Category Archives: Uncategorized

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

“Greed is Good!”

Dear Friends,

In Oliver Stone’s 1987 film, Wall Street, the lead character, Gordon Gekko, makes a speech.  It includes the famous line “Greed is good!”  This was the centre of the idea of “trickle-down economics”, the idea that greed creates wealth, and that eventually everyone therefore becomes wealthy.

Jesus seemed to have other ideas.  “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” says Jesus in this week’s Gospel reading.

Mark will be preaching this Sunday and he will be looking at the meaning of wealth and how we use it!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23, Colossians 3:1-11, and Luke 12:13-21, and we will be singing the hymns Praise my Soul the King of Heaven; Lord, I want to be a Christian; Take My Life and Let it Be; and Now Thank We All Our God!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Video of last week’s sermon by Revd. Peter Tarleton, “Pray for God’s Kingdom!”, is now available here!

New Church in Roi Et

I will be away this Sunday as I will have the joy in taking part in the opening of a new church in Roi Et.  

Archbishop Ron Langham of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and I will join the congregation for the consecration of the new church and the installation of Bishop Rick Saint as pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, Roi Et, Thailand.

Please pray that this congregation will grow to provide a vital and inclusive place of worship for expat and Thais alike.

Welcome Back Potluck

Early notice that we will be having a “Welcome Back Potluck” at the vicarage on Sunday 21st August.  More details to follow – put it in your diary!

Vulnerability Groups

The groups continue to look at the work of Brené Brown.   Brené Brown is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host, and is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
 
Tuesday, 12pm– small group at Bella Goose – temporarily suspended
Thursday, 6pm– small group at the Crawford’s
 
All are welcome!
 

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili night will continue next Tuesday.  All are welcome to come to the vicarage at 6 p.m. for Chili con Carne followed by ice-cream.  Ask for directions!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai
How should we pray?

Dear Friends,

Prayer is a reflex of most people at times of distress, but how should we pray?  Jesus was asked how to pray by his disciples and he taught them the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is perhaps more of a pattern for our prayer life than an instruction of the exact words we should recite, but it remains a good place to start.

Learn more about Jesus’ teaching on prayer this Sunday when Revd. Peter Tarleton will be preaching.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:6-19, and Luke 11:1-13, and we will be singing the hymns Praise to the Lord, the Almighty; Oh Lord, Hear my Prayer; Seek Ye First; and What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon, “Are you Mary or Martha?”, is now available here!

Vulnerability Groups



The groups continue to look at the work of Brené Brown.   Brené Brown is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host, and is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
 
Tuesday, 12pm– small group at Bella Goose
Thursday, 6pm– small group at the Crawford’s
 
All are welcome!
 

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili night will return next Tuesday, 26th July.  All are welcome to come to the vicarage at 6 p.m. on Tuesday for Chili con Carne followed by ice-cream.  Ask for directions!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Which one are you?

Dear Friends,
Most of us are doers – we like to get things done!  The active people in the church are like that, after all, James said that faith without works is dead. But when the doer, Martha, complained to Jesus about the listener, Mary, Jesus said that Mary had “chosen the better part!” Do we find it easier to do than to find time to really listen to Jesus?  How can we become better listeners and so better disciples too?

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Genesis 18:1-10, Colossians 1:15-28, and Luke 10:38-42, and we will be singing the hymns All Creatures of our God and King; Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; When the Music Fades; and Lift High the Cross!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon on the Good Samaritan, is now available here!

Vulnerability Groups



The groups continue to look at the work of Brené Brown.   Brené Brown is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host, and is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
 
Tuesday, 12pm– small group at Bella Goose
Thursday, 6pm– small group at the Crawford’s
 
All are welcome!
 

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili night will return on Tuesday 26th July.  Watch this space for more information!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

After nearly forty years the long-running Australian soap opera, Neighbours, will soon come to an end.   The soap tells the story of the people of fictional Ramsay Street and has followed their lives for forty years. Soaps are popular because they tell the stories of characters we really think we can get to know and in societies where many people admit to feeling lonely, connection is something we long for!

In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus is asked “Who is my neighbour?” and he responds with the story of the Good Samaritan.  As foreigners living in Thailand, how should we answer that question and what are the implications for our lives?

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be taken from Deuteronomy 30:8-14, Colossians 1:1-14, and Luke 10:25-37, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun; When I needed a Neighbour; Brother, Sister, Let me Serve You; and God, Whose Almighty Word!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon, “Go Out”, is now available here!

Chiang Mai Pride



David Cartwright and I joined other marchers to celebrate Chiang Mai Pride.  It was good to have positive conversations with others taking part.


Vulnerability Groups



The groups continue to look at the work of Brené Brown.   Brené Brown is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host, and is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
 
Tuesday, 12pm– small group at Bella Goose
Thursday, 6pm– small group at the Crawford’s
 
All are welcome!
 

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili night will return soon!  Watch this space for news!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Back again!

Dear Friends,

I have recovered from Covid and will be delighted to be back at All Saints this coming Sunday!

It’s great to be released from self-isolation and be able to go out once again.  Our Gospel reading this week is the account of Jesus sending out the Seventy to extend his work throughout Israel!  What can we learn from this “sending out”?  What does it mean to be out in God’s world?

Another sort of “being out” is seen in this Sunday’s Chiang Mai Pride March which will begin around 6 p.m. at the bottom of Thapae Gate Road.  In previous years we have had an official All Saints presence, but as so many people are travelling at this time, we will meet and march together informally.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Isaiah 66:10-14, Galatians 6:1-16, and Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, and we will be singing the hymns Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah; I will offer up my life; King of Kings, Majesty; and Go forth and tell!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Video of Hannah Alexander-Herrick preaching on Sunday 19th June is available here and video of Mark Crawford preaching on Sunday 26th June is available here!

Vulnerability Groups



The groups continue to look at the work of Brené Brown.   Brené Brown is an American research professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host, and is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
 
Tuesday, 12pm– small group at Bella Goose
Thursday, 6pm– small group at the Crawford’s
 
All are welcome!
 

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili night will return soon!  Watch this space for news!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

I’ve tested positive!

Dear Friends,
It is ironic that our New Testament reading on Sunday is all about our freedom in Christ, when I am forced to self-isolate!

I returned to All Saints last Sunday, but started to feel unwell on Monday night, and on Tuesday morning tested positive for Covid.  The first night was quite unpleasant and I didn’t get much sleep with constant coughing, but now I am mainly feeling tired with cold symptoms and sleeping most of the time.

We have informed the people who were in church last Sunday, and so far there are no other cases.  Mark will be leading worship this Sunday.  I hope to be back with you the following week.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1,13-25, and Luke 9:51-62, and we will be singing the hymns O Worship the King, God is Love, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, and Now Thank We All Our God!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Hannah Alexander-Herrick preached last Sunday and Peter Tarleton presided at communion.  It was a lovely service and video of the sermon is available on the Audio-Visual Page!

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Due to Covid, Chili Night will not return next week!  Watch this space for news!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Back to Ordinary Time!

Dear Friends,
I shall be back with you this Sunday after my rather exhausting trip to the UK.  The highlight was my mum’s birthday celebration, where 64 people turned up over a twelve hour, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., buffet marathon!   

It was great to be joined by All Saints members Pat and Julia, plus two other members of the All Saints Chiang Mai Mission board!  The weather was great and everyone had a good time celebrating together and saying goodbye.

Mum with two very long-time friends!

I will  return from my time away in the UK just in time for Ordinary Time.  After the three seasons of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, the church colour changes back to green all the way until the start of Advent! 

But, it is not called Ordinary Time because everything is ordinary, or even boring!!!  Ordinary comes from the root ordinal meaning counting, and it is called Ordinary Time because we now count the weeks since the Feast of Trinity!

God is with us – so how can anything be ordinary – let alone boring?  Let us open our hearts to God’s love and see God working in our world once more!

See you on Sunday!!!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be 1 Kings 19:1-15, Galatians 3:23-29, and Luke 8:26-39, and we will be singing the hymns Now Thank We All Our God, Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart, You laid aside Your Majesty, and When we walk with the Lord!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

The Zoom recording of last week’s sermon by Father Mark can be seen here!

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili Night will return on Tuesday 28th June!


Weekly Offering to All SaintsYou 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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Come, Holy Spirit! 

Dear Friends,
I am in the UK getting over my jetlag as I help mum sort out her house for sale!  It is a task which requires a practical questioning of what is really important: after a lifetime of acquiring this and that, what do we need to keep and what can be thrown away?

At his Ascension, Jesus demonstrated that even keeping his physical presence on Earth wasn’t as important as his ability to send the Holy Spirit!  While he held on to the physical, he couldn’t be with us everywhere and always through the Holy Spirit.  This omnipresence is what we celebrate at Pentecost!

We live in the physical, but love, relationship, God, and truth, are beyond.  These are the eternal things we should really value!

With the easing of Covid restrictions, most of All Saints regular attendees are travelling, so if you are in Chiang Mai this Sunday please attend and give Mark a congregation to preach and minister to!!!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, and John 14:8-17, 25-27, and we will be singing the hymns Come Down, O Love Divine; Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind; O Breath of Life, Come Sweeping Through Us; and O God of Burning, Cleansing Flame!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon, “That they may believe…“, can be seen here!”

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

I am now in the UK, so Chili Night will then take a break while I am away in England.  It will return on Tuesday 28th June!


Gone Fishing!



This is a quiet season at All Saints after the many events of the last few months!  More will be happening in the Autumn/Fall.  Please hold our plans in your prayers!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

All is Love!

Dear Friends,

Love is at the centre of the Christian faith, and this Sunday, as well as celebrating the Ascension – this Thursday is Ascension Day – we will be focusing on that love once again!

How do we show and grow in love for one another, and how can we show love to the world?

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 1:1-11, Revelation 22:12-21, John 17:20-26, and we will be singing the hymns Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise; Blest Be the Tie That Binds; Bind Us Together, Lord; and Love Divine, all Loves Excelling!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon, Who is the Holy Spirit?, can be seen here!

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

I shall be flying off to England next Monday, so Chili Night will then take a break while I am away in England.  It will return on Tuesday 28th June!


Gone Fishing!



This is a quiet season at All Saints after the many events of the last few months!  More will be happening in the Autumn/Fall.  Please hold our plans in your prayers!


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,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Our Advocate and Comforter

Dear Friends,
Over the last couple of weeks, Ratcha has made me watch the entire series of Harry Potter films in order – something I had never done before.  

In the last episode (spoiler alert!) Harry Potter is killed by his arch-enemy, Voldemort, but then comes back from the dead due to his possession of the Resurrection Stone.  JK Rowling, who is a Scottish Episcopalian, has said this is an allegory of the life, death, and resurrection, of Jesus.

However, in the Hogwarts franchise, the final film ends with Harry and his friends sending their own children off to the wizarding school nineteen years later.  This is very different than the story of Jesus where forty days after his resurrection he ascends into heaven.  An event we will mark next Sunday.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus promises that although he will go away he will send “another comforter”, the Holy Spirit.  He even says that is why he is going away!  This is what we will explore this Sunday.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, and John 14:23-29, and we will be singing the hymns Let All the World in Every Corner Sing; Jesu, Jesu, Fill us with Your Love; What shall I do, my God to love; and Christ is made the Sure Foundation!

Use this link to join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Last week’s Sermon

Last week’s sermon, “Love, and be vulnerable!”, can be seen here!

Chili Night 

A few of the group!

Chili Night continues next Tuesday, 24th May, at 6 p.m.!  We will then take a break while I am away in England, and it will return on Tuesday 28th June!

All are welcome!


Gone Fishing!



This is a quiet season at All Saints after the many events of the last few months!  More will be happening in the Autumn/Fall.  Please hold our plans in your prayers!


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,

Father Iain