All Saints' Chiang Mai

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,
This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday when we remember victims of war throughout the world. War is always a failure – a failure of diplomacy, a failure of negotiations, politics, and statecraft.  Sometimes it may seem inevitable but it always means lives lost, health destroyed, the creation of orphans and widows and hope destroyed. That is why Isaiah’s vision of the last days includes the line:

  Nation will not take up sword against nation,
  nor will they train for war anymore.

That is the Christian hope for the future, a future of peace and justice for all. Our world, right now, is not how we would want it to be, but we have a hope, a hope based in God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Our scripture readings for Remembrance Sunday will be Isaiah 2:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Matthew 25:1-13, and our hymns will be O God our help in Ages Past, Abide with Me, Will Your Anchor Hold, and The Day Thou gavest Lord is Ended!

Last week’s All Saints Day service can be viewed here!

Lots of things are coming up in November and December, so please read below!

November Services

This Sunday we will mark Remembrance Sunday, when we remember those killed in war.  We will also join the wider Chiang Mai community on November 11th at the Foreign Cemetery to mark Remembrance Day.

Then on November 22nd we will be joined by people from MPlus and the Young Pride Club to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we remember the hundreds of Trans people from around the world who were killed in 2020.

Both services signify how we reach out in our concerns to those beyond the walls of All Saints.

The Christmas Season

Advent Sunday

Celebrations for Advent and Christmas begin on 29th November when we will mark Advent Sunday.  This will be followed by decorating the church for Christmas and a potluck lunch.

Thammapratheep Christmas Bazaar

We will join with Thammapratheep Church on 5th December from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for their Christmas Bazaar.  There will be Christmas decorations, food, desserts, secondhand items, cards, etc. for sale.  Clarice will be selling her jams and chutneys, and the Youth Charity Foundation will be selling their cards.

Festival of Christmas Carols

On Saturday 19th December we will hold our Festival of Christmas Carols at Thammapratheep Church.  We will be led by Lannacapella and some of the children from the Youth Charity Foundation. 

The service begins at 7 p.m.

Thammapratheep Christmas Eve Service

There will be a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Thammapratheep Church on December 24th beginning at 7.30 pm. It usually lasts for around one and a half hours.

Refreshments will be served after the service for everybody. All Saints people are invited to participate and there will be English translation throughout the service.

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass

On Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, we will have our Midnight Mass beginning at 11:30 p.m.  This is always a beautiful, peaceful service, and usually attended by a lot of visitors.  It is a wonderful way to begin Christmas.

Christmas Day Eucharist

On Christmas Day we will have our Morning Worship at 10 a.m. followed by lunch!  Please join us if you can!  More information to follow!

All Saints Mission Statement

Last week, Mark Crawford, Chris Tananone, Tarntip Aldis, and I, met to begin developing our Mission Statement.  We will meet again next week to develop our Vision Statement.  Both processes depend on your feedback – both from the survey which was taken over the last two weeks and from individual conversations.

Chris suggested that our Mission Statement should be based on the words which appear on our bulletins and website: An inclusive, liturgical community for all people!

The three suggestions are:

All Saints is an inclusive, liturgical community for all people!

All Saints is an inclusive, Christ-centred, liturgical community for all people!

All Saints is an inclusive, God-centred, liturgical community for all people!

Which do you prefer?  Share your choice with Mark, Chris, Tarntip, or me!  We want to decide this together!  There is still time to give your feedback.

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch last week

This is a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

My News

My visa application is now in the mail!!!

Please pray that this will be successful.  Once I have my visa I can apply for a Certificate of Entry and then I can return!

I hope to be back in January.  Until then I am continuing to work for All Saints: maintaining the website and Facebook page, writing the weekly emails, producing the bulletins, posters, and other publicity, choosing the hymns, and working with Mark and the Trustees to keep things going and plan our programmes, and, of course, praying for you all!

I am also helping out at my mum’s church, Carterknowle Methodist, and preaching there three times each month.  They have a huge building, but fewer people than All Saints, and would value your prayers too, as they don’t currently have a minister.

The UK has now entered lockdown again, so worship in the UK will be virtual for at least  the next four weeks.  Please pray for us!

Click here to watch me leading and preaching last Sunday!

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

When the Saints go marching in…

Special Zoom Service at 7 p.m.!
Click here to join the Zoom service on Sunday

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day, the Patronal Festival of our church! I am really excited to be preaching at both the 7 p.m. Zoom service and the 10 a.m. service in the church!  The 10 a.m. service will see me preach via a recorded video (it will be 3 a.m. in the UK!), and then I will be leading and preaching live at 7 p.m. via Zoom!

The Zoom Eucharist will be at 7 p.m. Thai time, which is midday in the UK and 1 p.m. in Europe due to the end of daylight saving here!  It will be at 7 a.m. on the East Coast of the US.  Click here to join the service on Sunday and have your bread and wine ready if you want to share in the Eucharist. 

All Saints, Chiang Mai, is called All Saints because that is who we are!  Not that we are all especially good people, that’s not what saints actually means.  Saints are people who have chosen to follow God and that is who we are, even though we often fall short in our ambitions.

Please join us at one, or better both, of our services this Sunday!  I would love to see you!  And by the way, singing is now allowed again in the morning service! Our scripture readings for All Saints Day will be Isaiah 56:3-8, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12, and our hymns will be For All the Saints, Sing With All the Saints in Glory, Let us Build a House, and O When the Saints!

Lots of things are coming up in November and December, so please read below!

November Services

On 8th November we will mark Remembrance Sunday, when we remember those killed in war.  We will also join the wider Chiang Mai community on November 11th at the Foreign Cemetery to mark Remembrance Day.

Then on November 22nd we will be joined by people from MPlus and the Young Pride Club to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we remember the hundreds of Trans people from around the world who were killed in 2020.

Both services signify how we reach out in our concerns to those beyond the walls of All Saints.

The Christmas Season

Celebrations for Advent and Christmas begin on 29th November when we will mark Advent Sunday.  This will be followed by decorating the church for Christmas and a potluck lunch.

Then on Saturday 19th December we will hold our Festival of Christmas Carols at Tham Pratheep Church.  We will be led by Lannacapella and some of the children from the Youth Charity Foundation.  The event begins at 7 p.m.

On Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, we will have Midnight Mass beginning at 11:30 p.m., and on Christmas Day we will have our Morning Worship at 10 a.m. followed by lunch!

Please join us if you can!

Our Harvest

Last week All Saints had a wonderful Harvest Festival at the Youth Charity Foundation.  Video of the service can be seen here.  Thanks to all involved in making this possible!

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Space

All Saints Mission Statement

Yesterday, Mark Crawford, Chris Tananone, Tarntip Aldis, and I, met to begin developing our Mission Statement.  We will meet again next week to develop our Vision Statement.  Both processes depend on your feedback – both from the survey which was taken over the last two weeks and from individual conversations.

Chris suggested that our Mission Statement should be based on the words which appear on our bulletins and website: An inclusive, liturgical community for all people!

The three suggestions are:

All Saints is an inclusive, liturgical community for all people!

All Saints is an inclusive, Christ-centred, liturgical community for all people!

All Saints is an inclusive, God-centred, liturgical community for all people!

Which do you prefer?  Share your choice with Mark, Chris, Tarntip, or me!  We want to decide this together!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch this week

This is a weekly event!  On Wednesday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

My News

I have now applied for a visa to return to Thailand.  Please pray that this will be successful.  Once I have my visa I can apply for a Certificate of Entry and then I can return!

I hope to be back in January.  Until then I am continuing to work for All Saints: maintaining the website and Facebook page, writing the weekly emails, producing the bulletins, posters, and other publicity, choosing the hymns, and working with Mark and the Trustees to keep things going and plan our programmes, and, of course, praying for you all!

I am also helping out at my mum’s church, Carterknowle Methodist, and preaching there three times each month.  They have a huge building, but fewer people than All Saints, and would value your prayers too, as they don’t currently have a minister.

Click here to watch me leading and preaching last Sunday!

The Degler Family

Meanwhile, the Degler family finally got their visas and certificates of entry and are now in quarantine in Bangkok.  Please hold them in your prayers!  They should be back in Chiang Mai in a couple of weeks and we look forward to welcoming them back to church.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Harvest Time!

Meet at All Saints at 9 a.m.
Dear Friends,

As modern urban dwellers we are more cut off from the rhythm of the seasons than our forebears, but we will be celebrating harvest with the Youth Charity Foundation who still harvest their own rice, and keep pigs, chickens, and geese.  They know the back-breaking work which harvesting rice entails and also the difference between a good and a bad harvest!

But harvest is a time for thanksgiving for all God has given us, especially are food, but everything that we get from God’s creation.  I am sure it will be a wonderful time this Sunday. 

This Sunday, the All Saints Harvest Festival will be held at the Youth Charity Foundation this Sunday. People should meet at the church at 9 am on Sunday, if they need transportation, or to caravan together to the YCF House of Hope.  The service is scheduled to start at 10:15 am.

Here is the location link if you want to travel there independently!

The main dish and drinks will be provided, we are just bringing the side dishes. If you have not already signed up for transport or to say what you will bring, you can email Rebecca Burkholder (rebeccaburkholder@mcc.org)
with what you would like to contribute to the meal.  

Our scripture readings for harvest will be Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, and Matthew 6:25-33, and our hymns will be Come Ye Thankful People Come, Give thanks with a grateful heart, and We Plow the Fields and Scatter!

All Saints Day – Sunday 1st November

As we are All Saints, All Saints Day is our patronal festival – this makes it our church birthday and a time for celebration!

In order to celebrate, I will be preaching – via video – to the Sunday morning service in church, and we will also have a special Zoom service, for people in Chiang Mai and around the world, at 7 p.m. Thai time.  (For people in the UK, Europe, and the US, daylight saving will have ended so the service will be at midday GMT, 1 p.m. CET, and 7 a.m. EST.)

It will be a time to thank God for our church and to renew our vision once again!

Congregational Survey!

We are not now going forward with joining the Church of Christ in Thailand, but many of the actions this required are still worth doing.  A couple of these were the developing of our Vision and Mission statements.  Our vision should be one shared by the whole church, and as part of the process we would like you to fill in this very short survey.

 There are only five short questions:

1. How long have you been attending All Saints?
2. In the past few months how have you been interacting with All Saints?
3. What attracted you to All Saints?
4. What are five words that describe All Saints?
5. How can All Saints improve?  

Click here to complete the survey now!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!
This is a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service. Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page. Please email me if you would like a receipt.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

All are Welcome?
Dear Friends,

I once conducted a wedding on top of Doi Intanon.  The only people present were myself, the couple, and the wedding planner and photographer!  In these socially-distanced times, that sought of exclusive event may become the norm, but normally lots of people are invited to “the big day”! In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a king giving a wedding banquet for his son: he invited all the important people, but they failed to show up – to busy to bother with the king.   In the end he invites the ordinary people who are found out in the streets!

At All Saints, we aim to welcome those who are not welcomed by other churches!  Of course, most churches will “welcome” everyone, but what does this “welcome” really mean?  Often it means you can attend but you have to change who you are to really be welcome, and you certainly would not be welcome to be in a position of leadership. I pray that we will continue to really welcome all people – even if it gets us into trouble at times!

In person worship continues and this Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page.  Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be from Isaiah 25, Philippians 4:1-9, and Matthew 22:1-14, and our hymns will be Be Still for the Presence of the Lord and Lord and and Let Us Build a House!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending: The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads. There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join!

The protocols can be viewed here!

Harvest Festival – Coming Soon!

This year the All Saints Harvest Festival will be held at the Youth Charity Foundation on Sunday 25th October.  More details to follow!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!
This is a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service. People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given – we are receiving approximately our normal monthly offering!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page. Please email me if you would like a receipt.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Whose is the Kingdom?
Dear Friends,

We know that Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth, and in the Lord’s Prayer we say “For thine is the Kingdom…”, but who will inherit the Kingdom of God? In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus tells the parable of the Wicked Tenants.  In the past this parable has been used in anti-semitic ways against the Jews, and we must be careful to avoid that for it applies equally to us who were born and raised in the church.

The question is, are we welcoming the message of the biblical prophets, and most importantly of Jesus?  So much of that message is about justice for the poor, yet do we do anything to stand up for the marginalised and those in need?  Who are we in the parable?  The new tenants or the old ones?  Find out more this Sunday at All Saints!

In person worship continues and this Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page.
 Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 3:4-14, and Matthew 21:33-46, and our hymns will be Christ whose glory fills the Skies and Take my life and let it be!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below. Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

 The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending: The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads.

There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join! The protocols can be viewed here!

Harvest Festival – Coming Soon!

This year the All Saints Harvest Festival will be held at the Youth Charity Foundation on Sunday 25th October.  More details to follow!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!
This is a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service.

People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given – we are receiving approximately our normal monthly offering!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email me if you would like a receipt.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints, Chiang Mai

Who Decides?

Dear Friends,

In person worship continues at All Saints, and this Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page.

In this week’s Gospel reading the chief priests and elders of the people question Jesus’ authority.  But where do we get our authority from?  The Bible, the Church, our conscience, the words of Jesus?  It is important that we choose the right source!  Find out more at All Saints this Sunday.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Ezekiel 18:1-4, Philippians 2:1-13, and Matthew 21:23-32, and our hymns will be Praise to the Lord the Almighty and I have decided to follow Jesus!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending: The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads.

There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join!

The protocols can be viewed here!

Harvest Festival

This year the All Saints Harvest Festival will be held at the Youth Charity Foundation on Sunday 25th October.  More details to follow!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!
This is a weekly event!  Each week a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join this week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service.

People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given – we are receiving approximately our normal monthly offering!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email me if you would like a receipt.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching online we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,
God is not fair – that’s the Good News of the Gospel!  God does not treat us as we deserve but in love gives us many blessings!

This week’s Gospel reading is the Parable of the Workers: 

The landowner explained that they’d got what was fair and agreed, and what was it to them if he wanted to be generous! As well as supporting a universal income, Jesus was making the point that God acts the same way.  God is generous – God doesn’t give us what we deserve, but in overflowing love pours out his blessing and forgiveness upon us!  This is the God we worship!!!

In person worship continues at All Saints, and this Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page. Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Jonah 3:10-4:11, Philippians 1:21-30, and Matthew 20:1-16, and our hymns for the morning service will be Come Thou Fount of every Blessing and Thou whose Almighty Word!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

Last Week’s Zoom Service 

It was great to see friends around the world gathered for last Sunday’s Zoom Eucharist.  The next one will be on November 1st as we celebrate All Saint’s Day! The video of the service can be seen via the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website!

Lunch at Green O’Clock

 Last Sunday, seventeen people joined the lunch following the morning service – which may be a record!  Great to see so many new people.

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

 The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending: The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads. There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join! The protocols can be viewed here!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!
This is a weekly event!  Last week, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join this week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or watching on-line, we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

A Special Zoom Service this Sunday at 6 p.m.

Dear Friends,

In person worship continues at All Saints, and this Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page.

However, we will also be having a special Zoom-only service at 6 p.m. Thai time – that’s midday in the UK, 1 p.m. in Europe, and 7 a.m. on the East Coast of the States!  All Are welcome to join.  I am looking forward to leading worship again and to seeing each other around the world once more!  Click here to join the service at 6 p.m. and here to download the liturgy.

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Genesis 50:15-21, Romans 14:1-12, and Matthew 18:21-35, and our hymns for the morning service will be Praise with joy the world’s Creator, and Now thank we all our God!   Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

On Zoom at 6 p.m. we will be singing Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty, Blessed Assurance (Thai), King of Kings Majesty, and Christ, Be Our Light!

Our Zoom service will consist of our usual Eucharistic worship!  All are welcome to join in the prayers and liturgy, to listen to the readings and sermon, and to receive virtual communion if they feel comfortable.  If you want to receive virtual communion then have a small piece of bread and a small glass of wine or grape juice prepared.

The words of this Sunday’s Zoom Eucharist bulletin are pasted below at the end of this email, or you can download it as a pdf to view or print from this link.  You can then read and join in the liturgy if you wish.

Last Week’s Service

It was great to have Father Rick leading our service last Sunday!  We are blessed to have so many talented people as part of All Saints!  The video of the service can be seen via the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website!

Last Sunday’s Potluck 

Last week, All Saints had its first post-lockdown potluck!  A great time was had by all!  Thanks to Rebecca and Blaine for hosting the event in the MCC compound!

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending:

The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads.

There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join!

The protocols can be viewed here!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

The Wednesday Lunch!

This is a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service.

Although there is no basket being passed around in our Zoom service, you can still give your offering.  People in Thailand can transfer directly to the church bank account.  (Which is in my name, but managed by our treasurer, Don Williams.)  Thanks to all those who have already given – we are receiving approximately our normal monthly offering!

The details are:

Account Name: Iain Girvin Baxter
Bank: Krungsri Bank
Account Number: 7181-05586-5
SWIFT Code: AYUDTHBK

Those in the UK, or with UK banking, can donate via All Saints Chiang Mai Mission.  Their account details are:

Bank: Coop Bank
Account Name:  All Saints Chiang Mai Mission
Account Number: 65877142
Sort Code:  08-92-99

Alternatively, you can donate with PayPal or with any debit or credit card via the All Saints Website on the Donate Page.

Please email me if you would like a receipt.

So, whether you are worshipping face-to-face or joining us on our Zoom service we will all worship God together and give thanks for all of God’s many blessings!

God bless,

Father Iain

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
The Greeting

The Lord be with you! And also with you!

Words of welcome

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

Prayers of Penitence
….

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

Gloria:             Glory to God

The Collect

Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 50:15-21

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 103

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be
World without end, 
Amen

New Testament Reading:
Romans 14:1-12

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel Reading:
Matthew 18:21-35

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated
at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge
the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn:
Blessed Assurance (Thai)

Prayers of Intercession

Response:     
Lord, whose service is perfect freedom,
In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let our prayers and praises
ill your temple, O Father,
as you send forth your Spirit
into the world
to empower your children
to do the deeds of your Son
and to be signs of your divine presence;
We pray in the name of
our Saviour Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you,
O Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord
be always with you!
And also with you!
Let us offer one another
a sign of peace.

Offering and Preparation of the Table

Hymn:
King of Kings, Majesty

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
thanks and praise.
…. 

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the Highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest.
….

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
….

The Lord’s Prayer

Being made one by the power of the Spirit,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven…

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many,
we are one body,
because we all share
in one bread.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

We share in the Body and Blood of Christ

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful
to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Hymn:
Christ, Be Our Light
Blessing and Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.  Amen.

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

POTLUCK THIS SUNDAY!!!!

Dear Friends,

As Christians we are called to forgive one another, we are even called to forgive our enemies!  In the polarised political landscape around the world, this message is even more relevant!  To forgive is not to excuse or accept wrong doing, but it is to love, to not bear a grudge, and to reach out to bring healing and reconciliation. We must be wise in our dealings, but we must be people of love.  Find out more this week at All Saints!

Father Rick Saint will be preaching and presiding this week!  It is a great joy to welcome him from Bangkok.

Father Rick at Johan and Uni’s Confirmation

This Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page. Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, and Matthew 18:15-20, and our hymns will be Immortal, invisible, God only wise and They’ll know we are Christians by our love!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

Potluck this Sunday!

Immediately following the church service this Sunday, All Saints will hold its first potluck since February at the Mennonite Central Committee compound which is walking distance from our church. Please bring a main dish or salad to share (microwave and oven available). Drinks and dessert will be provided. 

A showing of Hamilton will take place after the potluck for those interested.  The meal will be eaten outside under a roof. The movie will be shown in the MCC office conference room.  

Our next All-Zoom Service

There will be another all Zoom service next Sunday, 13th September, at 6 p.m. Thai time.  I will be leading the service and this will be in addition to All Saints’ regular 10 a.m. in-person service!  Mark will be leading the 10 a.m. service as usual! It will give us all another chance to see our All Saints friends from around the world.

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending:

The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join!

The protocols can be viewed here!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

This is now a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service. It is wonderful that you will be able to meet together and join in worship once again.  I hope to join you all soon!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

Jesus said:

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?”

At this time of restricted travel, gaining the whole world would seem to be an impossible but desirable goal.  Those of us used to being able to travel freely are now mostly confined to one country.  But Jesus says that even if we could gain the whole world it would not be worth losing our lives.  But there is a paradox, it is only when we are prepared to lose our lives for the sake of Jesus that we can really find it!  It is in giving up the claim to “our rights” that we are really free to embrace others and live!

In person worship continues at All Saints.  This Sunday you can again join the congregation in person at 10 a.m., or join live on Zoom with this link, or watch later via the All Saints Audio-Visual page.

 Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Jeremiah 15:19-21, Romans 12:9-21, and Matthew 16:21-28, and our hymns will be Praise with joy the world’s Creator, and Now thank we all our God!

Details of the practical arrangements for Face-to-Face worship are below.

Potluck on the 6th September

 On Sunday, September 6th, immediately following the church service, All Saints will hold its first potluck since February at the Mennonite Central Committee compound which is walking distance from our church. Please bring a main dish or salad to share (microwave and oven available). Drinks and dessert will be provided. 

A showing of Hamilton will take place after the potluck for those interested.  The meal will be eaten outside under a roof. The movie will be shown in the MCC office conference room.  

Last Week’s Service

Last week’s service can be seen by clicking here!  It was a great time of worship and we were delighted to be joined by a group of students from the Religious Studies Department of Chiang Mai University.  Mark and Tarntip spoke with them before the service and explained what it means to be a Christian and the Anglican liturgy.

Tarntip and Mark meet the CMU students

Our next All-Zoom Service

There will be another all Zoom service on Sunday 13th September at 6 p.m. Thai time.  I will be leading the service and this will be in addition to All Saints’ regular 10 a.m. in-person service! It will give us all another chance to see our All Saints friends from around the world.

Face-to-Face Worship at All Saints

Last Sunday at All Saints
The following measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of those attending:

The chairs have been rearranged to ensure that social distancing is maintained, people’s temperature will be taken on arrival, masks will be required, and hand gel supplied.  Names and contact details will be recorded.

All the doors and windows will be open and fans will ensure maximum air circulation.  No singing will be permitted but we will be able to listen to the hymns being played on the organ and sing along in our heads. There will not be a coffee time following the service, but people are invited to lunch, out-doors, at Green O’Clock following the service.

The services will be shared on Zoom so that those who cannot, or do not feel happy to, attend in person, can still join!

The protocols can be viewed here!

All Saints’ Wednesday Lunch

Lunch yesterday!
This is now a weekly event!  Yesterday, a group from All Saints again gathered for lunch!  Why not join next week?  (You don’t need to be a member of the Gymkhana Club to attend!)  We will be meeting at the Gymkhana Club at midday every Wednesday!

Weekly Offering to All Saints

You can still donate online, or place your money in the basket during the service.

It is wonderful that you will be able to meet together and join in worship once again.  I hope to join you all soon!

God bless,

Father Iain