Monthly Archives: April 2024

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

The First Non-Jew to be Baptised!

(My church email is not working!  Please use iainbaxter.mail@gmail.com to contact me!)

Dear Friends,

This week we read the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch.  He is not even named in scripture, but he was the first non-Jew to be baptised in the Book of Acts.

In this age of political correctness he would be the ideal diversity candidate – not only Gentile, but also black, disabled, and from a sexual minority!!!  Actually, that is almost certainly why his story is recorded in the bible.  Non-Jews were excluded from the Temple and the people of God. Disabled people were excluded from the Temple and the people of God.  Sexual minorities were excluded from the Temple and the people of God.  (I will give chapter and verse in my sermon on Sunday!)

This man was chosen because the message of the New Testament is All are Welcome!  This doesn’t mean that all behaviour is welcome, that all actions are acceptable, but that all classes, all types, of people are welcome in the Kingdom of God!

Whoever you are, you are welcome.  Join us at All Saints this Sunday.

The readings for this Sunday will be from Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, and John 15:1-8, and we will be singing the hymns All People that on Earth do Dwell; Stand up stand up for Jesus; Called as partners in Christ’s service; and Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Use this link to join on Zoom on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Video of Last Sunday’s Service!

Video of Last Sunday’s Service is now available here!

All Saints Chiang Mai Mission

The trustees and I, at a recent online meeting

All Saints Chiang Mai Mission is a UK charity that supports the work of All Saints, Chiang Mai, and enables fund-raising and donations in the UK.  It is governed by five trustees and they generally meet via zoom three or four times a year.

Currently, we have three trustees who are resident in the UK, one who lives in Hungary, and one who lives in Thailand; four are UK citizens and one is American.

There will soon be a trustee vacancy and this may be where you can help!  It is not an onerous task and involves the attendance at a virtual meeting of around one and a half hours every few months.  You do not have to be UK resident although this would be useful.

If you love and support the work of All Saints, then this may be the way you can help from wherever you are in the world!  Please let me know if you might be interested or would like to suggest someone else who might be interested.


Chili Night – Continues!

Every Tuesday everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided.  Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!)   All are welcome.  Food is served at 6 p.m.


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 you,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

(My church email is not working!  Please use iainbaxter.mail@gmail.com to contact me!)

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Gospel passage, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd.  He says:

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

It is not the sheep that carry Jesus, but Jesus who carries and cares for the sheep!  Jesus is the one who saves us, who makes us whole.  We are his sheep!  

We can never doubt God’s love for us for Jesus gave up all for each and every person.

The readings for this Sunday will be from Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, and John 10:11-18, and we will be singing the hymns Hail the Day that sees Him Rise; The Lord’s my shepherd; and The King of love my Shepherd is!

Use this link to join on Zoom on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Video of Last Sunday’s Service!

Video of Last Sunday’s Service is now available here!

Racha’s UK Visa

Good News!  Ratcha has her UK Visa!  She received her passport with the vital stamp on Thursday last week!  Thanks so much to all the people who wrote letters – they made all the difference!


Chili Night – Returns!

Chili Night resumes next Tuesday, 23rd April, at the usual time of 6 p.m.! 


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 you,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Is that Jesus?

(My church email is not working!  Please use iainbaxter.mail@gmail.com to contact me!)

Dear Friends,

“Man bites Dog!” is a much more interesting headline than “Dog bites Man!” – it’s much less common and points to a more unusual story!  So therefore the headline “Ghost eats Fish!” would attract attention where the words “man eats fish” is scarcely worth the paper it’s written on.

According to Luke’s account, when Jesus first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection they thought that he was a ghost.  To prove that he really was flesh and blood – just like them – he asked them for something to eat.  They gave him a piece of fish which he ate in their presence!

“Ghost eats Fish!” would be a good headline, but “Man rises from Dead!” is surely a better one, and that is the beginning of the message of Easter. 

Some of the information in this week’s email may seem discouraging, but life, and church life, has its natural ups and downs.  Whatever is happening we can be confident that God is with us and that Christ’s resurrection is evidence that all will be well!

Ghost eats Fish!

The readings for this Sunday will be from Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, and Luke 24:36b-48, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today; Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks; All Heaven Declares; and Thine Be the Glory!

Use this link to join on Zoom on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Video of Last Sunday’s Service!

Video of Last Sunday’s Service is now available here!

Father Peter – New Job

Father Peter has accepted the part-time post of Chaplain to Kingston College in Mitchelstown Co Cork, Ireland, and will probably take up the work in early June.   He will be ministering to the residents of the 30+ homes in the 18th Century independent living complex.

We will miss him greatly in both his public preaching ministry and his behind-the-scenes work on the Church Council and with the Youth Charity Foundation Child Protection Policy.

Please hold Peter and his family in your prayers!

Parkinson’s Disease

Many of you already know this, but for those who don’t, on Monday 1st April I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease!

I had an appointment with a neurologist at Sripat Hospital – the private wing of the Chiang Mai University hospital –  as I have been limping and have experienced decreased dexterity with my right hand.  She diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease.  I had an MRI scan and this helped to confirm the diagnosis.

Although there is currently no cure, it should respond well to treatment and I have already sensed some improvement after ten days on the medication.  There should be no immediate impact on my ability to perform my ministry at All Saints, but we will have to watch the situation.

This has obviously come as a great shock to me and especially to my mum!  I am feeling fine in myself and am responding well to the medication, but it is still very early days.

Mum, Ratcha, and I would greatly value your prayers.

God bless you and thanks for all your continuing love and support.

All Saints South



Things have changed since I had the initial idea for All Saints South.

Firstly, with the departure of Nat the possibility of a Thai congregation has ended for now.  

Secondly, although almost everyone was very enthusiastic about the idea, nobody other than Pastor Mark had definitely committed to attending the new church.  

Thirdly, with the planned departure of Father Peter, we would only have two priests instead of three.  

Fourthly, our finances are not as strong as they were previously.  This is partly due to the costs associated with the setting up of the All Saints Foundation, but also due to a drop in congregational giving.  

Finally, my Parkinson’s diagnosis means that things are a little more uncertain, so making major changes may not be wise at this time.

I am concerned that, as things currently stand, the establishment of a new congregation might lead to two priests in two locations struggling to maintain two buildings and congregations alone.

One of the reasons for establishing All Saints South was to enable Mark to further exercise his call to ministry, the second was to meet the need in the Hang Dong area.  While we still believe there is a need for a progressive church in the south of Chiang Mai, it might take some time to become established but, as always, all is in God’s hands!


Chili Night – Cancelled!!!! (For one week)

There will be no Chili Night next Tuesday, 16th April!  Chili Night will return on Tuesday 23rd April at the usual time of 6 p.m.!  This is because Mum and I are off to Angkor Wat in Cambodia!  We will just be away for Monday to Friday so will be at church on Sunday as usual!!!


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 you,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Christ is Risen!

(My church email is not working!  Please use iainbaxter.mail@gmail.com to contact me!)

Dear Friends,

He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!

Last Sunday we has a wonderful celebration of Easter Day with around sixty people in the church and around fifty joining the potluck lunch at the vicarage.  Our service included four confirmations – prefiguring Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Spirit!

The promise of the resurrection is the promise of hope – not only that death is not the end, but that there is hope for life now, today!  God has blessed us in so many ways – not just with the knowledge of God’s love that extends to all, but with the joy of community as we live and worship together!

The Easter Season continues all the way to Pentecost, so let me take this opportunity again to wish you all a Happy Easter!

The readings for this Sunday will be from Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia! Sing to Jesus; The Day of Resurrection; Hail the Day that sees Him Rise; and All hail the power of Jesus’ name!Use this link to join on Zoom on Good Friday at 7 p.m. or Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Video of our Good Friday and Easter Sunday Services!

Video of our Good Friday Service is now available here!
Video of our Easter Sunday Service is now available here!

Easter Sunday Highlights

Proclaiming the Resurrection


Lighting the Easter Candle


Proclaiming the Message in English and Thai


Preparing for Confirmation


Receive the Holy Spirit!


Preparing the Altar


Easter Clergy and Acolytes


Praising God Together!


Potluck at the Vicarage


Eating Together!


Easter Treats!


Drinks!


Painting Eggs!


Easter Goodbye!

Chili Night continues next week!

Every Tuesday everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided.  Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!)   All are welcome.  Food is served at 6 p.m.


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 you,

Father Iain