Monthly Archives: October 2025

True Humility

Posted on 23/10/2025 | Leave a comment

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

Being humble isn’t easy – in fact the more you try the harder it gets – we can’t be proud of our humility.  Our Gospel reading tells the story of the boastful Pharisee and the humble, contrite, tax-collector.  Which one are we?  It is the humble man who goes home right with God!  We will unpack this more on Sunday.

The scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Ecclesiasticus 35:12-17, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, and Luke 18:9-14, and we will be singing the hymns Morning has Broken; Will you come and follow me; King of Kings, Majesty; and Christ, Be Our Light!
YouTube Live

We now use YouTube Live to livestream our service.  

To watch our service live this Sunday please follow these steps:

1)  Click on the link below, and this will take you to the All Saints Chiang Mai YouTube channel. 
2)  Then click on “All Saints Chiang Mai is Live” to watch the service
Use this link to join our Sunday service on YouTube Live!

Last Week’s Service!

Video of last Sunday’s service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel! 

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All Saints Day Celebration – Next Sunday!

All Saints Day

Next Sunday, 2nd November, we will be celebrating All Saints Day.  This will be a great day of celebration as we welcome our choir from the Youth Charity Foundation.

Morning worship will be followed by a potluck at the vicarage.  

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World Council of Reformed Churches

The World Council of Reformed Churches is in town for their 27th General Council.  The WCRC is a worldwide community made up of many member churches such as the ELCA, PCUSA, and UCC, in the States, and the Church of Scotland and United Reform Church in the UK,  The Church of Christ in Thailand is a member and is hosting this year’s council.

Last Sunday a group of LGBTQ people attending the conference with Rainbow Pilgrims came and worshipped with us at All Saints.

Lunch Together!

Rainbow Pilgrims also organised a meeting at the Empress Hotel on Monday Night where I was invited to speak about the work of All Saints to around 60 delegates.

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transACTIONrefuge Events

For the last couple of months, transACTIONrefuge has been hosting Q&A sessions on Zoom, for trans people considering relocating to Chiang Mai.  If you are living in Chiang Mai and would like to join the call to answer questions about living in Thailand, email transACTIONrefuge@proton.me for the link.  (You don’t have to be trans yourself!) The next one is at 9pm on Sunday 26th (Thai time!)

Also, if you’d like to get to know some of the transACTIONrefuge team – and other trans people living in Chiang Mai – then join us at Sapphic Riot on Wednesday 19th October from 7 pm onwards!  (Costumes/Fancy Dress optional!)

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Events Coming Up – November / December

Sunday 2nd November    
Celebration of All Saints Day
(Followed by Potluck)

Sunday 9th November    
Remembrance Sunday

Tuesday 11th November    
Remembrance Day

Sunday 16th November    
Normal Sunday!!!!!

Thursday 20th November    
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sunday 23rd November    
Transgender Day of Remembrance Service

Sunday 30th November    
Advent Sunday
(Followed by Potluck)

Sunday 7th December    
Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday 14th December  
Third Sunday of Advent

Saturday 20th December    
Festival of Christmas Carols

Sunday 21st December    
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Wednesday 24th December    
Midnight Mass

Thursday 25th December    
Christmas Day

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Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday

On Sunday 9th and Tuesday 11th November we will remember victims of war and together declare “never again!”

Sunday 9th November is Remembrance Sunday.  We will gather at All Saints at 10:30 a.m. to remember victims of war and armed conflict around the world. The service will include two minutes silence at 11 a.m. and hymns will include The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended, and Abide with Me. 

On Tuesday 11th, I will lead the Remembrance Day Observance at the Foreign Cemetery.  Please assemble at 10:30 a.m.  Directions to the Foreign Cemetery can be found here!

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil and Service

We hope this vigil will take place on the evening of Thursday 20th November.  More details to follow! 

Then on Sunday 23rd November, we will mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance in our morning worship at All Saints!

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Virtual Garage Sale

A Garage Sale is a North American tradition where people empty-out their unwanted possessions (often stored in a garage) and put them for sale in their yard.  In England we have “car boot sales” for a similar purpose.

The disadvantage of a traditional garage sale is that you need somewhere to store all the stuff and people may have things to dispose of at different times!  Hence… a Virtual Garage Sale!

This is how it will work: 

1) Bring your item to church, or the MCC Office, or send Sarah a photo and description if that’s easier!
2) Sarah will advertise the item online.
3) People can buy the item online and then collect or have it sent by Grab delivery.

Hopefully, we will raise much needed money for church funds!

.

Chili Night 

Chili Night continues this Tuesday!   Every week 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.

Please make a THB 100 donation.
 

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use 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)

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JUSTICE!

Posted on 16/10/2025 | Leave a comment

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Justice is Blind?

Dear Friends,


Court buildings are often adorned with statues of Lady Justice. She is shown blindfolded to indicate that Justice is dispensed without fear or favor, to the rich and poor, powerful and ordinary people.  But in truth, justice is very often biased in favor of the powerful and the rich. I often think that justice rather than being blind is deaf. Instead of looking favorably upon the rich, Lady Justice turns a deaf ear to the poor. 

In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus tells the parable of the unjust judge. It is only because a powerless widow will not give up hassling the judge that he eventually agrees to give her justice. This is the same situation in the world today, in situations of injustice it is important that we don’t remain silent, that we don’t quietly accept the situation, but that we continue to speak out. Jesus knew this 2000 years ago and it is the same today. As we see injustice around the world, we cannot remain silent we must speak, for this is our calling as Christians to declare God’s justice and peace to the world.

The scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, and Luke 18:1-8, and we will be singing the hymns Stand up stand up for Jesus; Beauty for Brokenness; Lord, we make this cry for freedom; and Let Us Build a House!

YouTube Live

We now use YouTube Live to livestream our service.  

To watch our service live this Sunday please follow these steps:

1)  Click on the link below, and this will take you to the All Saints Chiang Mai YouTube channel. 
2)  Then click on “All Saints Chiang Mai is Live” to watch the service
Use this link to join our Sunday service on YouTube Live!

Last Week’s Service!

Video of last Sunday’s service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel! 

.

World Council of Reformed Churches

The World Council of Reformed Churches is in town for their 27th General Council.  The WCRC is a worldwide community made up of many member churches such as the ELCA, PCUSA, and UCC, in the States, and the Church of Scotland and United Reform Church in the UK,  The Church of Christ in Thailand is a member and is hosting this year’s council.

On Wednesday night a group of All Saints’ Church Council members and clergy, met with Pastor Diego from the University Christian Church of San Diego, California, at Barbara’s house.  Diego is a delegate at the conference, and All Saints hopes to develop a relationship with his church.  He will be at All Saints on Sunday and we will all have chance to talk with him over coffee and at lunch at Green O’Clock.

Dinner at Barbara’s House

On Sunday we will also be welcoming other LGBT conference members to worship with us at All Saints, including Mike Schuenemeyer of Rainbow Pilgrims.  It should be a great service!

Rainbow Pilgrims are also organising a meet-up at the Empress Hotel on Sunday Night at 7:30 p.m.  (More details to come!)

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transACTIONrefuge Events

For the last couple of months, transACTIONrefuge has been hosting Q&A sessions on Zoom, for trans people considering relocating to Chiang Mai.  If you are living in Chiang Mai and would like to join the call to answer questions about living in Thailand, email transACTIONrefuge@proton.me for the link.  (You don’t have to be trans yourself!) The next two Q&As are at 8 am on Monday 20th and 9pm on Sunday 26th (Thai time!)

Also, if you’d like to get to know some of the transACTIONrefuge team – and other trans people living in Chiang Mai – then join us at Sapphic Riot on Wednesday 29th October from 7 pm onwards!  (Costumes/Fancy Dress optional!)

More information at transACTIONrefuge.com

.

Events Coming Up – November / December

Sunday 2nd November    
Celebration of All Saints Day
(Followed by Potluck)

Sunday 9th November    
Remembrance Sunday

Tuesday 11th November    
Remembrance Day

Sunday 16th November    
Normal Sunday!!!!!

Thursday 20th November    
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sunday 23rd November    
Transgender Day of Remembrance Service

Sunday 30th November    
Advent Sunday
(Followed by Potluck)

Sunday 7th December    
Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday 14th December  
Third Sunday of Advent

Saturday 20th December    
Festival of Christmas Carols

Sunday 21st December    
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Wednesday 24th December    
Midnight Mass

Thursday 25th December    
Christmas Day

.

All Saints Day Celebration

All Saints Day

On Sunday 2nd November we will be celebrating All Saints Day.  This will be a great day of celebration as we welcome our choir from the Youth Charity Foundation.

Morning worship will be followed by a potluck at the vicarage.  

.

Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday

On Sunday 9th and Tuesday 11th November we will remember victims of war and together declare “never again!”

Sunday 9th November is Remembrance Sunday.  We will gather at All Saints at 10:30 a.m. to remember victims of war and armed conflict around the world. The service will include two minutes silence at 11 a.m. and hymns will include The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended, and Abide with Me. 

On Tuesday 11th, I will lead the Remembrance Day Observance at the Foreign Cemetery.  Please assemble at 10:30 a.m.  Directions to the Foreign Cemetery can be found here!

.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil and Service

We hope this vigil will take place at Tha Phae Gate on the evening of Thursday 20th November.  More details to follow! 

Then on Sunday 23rd November, we will mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance in our morning worship at All Saints!

.

Virtual Garage Sale

A Garage Sale is a North American tradition where people empty-out their unwanted possessions (often stored in a garage) and put them for sale in their yard.  In England we have “car boot sales” for a similar purpose.

The disadvantage of a traditional garage sale is that you need somewhere to store all the stuff and people may have things to dispose of at different times!  Hence… a Virtual Garage Sale!

This is how it will work: 

1) Bring your item to church, or the MCC Office, or send Sarah a photo and description if that’s easier!
2) Sarah will advertise the item online.
3) People can buy the item online and then collect or have it sent by Grab delivery.

Hopefully, we will raise much needed money for church funds!

.

Chili Night 

Chili Night continues this Tuesday!   Every week 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.

Please make a THB 100 donation.
 

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use 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 seeks to be a church that is welcome to all, whether rich or poor, Thai or farang, black or white, gay, lesbian, transgender, or straight, old or young, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or Jew.  We aim to declare the inclusive love of Jesus Christ, and demonstrate his radical call to discipleship in our lives.

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On the Edge!

Posted on 10/10/2025 | Leave a comment

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Last Week’s Harvest Offering

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday we had a wonderful celebration of harvest at All Saints when we gave thanks for God’s great provision, but those of us who are rich often forget to say thankyou, and it is the poor and marginalised – the people on the edge – who express their gratitude!  So it is in this week’s Gospel reading.

This Sunday we will read from Luke chapter seventeen where Jesus heals a group of ten lepers.  However, the only who returns to thank Jesus is a Samaritan.  He is the one who expresses his gratitude and Jesus commends him saying ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’  The story of the Syro-Phonecian woman and the Roman Centurion are similar stories where it is the foreigner who is commended for their faith!

How do we reach out to the people on the margins of our society?  Our work with the Youth Charity Foundation, refugees from Myanmar, and transACTIONrefuge are three of the ways we do this at All Saints.

Another way we can share our abundance, and give thanks to God, is by giving away the things which we do not need or no longer use!  Sarah Sensamaust has volunteered to run a virtual garage sale on behalf of All Saints!  We can turn our surplus possessions into money to build God’s kingdom and help those in need.  (See below for details!)

Whatever we do, we are called to serve those in need!

The scripture readings for this Sunday will be from 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, and Luke 17:11-19, and we will be singing the hymns Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise; Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart; O Christ the Healer; and Great is Thy Faithfulness!

.
YouTube Live

We now use YouTube Live to livestream our service.  

To watch our service live this Sunday please follow these steps:

1)  Click on the link below, and this will take you to the All Saints Chiang Mai YouTube channel. 
2)  Then click on “All Saints Chiang Mai is Live” to watch the service
Use this link to join our Sunday service on YouTube Live!

Last Week’s Service!

Video of last Sunday’s service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel! 

.

Virtual Garage Sale

A Garage Sale is a North American tradition where people empty-out their unwanted possessions (often stored in a garage) and put them for sale in their yard.  In England we have “car boot sales” for a similar purpose.

The disadvantage of a traditional garage sale is that you need somewhere to store all the stuff and people may have things to dispose of at different times!  Hence… a Virtual Garage Sale!

This is how it will work: 

1) Bring your item to church, or the MCC Office, or send Sarah a photo and description if that’s easier!
2) Sarah will advertise the item online.
3) People can buy the item online and then collect or have it sent by Grab delivery.

Hopefully, we will raise much needed money for church funds!

.

Hair Raising

Over the last few weeks some of you will have seen me sporting extra hair!  I haven’t gone mad, but after thirty years of the same non-hairstyle I am ready for a change.  Such is the prejudice about “wearing a wig” that it has taken a great deal of courage to do so!  (While Pastor Mark has happily had green hair and now a pony-tale or man-bun!)

I think it makes me look younger – and it certainly makes me look different – but whether or not it does or not, I like the change.  (And it’s my head!  Lol!)  All Saints likes to proclaim that “All are Welcome” and by being who we are and modeling the way we want to be seen, we open that door wider for those who are unsure of their welcome if they come as their true selves.

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Behind the scenes at ASCMM and transACTIONrefuge

I have submitted the 2024 Annual Report for All Saints Chiang Mai Mission to the UK Charity Commission.  ASCMM is a UK register charity which handles funds from the UK for All Saints and the Youth Charity Foundation.  We have seven hardworking trustees who oversee the work and perform this valuable, though unseen, task!  Thank you for all your hard work!

Meanwhile, transACTIONrefuge continues to reach out with valuable information and assistance to hundreds of trans individuals and families who are considering fleeing their homes to find a place of greater safety.  We have recently found a possible source of grant funding and are beginning our application.  Please pray for this work!

.

Chili Night 

Chili Night continues this Tuesday!   Every week 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.

Please make a THB 100 donation.
 

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use 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)

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Harvest Time!

Posted on 03/10/2025 | Leave a comment

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

God’s rich provision!

Dear Friends,


For the last few years we have driven out to the Youth Charity Foundation to celebrate our Harvest Thanksgiving, but this year the kids are away so we are celebrating at All Saints before sharing in a potluck at the vicarage. 

For most of us the only harvesting we do is in the supermarket or at the restaurant salad bar, and in a land of plenty like Thailand it is easy to take food for granted. Yet our world still sees starvation due to war in places such as those in Gaza and Sudan.  As we give thanks, we must also remember those in need, and pray and work to make this world a safer place where all are fed and live in safety.

The readings for the Harvest Thanksgiving this Sunday will be from Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Philippians 1:21-30, and Matthew 20:1-16, and we will be singing the hymns Come, Ye Thankful People, Come; For the Fruit of all Creation; For the Beauty of the Earth; and We Plow the Fields and Scatter!

YouTube Live

We will again be using YouTube Live instead of Zoom to livestream our service.  

To watch our service live this Sunday please follow these steps:

1)  Click on the link below, and this will take you to the All Saints Chiang Mai YouTube channel. 
2)  Then click on “All Saints Chiang Mai is Live” to watch the service
Use this link to join our Sunday service on YouTube Live!

Last Week’s Service!

Video of last Sunday’s service is available on the All Saints YouTube channel!

Theology on Tap – Last Night!

Beer, Pizza and … The Bible?

Join us the first Thursday of the month, to explore your questions—and problems—with the Bible over delicious food and stimulating conversation. We’ll watch a video exploring a spiritual theme, followed by group discussion. Bring a friend, or meet new ones. People of all faiths and no faith are welcome. 

6:00-8:00 pm at Bella Madre Pizza (next to Food4Thought East)
First Thursday of the month
The first gathering was last night, and a great time was had by all!

Harvest Festival—This Sunday, 5th October

This year’s Harvest Festival will be held at All Saints Church as many of the Youth Charity Foundation children will be away.  It will be followed by a potluck at the vicarage.

All Saints’ Book Club

Book Club meets 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 3:30-5:30. Location to be confirmed each week. We’re working our way through The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper.  Contact Christa or Gene for details.

Chili Night 

Chili Night continues this Tuesday!   Every week 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.

Please make a THB 100 donation.
 

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use 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)

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