Monthly Archives: July 2024

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Give us this day our daily bread!

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

Dear Friends,

Every Sunday we pray “give us this day our daily bread” as we say the Lord’s Prayer.  In Egyptian Arabic, the word ayesh means life, but bread is so central to life that the word for bread is also ayesh!  “Give us this day our daily life!”  Bread is central to life in the Middle East in the same way that rice is in Asia, so Thai people ask “gin kaew?” which means “Did you eat rice?” when asking how someone is doing.  

Jesus reference to bread wasn’t a random food choice, bread was at the centre of existence, so as we pray for “our daily bread” we pray that God will meet all our needs: physical, mental, and spiritual!  Indeed, Jesus ends our Gospel reading this Sunday with the words “I am the Bread of Life!”

The readings for this Sunday will be from Exodus 16.2–4, 9–15, Ephesians 4:1-16, and John 6:24-35, and we will be singing the hymns Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise; Dear Lord and Father of Mankind; Here is Love; 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 on the All Saints YouTube channel!

All Saints Book Group

The All Saints Book Group will meet around 1 p.m. next Monday.  (The time and location may vary so please speak to Christa if you plan to go!)

They will be studying the book Living Resistance.  

In an era in which “resistance” has become tokenized, popular Indigenous author Kaitlin B. Curtice reclaims it as a basic human calling. Resistance is for every human who longs to see their neighbors’ holistic flourishing. We each have a role to play in the world right where we are, and our everyday acts of resistance hold us all together.

Curtice shows that we can learn to practice embodied ways of belonging and connection to ourselves and one another through everyday practices, such as getting more in touch with our bodies, resting, and remembering our ancestors. She explores four “realms of resistance”–the personal, the communal, the ancestral, and the integral–and shows how these realms overlap and why all are needed for our liberation.

Chili Night Continues!

Chili Night next Tuesday

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

Feeding the Five Thousands!

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

Dear Friends,

Food 4 Thought is one of my favourite restaurants in Chiang Mai.  They have just opened a new branch near the church, and yesterday I met Mark and Christa there for a working lunch. The truth, though, is that unless we are on a diet we probably don’t think that much about what we eat.  I’m trying to improve my food balance, but on my recent trip I certainly ate a lot of crisps/chips and chocolate!!!

This Sunday’s Gospel reading is the Feeding of the Five Thousand.  Jesus miraculous provision of food certainly made the people think: first of all they declared him a prophet and then some even decided they would proclaim him their king!  Jesus had to flee alone into the mountains to prevent this.

But who do we think Jesus is?  What sort of person could perform the miracles he did?  It certainly gives food for thought!

The readings for this Sunday will be from 2 Kings 4:42-44, Ephesians 3.14–21, and John 6:1-21, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia, Sing to Jesus; Break Thou the Bread of Life; One Bread, One Body; and Lift High the Cross!

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 on the All Saints YouTube channel!

Dinner and a Beer!

On Thursday night seven of us met at the German Microbrewery for sausage, chips, and a drink.  It is located behind Big C off the Superhighway.  A good evening!

All Saints Book Group

The All Saints Book Group will meet at 1 p.m. at Bella Goose next Monday.  (The time and location may vary so please speak to Christa if you plan to go!)

They will be studying the book Living Resistance.  

In an era in which “resistance” has become tokenized, popular Indigenous author Kaitlin B. Curtice reclaims it as a basic human calling. Resistance is for every human who longs to see their neighbors’ holistic flourishing. We each have a role to play in the world right where we are, and our everyday acts of resistance hold us all together.

Curtice shows that we can learn to practice embodied ways of belonging and connection to ourselves and one another through everyday practices, such as getting more in touch with our bodies, resting, and remembering our ancestors. She explores four “realms of resistance”–the personal, the communal, the ancestral, and the integral–and shows how these realms overlap and why all are needed for our liberation

Chili Night Continues!

Chili Night next Tuesday

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

We need a Shepherd!

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

It’s great to be back in Thailand and lovely to see everyone last Sunday!

Ratcha and I had a great trip in the UK, France, and Switzerland, and Ratcha was fascinated in her first encounter with sheep.  At Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, one lamb came right up to us when I whistled – perhaps it had been hand-reared?  I am no shepherd of sheep, but maybe that lamb thought I was!

Chatsworth Lamb!

Do you sometimes feel a bit lost, not sure what to do?  Well, we have a guide, a shepherd, and that is Jesus!  He is the pattern for our actions and teacher for our understanding!  He cared for the people – his sheep – just as we should care for one another! 

So let us trust in that great shepherd of the sheep and also be shepherds one for each other!

The readings for this Sunday will be from 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, and Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, and we will be singing the hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd, Mothering God, 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 on the All Saints YouTube channel!

Chili Night Continues!

Chili Night next Tuesday

Chili Night returned this Tuesday, 16th July, with nearly twenty people in attendance!  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

John the Baptist baptises Jesus!

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

Dear Friends,

The beheading of John the Baptist is a familiar story to those of us who have been Christians for a longtime, so much so that we perhaps forget it’s gruesome nature.

The story in brief is that King Herod is holding a party and his daughter pleased him with her dancing.  Probably drunk, he makes one of those very unwise declarations “Ask whatever you wish and I will give it!”  John the Baptist is languishing in Herod’s jail and, prompted by her mother, she asks for his head on a platter.  Herod, forced to chose between killing the prophet or breaking his word in front of his guests, choses John’s death.

Beheading is still one of the most gruesome and barbaric forms of execution – just note the right condemnation of ISIS for their beheading of hostages, and the outcry following the false reports of the beheading of Jewish babies on 7th October.  Now the beheading of a baby in Rafah in an Israeli airstrike has again sparked revulsion.  

John the Baptist was a cousin and close friend of Jesus.  His death must have been a terrible shock and illustrates the danger of untrammeled power!  Sometimes the Christian faith is about life and death and we should be aware of the risks in standing up for the truth.

The readings for this Sunday will be from Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29, and we will be singing the hymns A Mighty Fortress; Amazing Grace; And Can it Be?; and Born in song!

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 on the All Saints YouTube channel!

Chili Night – No Chili Night until 16th July

Chili Night next Tuesday

Chili Night returns next Tuesday, 16th July!  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

Jesus sends out the disciples!

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

Dear Friends,

After teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus sent out his disciples two by two for them to continue and expand his work.  They were to cast out demons and heal the sick – in other words, to bring healing and wholeness. We have the same calling – to bring healing, wholeness, and forgiveness to a broken and needy world!

The readings for this Sunday will be from 2 Samuel 5, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, and Mark 6:1-13, and we will be singing the hymns Praise with joy the world’s Creator; I, the Lord of Sea and Sky; Will you come and Follow Me?; and Go forth and tell!

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 on the All Saints YouTube channel!

Tuesday at Duke’s

You are invited to join us at Duke’s Ruamchok every Tuesday at 6 p.m.  This weekly gathering will be instead of Chili Night.

Chili Night – No Chili Night until 16th July

Chili Night

No Chili Night this week!  It will return on Tuesday 16th July!  Why not join us at Duke’s Ruamchok in the meantime?


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