From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
Vivian Jenna Wilson
Dear Friends,
As I sat down to write this week’s email I wondered what new angle I could give on the familiar story of the Prodigal Son. The story of Vivian Jenna Wilson had just popped up on my Facebook feed and this is where I will begin.
Vivian is the estranged daughter of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Musk claimed that his daughter, who is trans, had been “killed by the radical woke virus”, although she is very much alive! Perhaps if she came back to Musk “as a boy”, he would welcome her as a prodigal son – perhaps not. But my point is – God is not like that!
This week’s Gospel reading contains Luke’s version of the story of the Prodigal Son. (You can read it here if you’re unfamiliar with the passage.) Part of the message of the story is that God welcomes us back as ourselves – the son offers himself as a servant but his father welcomes him back as the beloved child he is. Whoever we are, God welcomes us as ourselves and rejoices over our return! We will never be dead to him!
For sure, we are called to be better versions of ourselves, but we are still called to be the person God made us to be – black or white, Thai or farang, gay or straight, cis or trans. Of course, some things will change as we journey through life – I was going to include “young or old” and “rich or poor” in the list above, but we will all transition from young to old, and who can say how we will change from rich to poor or poor to rich? It is not for nothing that the traditional marriage vows include the line “for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…”
But, whoever we are, God welcomes us and calls us home!
The scripture readings for this Sunday will be Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, and Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, and we will be singing the hymns Praise to the Lord the Almighty, Amazing Grace, Break Thou the Bread of Life, and Born in Song!
Use this link to join on Zoom on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501
Last Sunday’s Service!
Video of last Sunday’s service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel!
Lucille’s Funeral 
Lucille Wehner’s funeral was held on Thursday 20th March at 9:30 a.m. at McKean Hospital Chapel. Jack would like to thank all the people of All Saints who attended. I lead the service which contained lots of music in tribute to Lucille’s love of that greatest of arts.
Video of the service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel!
Stations of the Cross
Join us for an Interactive Contemplative Stations of the Cross experience!
All are invited to create a representation of a key event leading to Jesus’ crucifixion through whatever media you prefer: drawing, knitting, painting, collage, anything visual.
Sign up with Christa on Sunday to pick one of the 14 key events for your depiction or message her to see which events are left.
The 14 “stations” we are marking are:
1 Jesus in the Garden
2 Judas betrays Jesus
3 Jesus before the Sanhedrin
4 Peter denies Jesus
5 Peter before Pilate
6 The Crown of Thornes
7 The Cross
8 Simon carries the Cross
9 The Women at the Cross
10 Jesus is Crucified
11 The Thief on the Cross
12 Jesus’ Mother
13 Jesus is taken from the Cross
14 Jesus is placed in the Tomb
(At the time of writing the stations in italics are already taken and the ones in bold are still available. Contact Christa to make your choice!)
Then join us for a half-day retreat where we’ll contemplate our depictions of each event together. Saturday 5 April, 9:00-12:30 at All Saints.
No artistic skill is required. All are invited to participate in making a creation, and/or attending the retreat, and/or enjoying the creations displayed on Sundays throughout the remainder of the Lenten season to prepare us for Good Friday and Easter Morning!
Easter Dates
Dates for your diary!
Stations Work 5th April 2025
Palm Sunday 13th April 2025
Good Friday 18th April 2025
Easter Sunday 20th April 2025
Chiang Mai Pride – Sunday 25th May
The date for the Chiang Mai Pride 2025 has been announced. It will be on the afternoon of Sunday 25th May. All Saints will have a presence as usual. Maybe we’ll do something special this year!
Chili Night Continues!
Chili Night will continue 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 – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
God bless you,
Vicar Iain (he/they/she)
All Saints' Chiang Mai 