Monthly Archives: February 2026

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

The Kingdom of God – God’s people worshipping together!

Dear Friends,

This week we continue our observance of Lent as we look at the story of Nicodemus who came to Jesus with compliments.  Jesus responded “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

What does it mean to see God’s kingdom, and even more to enter it?

The readings for the Second Sunday of Lent will be from Genesis 12:1-4, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, and John 3:1-17, and we will be singing the hymns The God of Abraham Praise; O Jesus, I have Promised; Let us Break Bread Together; and What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

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!

Video of Last Week’s Sermon



Video of last week’s sermon will soon be available on the All Saints YouTube Channel

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Help for Christa and Mark!



Please pray for Mark and Christa at this time!  This is the latest news on their situation:

Christa writes:

We did it.

Because of you, our $10,000 goal has been fully funded—and exceeded.
We cannot adequately express our gratitude. Your generosity enables us to move forward in seeking permission to return to Thailand.
But your support means even more than that.  Mark shares how:

“Yesterday, a mother called me asking for help relocating to safety. She is a refugee fleeing war and sexual violence, now also surviving domestic abuse and abandonment. She has nothing except two small children — one of whom is sick and requires ongoing medical care.

On the worst day of her life, I was able to be present, listen carefully, and help her begin to see options again. And because of your financial support and prayers, you were there for her too.

It was as if she walked into a room full of caring, capable people from around the world asking, ‘How can we help?’

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Through your kindness, more love has entered her story.”

On a personal level, Mark’s mom recently suffered a massive stroke after weeks of hospitalization for a broken hip. His 81-year-old father cannot live independently without her. Being able to return and care for them during this season matters deeply to us.

Please continue to pray for our visas to be approved, for this refugee mother and her children, and for Mark’s parents.

Your presence with us in this season means more than we can say.

This campaign officially closes tonight. We will share final totals once all gifts have been processed.    If you feel led to support our ongoing care of people like this refugee mother, the giving links will remain open. But please know: the visa goal has been met and exceeded.

Thank you for standing with us.

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transACTIONrefuge Volunteer Orientation – Last Saturday!



We had a great meeting last Saturday with around twelve people in attendance.

This who missed it can view the recording of the event – message me if you would like to be sent the link.

Whether you have already volunteered to help new-comers to Chiang Mai, would like to do so, or just want to find out more, please ask to see this valuable information which explains what is needed, and outlines the do’s and don’t’s of helping.  
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transACTIONrefuge Hike – This Saturday!



This is a short hike of a couple of miles, suitable for most ability levels!

Patrick is a Thai tour guide who loves to get people out in nature.  He is also a great resource on local flora and fauna. 

Details:
  Saturday, February 28th
 9:00 AM – meet to carpool to the hike here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tLSCuKCpqSjhwTDX6

We will have 3 cars that can hold at least 10 hikers in addition to the drivers.
Please bring a sack lunch so we can picnic at the half way point.
Recommended items to bring: 
•    sunscreen/hat
•    bug spray
•    footwear with good grip
•    plenty of water

Further details for this hike will emailed out next week.

Cost: 100 baht for National Park entrance for foreigners. If you can’t afford the cost please let us know. Several of our members have offered to sponsor anyone who could not otherwise participate.

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Tuesday Chili Night Continues!

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.

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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)}}

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Last Year’s Reflections on the Stations of the Cross

Dear Friends,

What are you going to give up for Lent?  Chocolate?  Facebook?  Social Media?  How about giving up striving, giving up stress, giving up worrying?

Jesus said:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?

Yes, we need to plan, yes, we need to make sensible provision – but even then the best laid plans of mice and men can come tumbling down!  (Just read below about Mark and Christa’s situation to witness this!)

Trust is the key – if we trust God with our lives then we need not worry for we know that, ultimately, all is safe in God’s hands!

The readings for the First Sunday of Lent will be from Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-17, and Matthew 4:1-11, and we will be singing the hymns When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Forty Days and Forty Nights; Bless the Lord oh my Soul; and God is Love!

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!

Video of the Ash Wednesday Service

The video is available on the All Saints YouTube Channel


Help for Christa and Mark!



Please pray for Mark and Christa at this time!  They left on Thursday!

Christa writes:

Mark and I must leave Thailand to apply for new ones — and unless we complete that process, we won’t be allowed to return.

But we cannot complete the process without your help.

Thailand has been our home for 25 years. For a quarter century, we’ve walked alongside children, women, and men finding freedom from trafficking, exploitation, and harm. There is still more work to do.

This is not an expulsion. It’s a deadline.

Our original visa pathway unexpectedly fell through at the last minute. Now, to obtain new visas, we must meet two significant financial requirements — both beyond what we can manage alone.

The first is a $50,000 capital requirement — and incredibly, that has already been provided without us asking. We are profoundly grateful.

The second is $10,000 to cover visa fees, international airfare, and basic living expenses while we remain outside Thailand during the 20-day processing period.
Without raising this $10,000 by Friday, we cannot complete the process — and we will not be allowed to return.

If you’re able to help, any amount moves us closer.
If giving isn’t possible, sharing this post expands the circle.
The tax-deductible donation link is in the comments. We’ll post updates as this unfolds.

Thank you for standing with us. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity make it possible for us to remain where we are called to serve.

With love,
 Christa

U.S. tax-deductible donation link: 
https://hhmin.org/charities/christa-crawford/

International donation link:
https://www.spotfund.com/story

If you have a Thai bank account you can also donate via the All Saints bank account which is in my name, or give cash on Sunday.  Email Adam, our treasurer, on adamsensamaust@gmail.com to designate your gift.



All Saints Chiang Mai Mission Meeting



All Saints Chiang Mai Mission is the UK charity which helps to channel international donations to All Saints and the Youth Charity Foundation.  It also seeks to hold both organisations to account by ensuring that we adhere to international standards of governance and safeguarding.  Our board consists of members and former members of All Saints and other interested friends.

We will have our regular meeting online this Saturday.

Please hold us in your prayers.


transACTIONrefuge Volunteer Orientation – This Saturday!



We have a Volunteer Orientation meeting this Saturday, 21st February, at the vicarage at 2 p.m.

Whether you have already volunteered to help new-comers to Chiang Mai, would like to do so, or just want to find out more, please come.

The meeting will explain what is needed and outline the do’s and don’t’s of helping.  It will also be a chance to get to know other volunteers.


transACTIONrefuge Hike



Patrick is a Thai tour guide who loves to get people out in nature.  He is also a great resource on local flora and fauna. 
Details:
  Saturday, February 28th
 9:00 AM – meet to carpool to the hike here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tLSCuKCpqSjhwTDX6

We will have 3 cars that can hold at least 10 hikers in addition to the drivers.
Please bring a sack lunch so we can picnic at the half way point.
Recommended items to bring: 
•    sunscreen/hat
•    bug spray
•    footwear with good grip
•    plenty of water

Further details for this hike will emailed out next week.

Cost: 100 baht for National Park entrance for foreigners. If you can’t afford the cost please let us know. Several of our members have offered to sponsor anyone who could not otherwise participate.


Tuesday Chili Night—Returns Next Week!

Chili Night will return next week on Tuesday 24th at 6 p.m.

 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)}}

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Jesus Transfigured

Ash Wednesday Service – Next Week!

A Potluck will follow the service this Sunday.

Dear Friends,

Jesus was assigned human at birth when he was actually God inside – actually he was both, for the scriptures attest that Jesus was fully man and fully God – God with us!

Christ’s true nature was revealed at the transfiguration when the disciples caught a glimpse of Jesus’ true self!

Lent is almost upon us, we will celebrate “Pancake Sunday” this week, but on the Sunday before Lent the Gospel reading is always the story of Jesus’ transfiguration.  Before his all-too-human temptations and death on the cross are remembered, we remember Jesus shining with the glory of God!

That is what the Transfiguration is about – it is the revelation of who Jesus really is – the Son of God!  And Moses and Elijah appear to testify about this on behalf of the Law and the Prophets.

What about us?  How do we see Jesus?  And are we prepared to reveal who we really are too?  Do we even know who that is?  If we believe, then we are children of God, and that knowledge is at least a start!

The readings this week will be Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9, and we will be singing the hymns Praise to the Lord, Transfiguration Hymn; You laid aside Your Majesty; and Christ be our Light!  Our choir will be singing Transfiguration and The Lord Bless You and Keep You.

Then on Wednesday we will have two services to mark Ash Wednesday: firstly a short service at 8:30 a.m. and then our usual Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.  Both services will include the imposition of ashes.

At our 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday service we will sing the hymns Abide with Me, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, and The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended.

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!

Video of Last Week’s Sermon

Video of last week’s sermon is now available on the All Saints YouTube Channel

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Next Potluck – This Sunday



Our next potluck will be at the vicarage this Sunday.  This will be our Pancake Potluck heralding the beginning of Lent.  Our choir will be joining us for worship, but unfortunately cannot attend the potluck so we will plan the number of pancakes accordingly!
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All Saints Annual General Meeting – Last Sunday



This was held following the morning service last Sunday, 8th February.

The meeting received reports, approved the budget for 2026, and elected a new Church Council for the next year.   
Four people were elected for the elected positions on the Church Council.  They are:

Paddy Davis
Barbara Franklin
Elsa King
Charlotte Sensamaust

In addition, I, as vicar, remain an ex-officio member, and Christa Crawford will replace Mark Crawford in one of the two other clergy positions.  Helen Catton has been co-opted to fill the other clergy position in the absence of another clerical candidate.

In response to my vicar’s report, there was a discussion regarding the future of the All Saints Foundation:

This is now working smoothly due to the hard work of our administrator, Gai. However, it is not providing the solution we had hoped for.  Although it has enabled us to have a bank account in the name of All Saints, it has not increased our transparency or allowed us to obtain volunteer visas for our clergy.  It is costing around THB 200,000 a year to maintain which amounts to around 20% of our annual budget.  We are also struggling to fulfil the requirement to benefit “Thai people” other than in our work with YCF, and they are a separate foundation. 

Additionally, two of the foundation board members wish to resign and this could take 12 to 18 months to facilitate and find suitable willing replacements.

Considerable expense was incurred in setting up the foundation and many people, especially Khun Tasnee, invested  a great deal of time into the project.  However, continuing as we are is not viable.  The three options are:

1)    Continuing with a restructured foundation
and initiating a project to support Thai people.
2)    Putting the foundation into a “deep freeze”
so that it can be revived in the future.
3)    Closing the foundation.

Option One is possible but would involve more work and would continue to cost us THB 200,000 per year.  

It seems Option Two is not possible as the foundation can be closed down by the authorities if it is perceived as no longer active – and we would still need to provide monthly reports and accounts so the costs would still be significant for no purpose whatsoever.  

Option Three is a drastic step and should we want a foundation in the future we would again incur costs.   Some costs will also accrue from winding-up the organisation.

The new Church Council will consider the way forward at its next meeting and should they decide on Option Three we will have to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to ratify the decision and amend the All Saints Constitution accordingly.

Other points raised at the meeting:

– Suggestion for council going forward: Have quarterly reporting on church council
meetings email to congregants.

– Formalize or set boundaries for community outreach work to keep it sustainable
for All Saints Church leadership.

– AGM expressed great appreciation for the work of the outgoing Council Chair, Sarah Sensamaust.

– Community Responsibilities:
 Arthur and Phyllis continue as altar fabric people.
 Coffee and snack hosting: By month?
 Elsa: Volunteer Coordinator to organize the community ministries (altar guild,
potluck, coffee hosting, organize clean up after potluck, basket for donations
for people who don’t bring money)
 James will help document the processes and systems guide
 Chris and Christa to take potluck organization and shoulder tapping.
 Newsletters and/or weekly bulletin to include helpers, attendance, offering,
etc.

Finance and Budget reporting: Adam
– Do a better job advertising space for rent/fee (about 300/hour)
– Consider raising cost for existing group space rental (500/session)
– Budget accepted and approved for 2026.
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Ash Wednesday Service



On Wednesday we will have two services to mark Ash Wednesday: firstly a short service at 8:30 a.m. and then our usual Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.  Both services will include the imposition of ashes. Christa will be leading this year’s service as mum and I have been invited to Chiang Rai to celebrate the Lahu New Year.  All Welcome!
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Tuesday Chili Night—One Week Break!

There will be no Chili Night next week, Tuesday 17th February.  It will return the following week on Tuesday 24th at 6 p.m.
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transACTIONrefuge Volunteer Orientation



On Saturday 21st February we will have a Volunteer Orientation meeting at the vicarage at 2 p.m.

Whether you have already volunteered to help new-comers to Chiang Mai, would like to do so, or just want to find out more, please come.

The meeting will explain what is needed and outline the do’s and don’t’s of helping.  It will also be a chance to get to know other volunteers.
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transACTIONrefuge Hike

We are planning a hike on Saturday 28th February.  More details to follow!  All welcome!

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 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)}}

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Healthy Living?

Dear Friends,

This week’s Gospel Reading is a familiar passage from Matthew.  Jesus says:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 

He then goes on to talk about how God provides food for the “birds of the air” and clothing for the “lilies of the field.”  The message is: Do not worry about such mundane things.

The good news is that in the 21st Century most of the world’s population do not have to worry about having enough food to eat or clothes to wear, in fact obesity and over-consumption are often bigger problems than starvation or want.

So, how should we who have an abundance apply these passages from Jesus?  Although it is sensible to eat sensibly, perhaps we need to stop obsessing about diet?  “You are what you eat” is not really true!  You are a child of God, not a son of pizza or daughter of tofu!

The passage ends with the conclusion:

But seek first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Let us do this!

The readings this week will be Genesis 1:1-2:3, Romans 8:18-25, and Matthew 6:25-34, and we will be singing the hymns All Creatures of our God and King; Still; For the Beauty of the Earth; and Praise with Joy the World’s Creator.

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!

Video of Last Week’s Sermon



Video of last week’s sermon is now available on the All Saints YouTube Channel


All Saints Annual General Meeting



This will be held following the morning service this Sunday, 8th February.  All are welcome to attend and members over the age of 16 will be able to vote.

The meeting will receive reports, approve the budget for 2026, and elect a new Church Council for the next year.   Nominations are now closed and four people have been nominated for the four elected positions on the Church Council.  They are:

Paddy Davis
Barbara Franklin
Elsa King
Charlotte Sensamaust


Next Potluck



Our next potluck will be at the vicarage on Sunday 15th February.  This will be our Pancake Potluck heralding the beginning of Lent.  Our choir will be joining us for worship, but unfortunately cannot attend the potluck so we will plan the number of pancakes accordingly!


Welcome Picnic –  Last Saturday!



transACTIONrefuge held a welcome picnic at the vicarage last Saturday, 31st January.  I was a very successful event with around 25 people of all ages attending.   Unfortunately, we forgot to take any photos!!!   Thanks to everyone who made this event possible.


Ash Wednesday Service



This will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday 18th February.   Join us for this solemn service marking the beginning of Lent including the imposition of ashes.  Christa will be leading this year’s service as mum and I have been invited to Chiang Rai to celebrate the Lahu New Year.  All Welcome!


Chili Night Continues!
 

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)}}