From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
A Jewish demonstrator supporting Palestine
Dear Friends,
Three years ago I wrote:
I am feeling frustrated. The Eighteenth Century philosopher, Edmund Burke, is reported to have said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” With the on-going bombing and siege in Gaza, I feel I am doing nothing!
War is always a terrible thing as we have seen in Ukraine, Myanmar, and Syria, but this time my own government is supporting the aggressor, the oppressive military superpower behind a fifty year illegal military occupation. I hear stories from friends in the region who have lost family members.
We are called to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”, and I am praying, but what more can we do? The most urgent need is for a ceasefire, and then the real and meaningful delivery of food, water, medicine, and fuel. We need to lobby our governments to do all they can to bring this about.
Three years have passed and little has changed. Russia continues to bomb Ukraine, seemingly now supported by the President of the United States. Although things have quietened down in Gaza, the siege continues and hundreds of people are still being killed. Meanwhile in the West Bank, Jewish terrorists are free to rampage and kill. We indeed need to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Three years ago I continued:
In three weeks’ time I will be leading the Remembrance Day Observance at the Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery, let us pray that by then the bombs and missiles will have stopped, hostages will have been released, and the almost impossible work of reconciliation will have begun.
The work of reconciliation seems further away than ever, both in Ukraine and in the Holy Land. Yet we are called to love our neighbor, not just love them a bit, but love our neighbor as ourselves. How can we do this? This is what I’ve been preaching upon this Sunday.
The readings for this Sunday will be from Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, and Matthew 22:34-46, and we will be singing the hymns When Morning Gilds the Skies, In Christ there is no East or West, When I needed a Neighbour, and O God of Earth and Altar!
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 Service
Video highlights of last week’s service are available on the All Saints YouTube channel.
Chili Night Returns Next Week!
Chili night is now fortnightly (every two weeks) so the next one will be on WEDNESDAY 28th October!
All Saints’ Day
On Sunday, the 1st of November, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day. This will be followed by a potluck at the vicarage.
Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday
On Sunday 8th and Wednesday 11th November we will remember victims of war and together declare “never again!”
Sunday 8th 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 Wednesday 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
A vigil will take place on the evening of Friday 20th November. More details to follow!
Then on Sunday 22nd November, we will mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance in our morning worship at All Saints!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to me! On Friday November 27, 2026, I will be 60 years old!
Everyone is invited to a party at my house to celebrate. It will be a costume party. Save the date.
Details to follow.
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,
Father Iain
