In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus is asked “Who is my neighbour?” and he responds with the story of the Good Samaritan. As foreigners living in Thailand, how should we answer that question and what are the implications for our lives?
Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be taken from Deuteronomy 30:8-14, Colossians 1:1-14, and Luke 10:25-37, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun; When I needed a Neighbour; Brother, Sister, Let me Serve You; and God, Whose Almighty Word!
Join us for a screening of “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture,” a new documentary film that traces the origins of the Christian anti-gay movement back to a particularly consequential translation of the Bible in 1946. Deeply researched and movingly told, this film sheds light on the complex history of Christian homophobia and the questionable scriptural foundation upon which it was built.
Bring a friend and join us to watch, discuss, and eat lots of popcorn.
Snacks are provided, and entry is free, although we recommend a donation of 250฿ to support All Saints Chiang Mai, the first (only?) affirming church in Chiang Mai.
6:00 PM on Monday, 21 July, at the Mennonite Central Committee.
RSVP to Clay or Christa or by QR Code.
Chili Night Continues Next Week!
Chili Night returned last Tuesday! Every Tuesday everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Please make a THB 100 donation.
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
This week we signal our support for the gay and trans members of All Saints and the wider LGBTQ community. Things may be going dark in many parts of the world, but we have the light of Christ to lighten our darkness.
In my sermon this Sunday I will be looking at the hidden LGBT people in the Bible: they’re actually hiding in plain sight if you know where to look, but the English translations throw them into a scriptural closet. Queer people occur throughout the scriptures – some are approved of, others not so, just like any other people. All can serve God, and sometimes fail, just as we can!
Join us in our special Pride Worship Service at All Saints at our usual time of 10:30 am, and then march with us or come and sit at our booth at the Thapae Gate! More details below!
Our scripture readings for this Pride Sunday will be 1 Samuel 18, 20, 2 Samuel 1; 1 John 4:7-21; and Matthew 8:5-10,13; and we will be singing the hymns Stand up Stand Up for Jesus; Lord, We make this Cry for freedom; Beauty for Brokenness; and Let Us Build a House!
All Saints is a church. So why do we march in Pride? Isn’t pride a sin? Well, it’s not that sort of pride. The word pride as in gay pride first came into use in black pride. African Americans were taught to work hard and keep their heads down – being “uppity” was not only discouraged, it was down-right dangerous. The only response when being racially abused was not to retaliate, to walk away, otherwise you would end up the loser. Black Pride arose in opposition to this – it was about standing up to be counted, about saying I am not ashamed to be who I am. In this context pride is the opposite of shame!
And so, in 1970 in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, the first Gay Pride marches took place. LGBT people were saying I am not ashamed to be who I am! Father Gene marched in New York in those early days and he will tell how people were abused and spat upon as they walked.
Fifty years later, Pride parades have become colourful family affairs with lavish corporate sponsorship and cross-party political support, but maybe not for much longer. Many big companies have withdrawn their support and political parties have turned hostile. Some countries, such as Hungary, have banned Pride altogether, while in others, such as the US, you can be sure that faces are being filmed and identities logged for future sanctions. In the UK, the big three parades, Manchester, Brighton, and London, have banned all political parties from taking part because of their active hostility and denial of rights and healthcare for trans people. Once again, it takes courage to stand up and be counted!
(If you doubt how bad the situation is in America, then read this long but insightful article: “Why I am leaving the US”!)
That is why All Saints will be marching in Chiang Mai Pride – to show that, gay or straight, cis or trans, we love one another as Jesus commanded us! Please join us if you can!
This year Chiang Mai Pride takes place this Sunday, 25th May. All Saints will have a special service at 10:30 a.m. that morning, and then will take part in the parade, which begins at 5 p.m., marching behind our “Christians at Pride” banner. We will also have our campervan-booth at the Thapae Gate where the march will end.
Chiang Mai Pride 2025, May 25, 2025 , 1 PM–9:30 PM
Start: Buddhist Center → End: Thapae Gate
13:00 Registration Opens 16:30 Line-up 17:20 Flash mob 17:30 Parade starts 19:30 Stage activities: Cabaret show, Community speeches, Sex worker performance, Network launch, Equal marriage ceremony, Candlelight memorial, and Open-air cinema & booths!
Maejo Pride is on 29th June and All Saints will be involved there too!
All Saints Pride T-Shirts
Adam and Sarah have designed these fantastic T-shirts for Chiang Mai Pride. They will be available in white, blue, or pink, in sizes S, M, L, and XL. (I am wearing a white M and pink S above.)
The cost will be THB 250 with profits helping to support All Saints. You can collect your order this Sunday and they will also be on sale after church and at our booth at Chiang Mai Pride!
All Saints’ First Intern
Tomorrow night, All Saints will welcome Clay Wackerman – a student from Harvard Divinity School – who will be joining us as a summer intern. He will be shadowing Gene, Mark, Christa, and I, as he explores his calling into Christian ministry. You will be able to meet him this Sunday!
Clay Wackerman is an aspiring Episcopal priest from the United States. Upon graduating college, he spent a year teaching elementary school English in Chanthaburi, Thailand, where he gained a deep appreciation for Thai culture and cuisine.
After his time in Thailand, he spent the following year at an Episcopal Benedictine Monastery in New York, immersing himself in the monastic life of work and prayer. After these two transformative experiences, he now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he is pursuing his Masters of Divinity degree at the Harvard Divinity School.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, playing guitar, and trying to keep up his Thai language skills. He’s incredibly excited to return to Thailand this summer to serve as an intern All Saints Chiang Mai. He’s looking forward to meeting you all soon.
Pray for Annah and Aneesh
Annah’s baby is due to be delivered by caesarian section on Sunday, but her mum is seriously ill with cancer and may not make it until then.
Please hold the whole family in your prayers!
Pray for Penny!
Many of you will know Penny from the Lannacapella Choir, Women in the Word, and Chili Night. Last Wednesday she had a fall and on Monday she had her shoulder replaced in Ram Hospital. All went well and she returned home on Wednesday!
Please continue to hold her in your prayers!
Inclusive Church Conference
At the end of May, Christa and I will be attending this first international event gathering community leaders and allies in East and Southeast Asia. It will focus on building an ongoing support network for communities, exploring opportunities to facilitate resources sharing, learning from stories and ministry experiences, and witnessing God’s love and unity in Christ. This will give us the opportunity to reach out to other inclusive Christians and churches in Asia, and perhaps help to raise support for some of All Saint’s work in Chiang Mai
We have obtained the Thai resident discount so it is costing THB 2,000 each rather than $150, and we are also sponsoring a Thai pastor’s conference fee. Flights are also around THB 2,000 return. If anyone would like to contribute to the costs of our participation, please see Christa or me, or speak to Adam, who is our new church treasurer!
Chili Night!
See you again next Tuesday for the final Chili Night until July!
Once again everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Please make a donation on THB 100 per person!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands! God bless you,
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
Dear Friends,
Our Gospel reading this week reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that we are safe in his arms- even if we’re going through tough times! This message of love is the heart of the gospel and we have good news to share!
Our scripture readings for this Sunday will be Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, and John 10:22-30, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today; The Lord’s my shepherd (And I will trust in You alone), The Lord’s my shepherd, and The King of love my Shepherd is!
This year Chiang Mai Pride takes place on Sunday 25th May. All Saints will have a special service at 10:30 a.m. that morning and then will take part in the parade, which begins at 4 p.m., marching behind our “Christians at Pride” banner. We will also have our campervan-booth at the Thapae Gate where the march will end.
Maejo Pride is on 29th June and All Saints will be involved there too!
Inclusive Church Conference
At the end of May, Christa and I will be attending this first international event gathering community leaders and allies in East and Southeast Asia. It will focus on building an ongoing support network for communities, exploring opportunities to facilitate resources sharing, learning from stories and ministry experiences, and witnessing God’s love and unity in Christ. This will give us the opportunity to reach out to other inclusive Christians and churches in Asia, and perhaps help to raise support for some of All Saint’s work in Chiang Mai
We have obtained the Thai resident discount so it is costing THB 2,000 each rather than $150, and we are also sponsoring a Thai pastors conference fee. Flights are also around THB 2,000 return. If anyone would like to contribute to the costs of our participation, please see Christa or me, or speak to Adam, who is our new church treasurer!
Urgent – Church Finances!
All Saints now has a working Foundation, which is a firm footing for the future, and we came through the flood due to the generous giving of members and friends. But… we have a problem: we need a weekly collection each Sunday of around THB 10,000 to cover our regular outgoings, but the regular offering is usually around THB 3,000 – and half of that comes from two people! Last week’s offering was THB 4,340
Generally, we need each adult present to give an average of THB 500 per week. Of course, some people have very little money, so others need to give more!
There is a biblical tradition of giving a tithe – 10% of your income to God! Jesus calls us to give all! Please consider your weekly income – work out how much a tenth is, and then reflect on what you are giving to All Saints. We are not asking for 10%, but are you giving only 1%, 2%, or 3% – do you spend more on a meal out, than you give to support all the good things that All Saints is doing?
I’m sure we have been at fault in failing to share the needs of All Saints clearly – but our bank balance has been falling steadily since Covid. We will struggle to pay the rent and salary bill next month unless our income increases. Most of our offering goes to cover the salaries of our Congregational Pastor, our Organist, our Administrator, and our Cleaner – they are all part-time, but each one provides a vital function in the life of our church!
Please consider your giving – you can give more beginning next Sunday, or you can give each week and right now in the following ways:
You can donate via the All Saints Foundation:
Bank: Kasikorn Bank Account Name: All Saints Foundation Account Number: 170-3-79007-7 SWIFT code: KASITHBK
You can use the QR code for the church account in my name.
If you have a UK bank account, you can donate via the All Saints Chiang Mai Mission UK account:
Bank: Coop Bank Account Name: All Saints Chiang Mai Mission Account Number: 65877142 Sort Code: 08-92-99
Or other international donors can give via PayPal to the IainBaxterMinistry UK account using a debit or credit card.
One-off donations will be gratefully received, but most of all we need you to consider your regular weekly giving.
Thanks and God bless you!
Chili Night is Back!
See you again next Tuesday! Once again everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Please make a donation on THB 100 per person!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands! God bless you,
In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus says to Peter “Feed my sheep!” Jesus was a carpenter, not a shepherd. He wasn’t talking about actual sheep, but the people entrusted to his care.
We all have sheep to feed – some are part of our natural families, some friends – both new and old, and some are those who are part of our church family!
Elsewhere, Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd and talks about having “other sheep, not of this sheepfold”. He was probably talking about the Gentiles, but we also have “other sheep” to watch over – those who are marginalised and on the edge of our society. One group are migrants, another are trans people. At All Saints we are reaching out to both!
Pastor Mark, and others, continue to take assistance to the Myanmar border, while others assist within that war-torn country. Christa and I, and others, are heading-up transACTIONrefuge, seeking to share a safe-space for trans people fleeing persecution in the US and elsewhere. These are all sheep we are called upon to feed!
On the 25th May – only just over three weeks away – we will take part in Chiang Mai Pride. Pride marches have become fun events, a time of celebration for all the family supported by large corporate sponsors and government agencies, but they began as protest marches where participants were spat-upon by passersby and harassed by the police. With the rolling-back of LGBTQ rights in many parts of the world, this need to protest has returned just as many of the corporate sponsors have departed and governments have turned hostile. LGBTQ people are “sheep” strongly in need of feeding with acceptance, affirmation, and solidarity.
All Saints stands firmly in solidarity with those on the margins – we will feed these sheep!
Our scripture readings for 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; In Christ alone my hope is Found; and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
This year Chiang Mai Pride takes place on Sunday 25th May. All Saints will have a special service that morning and then will take part in the parade, marching behind our “Christians at Pride” banner. We will also have our campervan-booth at the Thapae Gate where the march will end.
Maejo Pride is on 29th June and All Saints will be involved there too!
Inclusive Church Conference
At the end of May, Christa and I will be attending this first international event gathering community leaders and allies in East and Southeast Asia. It will focus on building an ongoing support network for communities, exploring opportunities to facilitate resources sharing, learning from stories and ministry experiences, and witnessing God’s love and unity in Christ. This will give us the opportunity to reach out to other inclusive Christians and churches in Asia, and perhaps help to raise support for some of All Saint’s work in Chiang Mai
We have obtained the Thai resident discount so it is costing THB 2,000 each rather than $150, and we are also sponsoring a Thai pastors conference fee. Flights are also around THB 2,000 return. If anyone would like to contribute to the costs of our participation, please see Christa or me, or speak to Adam, who is our new church treasurer!
Urgent – Church Finances!
All Saints now has a working Foundation, which is a firm footing for the future, and we came through the flood due to the generous giving of members and friends. But… we have a problem: we need a weekly collection each Sunday of around THB 10,000 to cover our regular outgoings, but the regular offering is usually around THB 3,000 – and half of that comes from two people! Last week’s offering was THB 4,231.
Generally, we need each adult present to give an average of THB 500 per week. Of course, some people have very little money, so others need to give more!
There is a biblical tradition of giving a tithe – 10% of your income to God! Jesus calls us to give all! Please consider your weekly income – work out how much a tenth is, and then reflect on what you are giving to All Saints. We are not asking for 10%, but are you giving only 1%, 2%, or 3% – do you spend more on a meal out, than you give to support all the good things that All Saints is doing?
I’m sure we have been at fault in failing to share the needs of All Saints clearly – but our bank balance has been falling steadily since Covid. We will struggle to pay the rent and salary bill next month unless our income increases. Most of our offering goes to cover the salaries of our Congregational Pastor, our Organist, our Administrator, and our Cleaner – they are all part-time, but each one provides a vital function in the life of our church!
Please consider your giving – you can give more beginning next Sunday, or you can give each week and right now in the following ways:
You can donate via the All Saints Foundation:
Bank: Kasikorn Bank Account Name: All Saints Foundation Account Number: 170-3-79007-7 SWIFT code: KASITHBK
You can use the QR code for the church account in my name.
If you have a UK bank account, you can donate via the All Saints Chiang Mai Mission UK account:
Bank: Coop Bank Account Name: All Saints Chiang Mai Mission Account Number: 65877142 Sort Code: 08-92-99
Or other international donors can give via PayPal to the IainBaxterMinistry UK account using a debit or credit card.
One-off donations will be gratefully received, but most of all we need you to consider your regular weekly giving.
Thanks and God bless you!
Chili Night is Back!
See you again next Tuesday, 6th May! Once again everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Please make a donation on THB 100 per person!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands! God bless you and Happy Easter,
Dear Friends, This is the Second Sunday of Easter and we will be looking at the story of doubting Thomas. Sometimes it is hard to believe, yet how can we doubt God’s love when we remember all that God has done for us? And exciting things are happening at All Saints!
Our scripture readings this week will be Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8, and John 20:19-31, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia! Sing to Jesus, The Day of Resurrection, Hail the Day, and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
All Saints now has a working Foundation, which is a firm footing for the future, and we came through the flood due to the generous giving of members and friends. But… we have a problem: we need a weekly collection each Sunday of around THB 10,000 to cover our regular outgoings, but the regular offering is usually around THB 3,000 – and half of that comes from two people!
Last Sunday’s offering was over THB 9,000 but that was an exception for Easter Sunday. Generally, we need each adult present to give an average of THB 500 per week. Of course, some people have very little money, so others need to give more!
There is a biblical tradition of giving a tithe – 10% of your income to God! Jesus calls us to give all! Please consider your weekly income – work out how much a tenth is, and then reflect on what you are giving to All Saints. We are not asking for 10%, but are you giving only 1%, 2%, or 3% – do you spend more on a meal out, than you give to support all the good things that All Saints is doing?
I’m sure we have been at fault in failing to share the needs of All Saints clearly – but our bank balance has been falling steadily since Covid. We will struggle to pay the rent and salary bill next month unless our income increases. Most of our offering goes to cover the salaries of our Congregational Pastor, our Organist, our Administrator, and our Cleaner – they are all part-time, but each one provides a vital function in the life of our church!
Please consider your giving – you can give more beginning next Sunday, or you can give each week and right now in the following ways:
You can donate via the All Saints Foundation:
Bank: Kasikorn Bank Account Name: All Saints Foundation Account Number: 170-3-79007-7 SWIFT code: KASITHBK
You can use the QR code for the church account in my name.
If you have a UK bank account, you can donate via the All Saints Chiang Mai Mission UK account:
Bank: Coop Bank Account Name: All Saints Chiang Mai Mission Account Number: 65877142 Sort Code: 08-92-99
Or other international donors can give via PayPal to the IainBaxterMinistry UK account using a debit or credit card.
One-off donations will be gratefully received, but most of all we need you to consider your regular weekly giving.
Thanks and God bless you!
Chili Night is taking a Break!
Chili Night will be taking a break until May as so many people are out of town!
See you again on Tuesday 6th May!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can use our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
This Friday we remember how Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice – showing that God’s love has no limits! Then on Sunday we will celebrate the joy of the resurrection.
Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to one another – to bring healing and wholeness and life in all its fullness. This will be the theme of our worship on Easter Sunday! We should be a happy, rejoicing people, even in the midst of challenge and suffering!
We have the hope that things will get better and we work for that day!
For Good Friday our Tenebrae Service will have readings from Matthew 26:17-29, Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 15:1-15, Mark 15:16-32, Matthew 27:45-54, Isaiah 52:13 – 53:5, and Matthew 27:62-66. We will sing the hymns When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; O Sacred Head, Now Wounded; How deep the Father’s love for us; My Song is Love Unknown; Were You There When They Crucified My Lord; and O Love that Will Not Let Me Go!
The readings for Easter Sunday will be from Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, and John 20:1-18, and we will be singing the hymns Jesus Christ is Risen Today; The Day of Resurrection; Christ is Alive; and Thine Be the Glory!
Good Friday Service 18th April 7:00 pm – a solemn Tenabrae Service where we hear seven scripture readings of Jesus last day leading to the crucifixion and sing seven Good Friday hymns. After each reading a candle is extinguished signifying the retreat into darkness.
Easter Sunday Service 20th April 10:30 am Our joyous Eucharist celebrating the joy of the resurrection. – followed by potluck and Easter Egg hunt
transACTIONrefuge
The work of transACTIONrefuge has begun! Last Thursday a group of eight people gathered for dinner to discuss how we can help trans refugees who are coming from America to Thailand. This is not theoretical, they are already here and we are already giving practical help and assistance and, above all, making people feel welcome. If you would like to join the support group, let me know!
The situation for trans people in the US is deteriorating rapidly with bans from sports and the military, withdrawing of healthcare and removal of legal protections, loss of employment, and risk of physical attack. Most people will stay and try to cope where they are, while others may move to other states, but for some the only safe and acceptable solution may be to leave.
Meanwhile, yesterday the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of “woman” and “man” only applies to “biological women” and “biological men”. This immediately allows the exclusion of transwomen from the appropriate hospital wards, prisons, domestic abuse refuges, and many other places. A whole series of new court cases will now be pursued by those wishing to erase trans people from public life.
All Saints has always Proclaimed “All are Welcome”, and trans and gay people have been involved in its leadership from the outset. transACTIONrefuge is helping trans people and their families navigate the pitfalls of moving to an unfamiliar country and we hope to work with trusted Thai LGBT-friendly businesses and organizations including the LinQ Foundation and the Thanthayar Foundation to make sure that their geographical transition is as smooth as possible!
Hopeful things will soon get better and this project will no longer be needed, but if things remain as they are, or get worse, we will continue to help.
Chili Night will be taking a break until May as so many people are out of town!
See you again on Tuesday 6th May!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
As we approach Good Friday and Easter, this week we mark Palm Sunday which is also Passion Sunday. Passion Sunday reminds us of the last day of Jesus’ life and last Saturday this was our focused as we created our Stations of the Cross.
In our Stations of the Cross event, members of All Saints presented and created works of art reminding us of that last 24 hours leading to Jesus’ death on the cross. As we give of our best, we remember all that God has done for us. You can see pictures of the art below, and hear about some of them in last week’s sermon. This Sunday we will once more remember the passion of Jesus.
The scripture readings for this Sunday will be Luke 19:28-40, Philippians 2:5-11, and Luke 23:1-24, and we will be singing the hymns Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest; All Glory, Laud and Honour; Hosanna, Loud Hosanna; Above All; and Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!
Last Sunday we gathered for an Interactive Contemplative Stations of the Cross experience!
All were invited to create a representation of a key event leading to Jesus’ crucifixion through whatever media they preferred: drawing, knitting, painting, collage, anything visual.
The creations will be displayed on Sundays throughout the remainder of the Lenten season to prepare us for Good Friday and Easter Morning!
Earthquake Assistance – Still Time to Give!
All Saints has a long history of supporting those working with the people of Myanmar. Following the recent earthquake, an already dire situation has become even more desperate.
Last week we collected over THB 9,000 for Myanmar earthquake relief!
We are still collecting clothes for displaced people on either side of the Thai/Burmese border. We can also forward money to two churches we have links with – one in Tachileik and one in Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake.
You can still donate via the All Saints Foundation:
Bank: Kasikorn Bank Account Name: All Saints Foundation Account Number: 170-3-79007-7 SWIFT code: KASITHBK
Alternatively you can use the QR code for the church account in my name.
In both cases, please email our Foundation Administrator, Gai, on ratree4316@gmail.com to specify that your donation is for the Earthquake Appeal.
Clothes can also be left by the backdoor of All Saints.
Thanks for anything you can give.
Easter Dates
The Easter season is upon us!
Palm Sunday Service 13th April 10:30 am – with parading of the palms and choir potluck
Good Friday Service 18th April 7:00 pm – a solemn Tenabrae Service
Easter Sunday Service 20th April 10:30 am – followed by potluck and Easter Egg hunt
Chili Night is taking a Break!
Chili Night will be taking a break until May as so many people are out of town!
See you again on Tuesday 6th May!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
We seem to be living in a time of earthquake, flood, war, and pestilence – Myanmar has been suffering from all four over the last couple of years. In the face of such calamity there may seem little we can do, but we can do something. At All Saints we are collecting clothes for the people who make it to the Thai border zone and collecting money to help those at close to the earthquake’s epicenter.
In another unrelated project, we are also reaching out to help trans people suffering increasing persecution.
But in this week’s Gospel reading we read of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair. That was a weird thing to do!!!! Jesus was a guest in her home, so it’s not as if she wouldn’t have been able to find a towel to wipe his feet dry and, as in Thailand, feet were considered very low and unclean, whereas the head was to be honoured! But, it’s all about honouring and celebrating relationship – worshipping almost! And Judas is the one who decries the waste!
In this time of suffering of many kinds, we are creating art at All Saints in our Stations of the Cross workshop. A waste of time and money, or a celebration of beauty, an offering of our talents in contemplation of what is good in the world? It is a declaration that Christ’s suffering on the cross was not a waste, a mighty declaration that the truth, that love, is worth dying for – and worth fighting for!
The scripture readings for this Sunday will be Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4-14, and John 12:1-8, and we will be singing the hymns O Worship the King, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, I will offer up my life, and When in our Music God is Glorified!
All Saints has a long history of supporting those working with the people of Myanmar. Following the recent earthquake, an already dire situation has become even more desperate.
We are now collecting clothes for displaced people on either side of the Thai/Burmese border. We can also forward money to two churches we have links with – one in Tachileik and one in Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake.
There will be a special offering on Sunday or you can donate via the All Saints Foundation:
Bank: Kasikorn Bank Account Name: All Saints Foundation Account Number: 170-3-79007-7 SWIFT code: KASITHBK
Alternatively you can use the QR code for the church account in my name.
In both cases, please email our Foundation Administrator, Gai, on ratree4316@gmail.com to specify that your donation is for the Earthquake Appeal.
Clothes can also be left by the backdoor of All Saints.
Thanks for anything you can give.
transACTIONrefuge
Last Sunday’s Church Council meeting approved a new project for All Saints: transACTIONrefuge. With the immediate needs in neighbouring Myanmar, this issue may seem less of a priority, but even as we do all we can to help the victims of last week’s earthquake, we can reach out to others too!
The situation for trans people in the US is deteriorating rapidly with bans from sports and the military, withdrawing of healthcare and removal of legal protections, loss of employment, and risk of physical attack. Most people will stay and try to cope where they are, while others may move to other states, but for some the only safe and acceptable solution may be to leave.
All Saints has always Proclaimed “All are Welcome”, and trans and gay people have been involved in its leadership from the outset. transACTIONrefuge aims to help trans people and their families navigate the pitfalls of moving to an unfamiliar country – giving help with visas, accommodation, healthcare, jobs, and daily living. We will be working with trusted Thai LGBT-friendly businesses and organizations including the LinQ Foundation and the Thanthayar Foundation as to make sure that their geographical transition is as smooth as possible!
Hopeful things will soon get better and this project won’t be needed, but if things remain as they are, or get worse, we will be ready to help.
Join us for an Interactive Contemplative Stations of the Cross experience!
All are invited to create a representation of a key event leading to Jesus’ crucifixion through whatever media you prefer: drawing, knitting, painting, collage, anything visual.
Sign up with Christa on Sunday to pick one of the 14 key events for your depiction or message her to see which events are left.
The 14 “stations” we are marking are:
1 Jesus in the Garden 2 Judas betrays Jesus 3 Jesus before the Sanhedrin 4 Peter denies Jesus 5 Peter before Pilate 6 The Crown of Thornes 7 The Cross 8 Simon carries the Cross 9 The Women at the Cross 10 Jesus is Crucified 11 The Thief on the Cross 12 Jesus’ Mother 13 Jesus dies on the Cross 14 Jesus is placed in the Tomb
(At the time of writing the stations in italics are already taken and the ones in bold are still available. Contact Christa to make your choice!)
Then join us for a half-day retreat where we’ll contemplate our depictions of each event together. This Saturday, 5 April, 9:00-12:30 at All Saints.
No artistic skill is required. All are invited to participate in making a creation, and/or attending the retreat, and/or enjoying the creations displayed on Sundays throughout the remainder of the Lenten season to prepare us for Good Friday and Easter Morning!
Easter Dates
Dates for your diary!
Stations Work 5th April 2025 Palm Sunday 13th April 2025 Good Friday 18th April 2025 Easter Sunday 20th April 2025
Chili Night is taking a Break!
Chili Night will be taking a break until May as so many people are out of town!
See you again on Tuesday 6th May!
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
Judgement! In this week’s Gospel passage we see stern words from Jesus for those who fail to mend their ways! This command applies to all of us but especially to those who occupy a position of leadership – whether in the church or the world. We are called to repent, but we are also called to call our leadership to account!
How can we help? That is the question that many of us at All Saints are asking. Some of our people are up at the border with Myanmar helping refugees there, and we may soon be welcoming exiles from the US who feel that they are no longer safe in the country of their birth.
It seems that the current American administration is now choosing to ignore court orders and certain sections of the police are now choosing to enforce presidential orders rather than those of the law. All we can so is pray – and be prepared to help in whatever way we can. All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to remain silent – so speak we must!
God is ultimately the judge, and I believe that good will triumph in the end! Please keep praying!
The readings for this Sunday will be Isaiah 55.1–9, 1 Corinthians 10.1–13, and Luke 13.1–9, and we will be singing the hymns O God of Earth and Altar; Beauty for Brokenness; Called as Partners in Christ’s Service; and Onward, Christian People!
Lucille Wehner’s funeral was held on Thursday 20th March at 9:30 a.m. at McKean Hospital Chapel. Jack would like to thank all the people of All Saints who attended. I lead the service which contained lots of music in tribute to Lucille’s love of that greatest of arts.
Video of the service will be available shortly.
Chiang Rai Church Dedication
Singing in the Dedication Service
Last weekend Mum and I, travelled up to Chiang Rai with the children of the Youth Charity Foundation. This was for the service of dedication of a new church where our choir sung!
Church of Christ in Thailand Pastors line up for the official opening
Akha women join the processional
One of the YCF children who comes from this village
Ready to sing!
Youth Charity Foundation children – praying on Saturday night!
Easter Dates
Dates for your diary!
Palm Sunday 13th April 2025 Good Friday 18th April 2025 Easter Sunday 20th April 2025
Chiang Mai Pride – Sunday 25th May
The date for the Chiang Mai Pride 2025 has been announced. It will be on the afternoon of Sunday 25th May. All Saints will have a presence as usual. Maybe we’ll do something special this year!
Chili Night Continues!
Chili Night will continue next Tuesday!
Every Tuesday everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands!
We are accustomed to putting Pharisees in the “bad guys” box and Samaritans in the “good guys” category. This would have surprised the people of first century Palestine as they would have surely seen the Pharisees as the righteous ones.
But there were some good Pharisees and we can include those in this week’s Gospel passage who went to warn Jesus, as he made his way to Jerusalem, that Herod wanted to kill him.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.”
Luke 13:31-32
Well, Jesus got that one wrong – or more likely the translation is faulty – for many prophets, before and since, have been killed outside Jerusalem: two that spring immediately to mind are Archbishop Oscar Romero, gunned down at the altar in San Salvador, and Martin Luther King, shot dead on the balcony of a motel room in Memphis, Tennessee.
A prophet is often one who speaks out against injustice, and right now many prophetic voices are needed around the world. Speaking out is not without risk: according to The Guardian, the US state department will use artificial intelligence to revoke visas of foreign students who it perceives as supporters of Hamas. Basically, protesting against the genocidal policies of Israel, for which it’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been issued with an arrest warrant for “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes” may now lead to arrest, deportation, and worse. Furthermore “American students will be permanently expelled or … arrested.” This issue is just the beginning! (More details in Freedom of Speech Under Threat below)
So… what would Jesus do? He kept going, travelling on to Jerusalem where his fate awaited him. We too should not remain silent, but we should count the cost – just as Jesus did!
The readings for this Sunday will be Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17-4:1, and Luke 13:31-35, and we will be singing the hymns Let All the World in Every Corner Sing; Make Me a Channel of your Peace; When I needed a Neighbour; and Now Thank We All Our God!
Last week a group of us gathered at Arthur and Phyliss’ house for a baby shower for Annah and Aneesh’s baby. A good time was had by all!
Chiang Rai Church Dedication
This weekend Mum and I, will be journeying up to Chiang Rai with the children of the Youth Charity Foundation. This is for the service of dedication of a new church where our choir will also be singing!
Please pray that all goes well and good relationships are formed!
Easter Dates
Dates for your diary!
Palm Sunday 13th April 2025 Good Friday 18th April 2025 Easter Sunday 20th April 2025
Chiang Mai Pride – Sunday 25th May
The date for the Chiang Mai Pride 2025 has been announced. It will be on the afternoon of Sunday 25th May. All Saints will have a presence as usual. Maybe we’ll do something special this year!
Freedom of Speech Under Threat!
Apologies if you think this is too political, but I am reminded of the quote that all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to remain silent. This article highlights the targeting of pro-Palestinian students, but other people with other issues are at risk too.
From the “Alt National Park Service”:
The rebirth of McCarthyism is unfolding as the government moves to silence dissent in the name of power.
The Trump administration is pressuring universities across 60 college campuses to arrest students engaged in peaceful protests, invoking broad legal provisions to justify crackdowns on dissent. This campaign bears striking similarities to McCarthyism, where fear and intimidation were used to silence political opposition. Just as McCarthy’s era saw government officials and private institutions pressured to root out supposed communists, today’s universities are being urged to identify and detain students based on their political beliefs rather than any criminal wrongdoing.
The administration is leveraging a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which grants the president authority to expel noncitizens if their presence is deemed to have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” This provision, originally designed during the Cold War, is now being used to target international students and activists without due process. Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and pro-Palestinian activist, was recently arrested by ICE under this justification despite facing no formal charges.
In addition to targeting individuals, the administration is threatening to withdraw federal funding from universities that allow what it deems “illegal protests.” Columbia University, for example, recently had $400 million in federal grants and contracts revoked due to alleged inaction against antisemitic harassment on campus. These efforts parallel McCarthy-era tactics, where institutions were coerced into enforcing ideological conformity or risked losing financial and political support.
Both McCarthyism and the current crackdown reveal how the government can manipulate existing laws to suppress dissent, creating a chilling effect on free speech. The reliance on vague accusations and institutional pressure highlights a disturbing pattern: using fear as a tool to erode fundamental civil liberties. This marks one of the most significant threats to free expression in modern U.S. history. The question is, how far will this go?
Those of us who are not American should not be complacent either – where America leads, others may follow, and with the global reach of American tech companies we are already being affected whether we know it or not.
Chili Night Continues!
Chili Night will continue next Tuesday!
Every Tuesday everyone in Chiang Mai is invited to Chili Night in the Vicarage. Chili con Carne, rice, chips, ice-cream, and drinks are provided. Just come along! (But let me know in advance if you can!) All are welcome. Food is served at 6 p.m.
Weekly Offering to All Saints You can still donate in person or online – and now you can us our QR code!. Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together. God has shown that God is mighty and we are in God’s hands! God bless you,
All Saints' Chiang Mai 