress!
Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501
Last week’s Service
Video of last week’s service, when the worship was led by our All Saints Choristers, is available here.
The end of Compulsory Masks
After consultation with the congregation, the Church Council has decided that the wearing of masks will no longer be compulsory during services at All Saints.
This was in accordance with the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the congregation and in accordance with changes to Thai law.
However, many may choose to continue to wear masks, and we wish to make the maximum accommodation so that all feel welcome. We are therefore asking anyone who wishes to not wear a mask to sit towards the front, so that others can feel safe and choose to sit elsewhere if they wish.
We would also ask that if anyone would like further accommodations made, they would speak to me or any Council member and suggest what further measures we could take to make them feel comfortable.
Trip to Chiang Dao
We are planning our third church weekend at The Nest in Chiang Dao on the weekend of Friday 21st to Monday 24th October. (The Monday is a public holiday!) It will be a great time to escape the city and enjoy fellowship together surrounded by the beauty of nature!
Some will choose to go up on Friday night, but most people will probably journey up to Chiang Dao on Saturday morning and stay until Monday.
There will be a sign-up sheet this Sunday at the back of church.
Chili Night
Some of the group!
Chili Night will continue next Tuesday
Come and join us at the vicarage as we share chili followed by ice cream!
The address is:
The Vicarage,
9/65 Ban Ing Doi,
Kan Klong Chonprathan Road,
Tambon Chang Phueak,
Chiang Mai
This is the link on Google Maps.
From Maya Mall. Drive up Huay Keaw Road towards Chiang Mai University. Turn right along the Canal Road. Go through one small set of traffic lights. After the road crosses over to the right side of the canal, Ban Ing Doi mooban is accessed over a little white bridge on the left.
Enter the mooban and immediately turn left. The Vicarage is straight ahead.
Harvest Festival – Sunday 2nd October
We will be celebrating our annual Harvest Festival on Sunday 2nd October.
There will be no service at All Saints, but we will travel together to the Youth Charity Foundation’s House of Hope where we will worship together. Our Harvest Festival will be followed by lunch provided by YCF.
October Choir Intensive!
Cassi and Joe
We will be having our first ever choir intensive for the children of the Youth Charity Foundation from Friday 15th to Monday 18th October! A professional choir director, Joe Novelli, will be coming from England to lead the sessions, and Joe’s partner, Cassi Joski-Jethi, who is a documentary film maker, will be recording highlights of the sessions!
We will probably have a two hour session each morning and another each afternoon, with lunch in between, and lots of fun activities. This is a very exciting project and we will need people to help manage lunches and other arrangements at the vicarage! Let me know if you can help in any way.
Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate in person or online. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that he is mighty and we are in his hands!
God bless,
Father Iain
All Saints' Chiang Mai 