All Saints' Chiang Mai

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

One more week in purple!

Dear Friends,

Lent, that time of reflection and fasting, is drawing to a close.  Mark will be preaching this week, reflecting on the centrality of Jesus in the Christian faith.  The following week we will be in red for Palm Sunday!

How has Lent been for you?  Has it passed you unawares, or has it had an effect on your life?  Has something changed through your Lenten observance?  Of course, we are all busy people, but it is never too late to spend a moment contemplating the deep questions of life, giving thanks for all that we have, and resolving to change our lives for the better.

Our readings this Sunday will be Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, and John 12:20-33, and we will be singing the hymns All for Jesus, Be Thou My Vision, Break Thou the Bread of Life, and Christ is made the Sure Foundation!  The readings can be found via this link! You can view last week’s sermon via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Lent Study Groups – Last Chance!

For the first time this year we are having Lenten Study Groups.  We are studying the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

Next week, there will be two groups meeting: one meeting on Monday in Doi Saket at David and Shem’s house, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong at William and Tarntip’s house.

As we approach Easter, we will be discussing Chapter 8, the Death of Jesus, next week, and chapter 9, Easter, in our final meeting during Holy Week!  Even if you haven’t been yet, there is still time to join us!

Easter Services

Meanwhile, Easter is coming soon!

Sunday    25th March      11 a.m. Palm Sunday Service
with Parade of the Palms.

Thursday 29th March       7 p.m.  Maundy Thursday
Service with Taizé music
and feet washing

Friday      30th March       11 a.m. Good Friday Service

Sunday    1st April            11 a.m. Easter Worship
(followed by potluck and
Easter Egg hunt)

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  He will still be doing this task from New York!  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

What is this?

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Old Testament reading, we hear of God’s antidote to poisonous serpents: a bronze serpent on a pole!  What is that about, and what does it mean?  How does it connect to the gospel?  Find out this week!

Our readings this Sunday will be Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, and John 3:14-21, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia Sing to Jesus, He lives He lives, Lord I lift your name on high, and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!  The readings can be found via this link!

You can view last week’s excellent sermon by Taylor Pfaff via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Lent Study Groups have begun!

For the first time this year we are having Lenten Study Groups.  We are studying the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.  In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There are three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket at David and Shem’s house, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai at the Vicarage, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong at William and Tarntip’s house.  Next week we will be discussing Chapters 13 and 14: Sin, and Repentance and Forgiveness.

Meetings will continue until Easter.  You can buy a copy of the book for THB150.

Easter Services

Meanwhile, Easter is coming soon!

Sunday    25th March       11 a.m. Palm Sunday Service
with Parade of the Palms.

Thursday 29th March       7 p.m.  Maundy Thursday
Service with Taizé music
and feet washing

Friday      30th March        11 a.m. Good Friday Service

Sunday    1st April              11 a.m. Easter Worship
(followed by potluck and
Easter Egg hunt)

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  He will still be doing this task from New York!  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Jesus cleanses the Temple!

Dear Friends,

Jesus cleansed the Temple, throwing out the money-changers and returning God’s house to a house of prayer.  Taylor will be preaching about this this week.

Our readings this Sunday will be Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, and John 2:13-22, and we will be singing the hymns When Morning Gilds the Skies, When Christ went to the Temple, O God of Earth and Altar, and Lord of the Dance!  The readings can be found via this link!

You can view last week’s sermon via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Lent Study Groups have begun!

For the first time this year we are having Lenten Study Groups.  We are studying the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There are three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket at David and Shem’s house, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai at the Vicarage, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong at William and Tarntip’s house.  Next week we will be discussing the meaning Salvation!

Meetings will continue until Easter.

You can pick up a copy of the next week’s chapters on Sunday or buy a copy of the whole book for THB150.

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

What are you prepared to give up for Lent?  Your Life?

Dear Friends,

Lent is once more upon us!  It is a time of fasting when we remember Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  What will you give up?

Jesus said, “those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”  Is it really true that the only way we can really live, is to be prepared to give up everything?  Find out more this Sunday.

But Lent is about more than giving something up – it is a time for positive change – a time to give more thought to God and eternity.  That is why we are having our Lenten Study Groups this year.  They began this week!  Six of us met at David and Shem’s house in Doi Saket on Monday, three of us gathered at the Vicarage on Tuesday, and five people gathered at William and Tarntip’s home in Hang Dong on Wednesday.  More have said they would like to join us next week!

If you would like to be involved in the Lent Study Groups you do not have to commit to being there every week – I know some people cannot.  Just join us when you can!  Details below!

Meanwhile, our readings this Sunday will be Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, and Mark 8:31-38, and we will be singing the hymns The God of Abraham Praise, I have decided to follow Jesus, Let us Break Bread Together, and Lift High the Cross!  
The readings can be found via this link!

You can view last week’s sermon via the All Saints audio-visual page!

Lent Study Groups have begun!

For the first time this year we are having Lenten Study Groups.  We are studying the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There are three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket at David and Shem’s house, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai at the Vicarage, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong at William and Tarntip’s house.  Next week we will be discussing the meaning of Jesus and Salvation!

Meetings will continue until Easter.

You can pick up a copy of the next week’s chapters on Sunday or buy a copy of the whole book for THB150.

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Don’t tempt me!

Ash Wednesday Service – Wednesday 14th February at 7 p.m.

Dear Friends,

Lent is once more upon us!  It is a time of fasting when we remember Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  What will you give up? I am giving up Facebook for the next 40 days!  I will still be updating the All Saints’ Facebook page, and I will still be using Messenger to communicate, but I want to redeem the time I spend reading political and religious articles from around the globe.

But Lent is about more than giving something up – it is a time for positive change – a time to give more thought to God and eternity.  That is why we are having our Lenten Study Groups this year.  They begin next week!  If you would like to be involved in the Lent Study Groups you do not have to commit to being there every week – I know some people cannot.  Just join us when you can!  Details below!

Our readings this Sunday will be Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, and Mark 1:9-15, and we will be singing the hymns O Worship the King, Forty Days and Forty Nights, Take My Life, and What a friend we have in Jesus!  The readings can be found via this link!

Lent Study Groups – Begin next week!

For the first time this year we will be having Lenten Study Groups.  We are going to study the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There will be three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket at David and Shem’s house, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai at the Vicarage, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong at William and Tarntip’s house.  Meetings will begin on 19th February at 7 p.m. and continue for six weeks!

Email: iain@AllSaintsChiangMai, or sign the sheet at the back of the church, to sign up and to order a copy of the book for THB250.

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Pancakes this Sunday – as we prepare for Lent!

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, as we prepare for Lent, we will eat pancakes – symbolising the removal of fat from our diets as we enter the Lenten fast.  Don’t forget that we will have our quiet and moving Ash Wednesday service next week!

Our pancake eating will be in contrast to our bible readings which are on the Transfiguration and our vision of Jesus!  I will be attempting to answer the question “Who is Jesus?”  Is he our friend, our saviour, our Lord, our judge, or all or none of these, or something more?

Our readings this Sunday will be 2 Kings 2:1, 6-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, and Mark 9:2-9, and we will be singing the hymns Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies, Be Thou My Vision, Fairest Lord Jesus, and O Jesus, I have Promised!

The readings can be found via this link!

Ash Wednesday – 14th February

Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year – 14th February – and we have our Ash Wednesday service, beginning at 7 p.m.  This will include the imposition of ashes.

Lent Study Groups

For the first time this year we will be having Lenten Study Groups.  We are going to study the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There will be three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong.  Meetings will begin on 19th February at 7 p.m. and continue for six weeks!  Email: iain@AllSaintsChiangMai, or sign the sheet at the back of the church, to sign up and to order a copy of the book for THB250.

Prayers of the People

We want to include your prayers!  Please email Gene on oandmhk@msn.com to share items for prayer.  We will include them in the prayers on Sunday.  (If you would like us to pray privately then please specify this in your message.)

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Join us at All Saints, Chiang Mai!

Dear Friends,

We are a growing, living, people at All Saints, Chiang Mai.  It has been a great privilege to welcome so many new people to worship with us at All Saints this January, and also to welcome Deacon Girard.

Lent is nearly upon us and we will begin our marking of the season with our pre-Lenten pancake potluck on Sunday 11th February.  Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year – 14th February – and we have our Ash Wednesday service, beginning at 7 p.m.  This will include the imposition of ashes.

For the first time this year we will be having Lenten Study Groups.  We are going to study the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg.

In this easy to read book, Marcus Borg explores what key Christian words really mean – you might be surprised! When Jesus said “You must be born-again”, what was he talking about?  Maybe not what you think… and what does salvation actual mean?

There will be three groups: one meeting on Mondays in Doi Saket, one meeting on Tuesdays in central Chiang Mai, and one meeting on Wednesdays in Hang Dong.  Meetings will begin on 19th February at 7 p.m. and continue for six weeks!
Email: iain@AllSaintsChiangMai, or sign the sheet at the back of the church, to sign up and to order a copy of the book for THB250.

Our readings this Sunday will be Proverbs 8:1, 22-31, Colossians 1:15-20, and John 1:1-14, and we will be singing Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun, Crown Him With Many Crowns, Give me Jesus, and Tell Out My Soul!

The readings can be found via this link!

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From the Rev. Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Revelation 12:1-5

Dear Friends,

The Queen and Dragon is not the name of a cosy country pub, they are characters that appear in our New Testament reading this Sunday from Revelation 12.

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth.

Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.

Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne.

How do we understand and deal with such passages?  It is easier to understand love your neighbour, but what about the spiritual world, or is it all metaphor?  Find out more at All Saints this Sunday!

Our readings this Sunday will be Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Revelation 12:1-5, and Mark 1:21-28, and we will be singing Holy, Holy, Holy,
Mothering God, and Now Thank We All Our God!

The readings can be found via this link!

Gene and Kong

Last Sunday we celebrated the blessing of a life-long covenant between Gene and Kong.  Video of the event can be seen via the All Saints website audio-visual page.  Congratulations Gene and Kong!

Theology on Tap – This Friday!

Our next Theology on Tap meeting will be this Friday, 26th January.  We will again meet at 7 p.m. at the UN Irish Pub!  The topic will be “What would a Christian economy look like?”

Nine Lessons and Carols

There will be a meeting after lunch this Sunday beginning around 2 p.m.  This will be to review last year’s event, and to formulate any changes and proposals for this year’s.  All are welcome!

Lent Activities

Pancake Potluck
Our Pre-Lenten Pancake Potluck will be on Sunday 11th February.

Ash Wednesday
On Wednesday 14th February we will have our Ash Wednesday service, beginning at 7 p.m.  This will include the imposition of ashes.

Lent Study Groups
We want to begin a number of Lent Study Groups meeting weekly during Lent in people’s homes.  We hope to have one group in Doi Saket, one group in Hang Dong, and one group in central Chiang Mai.  Let me know if you are interested.

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From the Rev. Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Kong and Gene

Dear Friends,

January is a time of new beginnings, and it certainly will be for our deacon, Gene, and his partner Kong.  This Sunday at 10 a.m. they will be having a special service of blessing of their lifelong covenant.  All are welcome to attend.

Our weekly Eucharist will follow as usual at 11 a.m., and it is apt that our readings will include the wedding at Cana in Galilee from John’s Gospel, and the marriage of the Lamb from Revelation.

Theology on Tap will commence next Friday, 26th January, and Lenten activities begin in mid-February.  We are hoping to start a number of Lent home study groups.

Meanwhile, our readings this Sunday will be Genesis 14:17-20, Revelation 19:6-10, and John 2:1-11, and we will be singing All Creatures of our God and King, Alleluia Alleluia Give Thanks, and All My Hope on God Is Founded.

The readings can be found via this link!

Theology on Tap

Our next Theology on Tap meeting will be next Friday, 26th January.  We will again meet at 7 p.m. at the UN Irish Pub!  The topic will be “What would a Christian economy look like?”

Nine Lessons and Carols

There will be a meeting after lunch next Sunday, 28th January, beginning around 2 p.m.  This will be to review last year’s event, and to formulate any changes and proposals for this year’s.  All are welcome!

Lent Activities

Pancake Potluck
Our Pre-Lenten Pancake Potluck will be on Sunday 11th February.

Ash Wednesday
On Wednesday 14th February we will have our Ash Wednesday service, beginning at 7 p.m.  This will include the imposition of ashes.

Lent Study Groups
We want to begin a number of Lent Study Groups meeting weekly during Lent in people’s homes.  We hope to have one group in Doi Saket, one group in Hang Dong, and one group in central Chiang Mai.  Let me know if you are interested.

If you don’t know the way to All Saints, directions can be found on the Where and When 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 Christ of Christmas in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshiping with us, I hope you have a blessed and happy New Year!

God bless,

Iain

From the Rev. Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Wise Men seeking Jesus

Dear Friends,

Christmas is almost over as we approach Twelfth Night and the Feast of the Epiphany!  Epiphany is when the Magi from the East visited Jesus, and it marks the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles.  The Jewish Messiah was not for the Jews alone, but for the whole world!

They came bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and we will bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, to the altar at All Saints this Sunday, symbolising bringing all that we have, to God!

Our readings will be Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, and Matthew 2:1-12, and we will be singing We Three Kings of Orient Are, The First Nowell, As With Gladness Men of Old, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!  The readings can be found via this link !

Trustees Meeting

The All Saints trustees met last Tuesday, and approved some new ideas for the coming year including a Lenten Study Course, which will be held in different homes during Lent.  We may have one group in Doi Saket, one in central Chiang Mai, and one in Hang Dong!  Lent begins on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, this year, so we will have a Pancake Potluck on Sunday 11th February.

Theology On Tap will also soon resume, and we want to start other occasional social activites.  A second more contemporary service is also being considered, to begin in August or September.

All are welcome to join us as we share the presence of the Christ of Christmas in our lives!  We hope to see you soon and that you will enjoy worshiping with us, I hope you have a blessed and happy New Year!

God bless,

Iain