All Saints' Chiang Mai

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

Jesus sent his disciples out to proclaim “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”  But was Jesus a bit premature?  What did this mean? Has God’s kingdom come even now, or are we still waiting?  We will look at these questions this week at All Saints!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Isaiah 66:10-14, Galatians 6:1-10, and Luke 10:1-11, and we will be singing the hymns A Mighty Fortress, Called as Partners in Christ’s Service, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, and God is Love!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Church Renovations

Five years ago – William, Mary, and a very small Jantra!

We haven’t redecorated since July 2014 but on Sunday you will notice that repair work has begun on our building. The landlord is repairing and replacing some of the rotten wood work, and the wall outside the entrance.  He will also be repairing the few places where the roof leaks!

When this is done we will be getting the church repainted!  We painted the fence and gate when we moved in but nothing has been done since, and the inside and outside of our building could now do with a fresh coat of paint!

Potluck – Advanced Notice

We will have a potluck on Sunday 21st July to say goodbye to the Chase family and also bon voyage to Jantra who is off to boarding school in India!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

We are the People of God!

Dear Friends,

In the Church calendar we are now entering the half of the year known as “Ordinary Time.”  It is called ordinary not because it is boring or uninteresting, but because it isn’t one of those special seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, or Pentecost!  As you can see from the diagram below, our scripture readings and themes for Ordinary Time focus on the story of the people of God – the message of what we should be doing and who we are in God’s purposes.

This week our Gospel reading is from Luke’s Gospel where Jesus calls his disciples to follow him and utters those well known lines ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’  Jesus demands our commitment and this will be the focus of our worship this Sunday!

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 Praise to the Lord the Almighty, Will you come and Follow Me?, They’ll know we are Christians by our Love, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

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Dear Friends,

This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi.  This centres around Jesus as given to us in the Eucharist, but can also remind us that we are the body of Christ, too!  Hebrews 10:25 says that “we should not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

June and July are always the low months for attendance at All Saints, as people travel and the international schools are on holiday.  This year overall numbers have also been affected by the terrible air pollution and changes in visa regulations, but still we only had twelve people at worship last Sunday!  If you are in Chiang Mai, then please join with us!  Don’t think that you won’t be missed – you are missed!  We are the body of Christ, and as we meet together we can refresh and support one another.

And this Sunday is Corpus Christi, when we give thanks for our access to the sacrament of Holy Communion.  Please, come and receive.  God is waiting and offering himself to us!

Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Genesis 14:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, and John 6:51-58, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia Sing to Jesus, Thou Who at Thy First Eucharist, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, and Lord Jesus Christ!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Latest Sermon Videos Available

Videos of the sermons for the last three weeks, along with us saying goodbye to the Tiptons and Pfaffs, are now available on the Audio-Visual Page!  You can find them here!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

How do you see the Trinity?  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer?  Benedictor, Lamb, and Dove?  How can we understand such a complicated doctrine as three in one, one in three?  We don’t really need to try.  The important message is that God comes to us in different ways, and that Godself is community and relationship.  Just as man was not created to be alone, so God is a company in fellowship, in love!

As many of you will know.  Two rabbits have come into my possession.  When they are together they are happy, they feel safe, they feel protected.  We too were made to be in community – with God and each other – so let us not give up meeting together, but rather live in love and connection with one another!

Happy Together!

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, and John 16:12-15, and we will be singing the hymns Holy, Holy, Holy; We All Believe in One True God; Mothering God; and Tell Out My Soul!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Pentecost Sunday Potluck

Our Pentecost service was followed by a potluck to give us the opportunity to say goodbye to Nate, Muyoung, Cambree, and Lyla Tipton, and Kelsey and Taylor Pfaff.  We had a wonderful time – although sad to say farewell to such good friends!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

POTLUCK THIS WEEK!

Dear Friends,

Pentecost if the third great feast of the Christian year, although it is often overlooked in the West where Easter, and even more Christmas, dominate.

But Pentecost is important as we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit and ask God to fill us once again!  We all need renewing, revitalising, and refreshing, and God promises us new life through the Holy Spirit!  If you can, please join us as we celebrate this important feast this Sunday!

Our scripture readings 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, Love Divine All loves Excelling, Spirit of God Unseen as the Wind, and O God of Burning Cleansing Flame!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Pentecost Sunday Potluck

Our Pentecost service will be followed by a potluck to give us the opportunity to say goodbye to Nate, Muyoung, Cambree, and Lyla Tipton, and Kelsey and Taylor Pfaff.  Please bring a dish to share.  There will be a large cake, so more savory things would be much appreciated!

Saying a sad goodbye to the Tipton family!

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Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

It was good to be back at All Saints last Sunday and see so many warm and welcoming faces – although I was a little tired from jet lag!  Sometimes we just need to be reassured of God’s presence and love, and as we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost we will take time to pause and remember the God who is with us through the Holy Spirit!  Please come and join us to share the peace of Christ!

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Ezekiel 36:24-28, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, and John 17:20-26, and we will be singing the hymns All Creatures of our God and King, O Breath of Life, One Bread One Body, and O Thou Who Camest from Above.  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Pentecost Sunday

Next Sunday, 9th May, will be Pentecost Sunday.  Please make sure to be there on this important feast in the church year, as we celebrate the sending of God’s Holy Spirit on all flesh!

Pentecost Sunday Potluck

Our Pentecost service will be followed by a potluck to give us the opportunity to say goodbye to Nate, Muyoung, Cambree, and Lyla Tipton, and Kelsey and Taylor Pfaff.  Please bring a dish to share.  See Emily or Pamela for ideas on what you could bring.

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

It will be great to be back at All Saints this Sunday!  Thanks to Mark and David for covering in my absence.

Throughout the scriptures we have the image of God providing living water that flows out to eternal life.  Jesus himself calls out for all who are thirsty to come and drink of him!  That is what we are doing as we gather in worship each week.  It is my prayer that each one of us will go out refreshed and renewed.

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, John 5:1-9, and we will be singing the hymns God is Love, Down the Mountain the River Flows, Break Thou the Bread of Life, and Lord Jesus Christ!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

We are called to love one another!

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus again commands his disciples to love one another – something that is easy to say, but very difficult to do!  But this is our calling, to love one another!  Let’s pray that God gives us the strength to truly be a people of love.

I shall be back at All Saints on Sunday 26th, but this week Rev. Mark Crawford will again be preaching and presiding.  Many thanks to Mark and David for their help during my absence!

The scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, and John 13:31-35, and the hymns will be When Morning Gilds the Skies, Jesus Thou Joy of Loving Hearts, They’ll know we are Christians, and Thine Be the Glory!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Sharing the Peace on Easter Sunday

Dear Friends,

The scriptures assure us that we are in God’s hands.  Jesus says that he knows his sheep – and that means us – and that no one will snatch us out of his hand.  This week Father David McPhee will be preaching and presiding as I continue my visit in the UK.

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, and John 10:22-30, and we will be singing the hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd, Now Thank We All Our God, For the Bread Which You Have Broken, and The King of Love My Shepherd Is!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

All Saints Chiang Mai Mission

Last Sunday we had the inaugural meeting of All Saints Chiang Mai Mission, the UK charity which supports the work of All Saints financially and in prayer.  All went well and it was a great opportunity for the trustees to meet face to face, or over Skype, for the first time!

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Jesus calls us to himself!

Dear Friends,

I am in the UK for the next three weeks having a very welcome break!  Rev. Mark Crawford will be preaching and presiding this Sunday as we continue to celebrate the Easter Season!  This week’s Gospel sees Jesus in Galilee and tells of his encounter with the disciples after his resurrection.  He meets them over breakfast and calls on Peter to feed his sheep!  God calls us all to love and care for one another.

Our scripture readings this Sunday will be Acts 9:1-20, Revelation 5:11-14, and John 21:1-19, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia Alleluia Give Thanks, One Bread One Body, and Thine Be the Glory!  The readings can be found via this link and past services and sermons can be viewed via the All Saints audio-visual page!

All Saint Chiang Mai Mission

The first meeting of the UK charity All Saints Chiang Mai Mission will take place at Carterknowle Methodist Church, Sheffield, UK, this Sunday.  ASCMM exists to support the work of All Saints, financially and in prayer and oversight.

I will be there in my role as ASCMM secretary, and Pat Ward will also be there in his role as ASCMM Chair, while David Cartwright, the other Thailand-based trustee, will join us by Skype.  The three UK-based trustees, Diane Maragh, Fiona Champion, and Nigel Brooke-Smith will be there, and Nigel has agreed to serve as our treasurer.

Please hold the trustees and all those involved in your prayers.

Most people get to hear about us via the internet or by word of mouth, so please feel free to pass on this email to others.  All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshipping with us,

God bless,

Iain