All Saints' Chiang Mai

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

The Christian faith is all about life – Jesus said “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.”  [John 10:10]  But, there is also a time to remember those who have died.  This week we  will be looking at Jesus’ command to love our neighbour, but the following week, on 2nd November, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day.  A pot-luck will follow our service!  It is also All Souls’ Day when we remember all who have died.  The following week is Remembrance Sunday when we remember those who have died in war.

Remembrance Sunday is celebrated throughout the British Commonwealth and around the world.   November 11th is Remembrance Day commemorating the Armistice which ended the First World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  Now we remember the victims of all wars, especially those who gave their lives in service.  Currently the world is riven with armed conflict, particularly in the Middle East, and some soldiers are now having to put their lives on the line to fight the disease of ebola.  On Remembrance Sunday, All Saints will have a special service where we remember those who have died through warfare and pray for a more peaceful world in the future. Hopefully we will be able to welcome some from outside the church who would like to mark the day with us.

This Sunday our readings are taken from Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, and Matthew 22:34-46, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus shall reign where’er the Sun, Lord What a Cloud of Witnesses, When I needed a Neighbour, and Let us Build a House.  You can find the readings via this link.  Our sermon will be reflecting on how we can be neighbours to the people around us in Chiang Mai.

Video of last Sunday’s service, and video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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 Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Praise him on the Trumpet!

Dear Friends,

Plans are developing for our All Saints’ Day celebration on 2nd November: as well as a delicious pot-luck, we will have also have a musical feast.  We are gaining a very talented congregation, and on our Patronal Festival the worship will be led by a brass quintet composed of members of the church!  As we sing For All the Saintsand O When the Saints come Marching In, we’ll be able to raise the roof as we praise God on the trumpet!

Then the next event on our church calendar is the City Life Garden Fair at JJ Market on 22nd November.   All Saints will have a stall, and we need volunteers to be there any time between 10am and 5pm.  This is a great way to get our name out in Chiang Mai and all proceeds of the fair are for charity.

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

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Dear Friends,

Last Sunday we said goodbye to Jacob and Kelly who are off to Afghanistan.  Our thoughts and prayers go with them.  We also welcomed two new people to church!  Meanwhile, our Sunday morning Eucharist and Wednesday evening bible study continue, and there will be a sign-up sheet for the All Saints stall at the City Life Garden Fair on 22nd November available this Sunday.

Also, All Saints’ Day is nearly upon us.  1st November is celebrated as All Saints’ Day throughout the world, and we have a special service on Sunday 2nd November followed by a pot-luck lunch.  We will also have a brief church meeting before eating.

This Sunday our readings are taken from Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, and Matthew 22:1-14, and we will be singing the hymns Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies, All for Jesus, Break Thou the Bread of Life, and In Christ Alone.  You can find the readings via this link.    Our sermon will be asking the question: What do you worship?

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 Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

We introduced our singing of the Psalm last week, and I think it went well!  It is all part of our praising of God together, whether with psalm, or hymn, or spiritual song!  In one week’s time we will begin our new Wednesday night group led by Elena.  It will look at 13 women from the Bible and will continue weekly until the end of the year.  (Can you believe there are only 13 weeks to Christmas!)   Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.  Please let Elena know if you intend to come at elena.j.kelly@gmail.com

This Sunday our readings are taken from Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, and Matthew 21:23-32, and we will be singing the hymns All My Hope on God Is Founded, You Laid Aside Your Majesty, Be Thou My Vision O Lord of my Heart, and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.  You can find the readings via this link.    This week’s sermon is entitled Jesus – Could he really be God?

Video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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 Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

At All Saints we like to try new things and this week we will be trying out chanting our Psalm.  The Psalms were written to be chanted or sung and it is another way we can introduce more music and variety into our worship! Let me know what you think.  We could also sing the Psalms to popular hymn tunes, but chanting somehow gives a feel of the ancient traditions of the church of which we are part.  The metrical arrangements we will be using were produced by the Church of Scotland, so we will be standing in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition.

Meanwhile, another reminder that in two weeks’ time we will be starting a new Wednesday evening group at All Saints Chiang Mai.  It will run from October 1 – December 31. Class will start promptly at 7pm and end around 8pm.  Elena Kelly will be leading the class focusing on 13 specific women in the Bible. Wine and cheese will be provided, bring any translation or paraphrase of the Bible that you possess (the more, the better!).  All humans are welcome!  If you would like to take part please RSVP to elena.j.kelly@gmail.com

This Sunday our readings are taken from Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, and Matthew 18:21-35, and we will be singing the hymns All Creatures of our God and King, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Let us Break Bread Together, and Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise. You can find the readings via this link.  I will be preaching about forgiveness and diversity in the church.

God bless,

Iain

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

Our worship continues at All Saints and our numbers remain up – even with quite a few regulars away. Yesterday I went to Big-C to buy extra chairs and more mugs for coffee!  However, we are getting hot as we increase in number. A couple of people have suggested that we start an “Air-conditioning Fund” where people can donate specifically for this project. Envelopes will therefore be available this week. Hopefully our worship will become more heavenly and less like the fires of hell! (It’s not that bad, honestly!)  Meanwhile, volunteers are still needed to help with website, publicity, printing, plant-care, cleaning supervision, and many other things!

This Sunday our readings are taken from Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, and Matthew 16:21-28, and we will be singing the hymns The God of Abraham Praise, Will you come and Follow Me, I am the Bread of Life, and Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.  Our sermon will be reflecting on Moses’ encounter at the Burning Bush and asking Who is God?

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

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Dear Friends,

Our worship continues at All Saints and we seem to have grown in number since our move to our new building – I have had to increase the bulletin print-run.   However, we are also getting hot as we increase in number. I would like us to have air-conditioning by next summer, but meanwhile, if anyone had a spare fan please bring it along!  I am also getting very busy with church, college and school!  If you can offer your time to do some of the jobs around the church please see me on Sunday.  Help is needed with website, publicity, printing, plant-care, cleaning supervision, and many other things!

This Sunday our readings are taken from Exodus 1:8-2:10, Romans 12:1-8, and Matthew 16:13-20, and we will be singing the hymns Christ is made the Sure Foundation, Christ is Alive!, Jesu Jesu Fill us with Your Love, and All for Jesus.  You can find the readings via this link.  Our sermon will be reflecting on Jesus’ question to Peter:Who do you say that I am?

Video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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 again soon and that you will enjoy worshiping with us,

God bless,

Iain

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday we had an exciting adventure when the lock on the door to the church office jammed just before we began our worship.  Before and after the service, almost every member of the congregation had a go at picking the lock with a paper-clip, poking away with a knife, or even using brute-force to break the door down.  Luckily nobody was trapped inside and the main result of the closed door was that I had to lead worship with no stole or surplice.  On Monday, I met with the landlord who replaced the lock.  Now we have a secure door and a new key!

The door seems to be a metaphor for the life of many of us. This week I return for my finally year at McGilvary College, and a new door had opened for me as I begin part-time teaching at Chiang Mai International School.   New doors seem to be opening for many of our congregation, while old ones are closing.  As a congregation, we have seen almost a doubling in numbers since we moved to our new building!  God is the one who opens new doors for us and guides us in our choices through the Holy Spirit.

At the same time, there are many among us who need our prayers as they go through difficult times of transition.  Let us hold each other in our prayers, and please pray for me as I begin such a busy year.

This Sunday our Bible readings are taken from Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, and Matthew 15:10-28, and we will be singing the hymns Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, I will offer up my life, Come Down O Love Divine, and Oh for a thousand Tongues to Sing.  You can find the readings via this link.  Video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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,

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God bless,

Iain

From Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Dear Friends,

We had a great service last week with 20 people in attendance – our largest congregation so far – including my parents, who it was great to welcome to Chiang Mai again.  This was followed by a great brunch at Marc’s 26th floor apartment in the tallest building in the city! Thanks Marc, for a great time together!

This Sunday our readings are taken from Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, and Matthew 14:13-21, and we will be singing the hymns All People that on Earth do Dwell, Called as Partners in Christ’s Service, Break Thou the Bread of Life, and Beauty for Brokeness.  You can find the readings via this link.

Video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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 Rev Iain Baxter, All Saints Chiang Mai

Our new building ready for Worship!

Dear Friends,

We had a great first service this week at Kaeo Nawarat Road, Soi 2/2 – our new church home!  There was a great turn-out as we worshiped together and celebrated the love God has for all people!  The text was from Romans 8 – There is no Condemnation! 

The service was followed by a delicious pot-luck meal.

Pot-luck in the Kitchen

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This Sunday Elena will be preaching, and our readings are Genesis 28:10-19, Romans 8:12-25, and Matthew 13:24-43, and we will be singing the hymns All Creature of our God and King, There’s a Spirit in the Air, Let us Break Bread Together, and All are Welcome.  You can find the readings via this link.

Video and audio of our major services can be found on the Audio-Visual page of the All Saints website and as always, 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