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International Church of Bangkok

Advancing the Work of Jesus!

Welcome to our weekly newsletter


Good News!:
In-person services will start again next week on 20th March at Christian Student Centre on Phayathai Road.    NOTE: New Venue!!
An online Zoom relay will also be available.

This week’s service will be on-line (Zoom) only

Scroll down for more information on our restart next week of in-person morning services and a map showing the new temporary location

We will join together

on Zoom ONLY

 this Sunday

13th March 2022

at 10.00 am

We will NOT meet  In-Person
Only on Zoom
see below how to log-on
How to connect to on-line relay via Zoom
(computer, tablet or smartphone)
Wherever you are in the world, you are welcome to join us online using the Zoom application in the same way as we have been doing since May 2021

  this is the link via your browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85269401114…
(tick “Always allow https://us02web…. to open Zoom”)
Or by using the Zoom App.
Meeting ID: 852 6940 1114
Passcode: 249320
Please also see notes below

About ICB worship on Zoom:
Please log-in on time and allow a minute or two to connect.
You will be muted” upon entering the zoom room.
Please stay muted during the service.
Please be patient as we try to overcome any glitches with our technical set-up at BCC. 

There will be an opportunity to chat to others on-line for a while immediately following the service this Sunday. Newcomers and visitors: You are warmly welcome to to introduce yourselves in our chat rooms.
13th March 2022

Sermon

is delivered on zoom by our minister,
Revd. Chee Keong Yong
Revd. Chee’s sermon theme is entitled:
Lent 1
Our Scripture Readings are:
Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12; 15:17-18*
Psalm 27*

Epistle: Philippians 3:17-4:1*
Gospel: Luke 13:31-35* (*click for online Bible)

Pastor Chee’s brief :

Bad news galore. The peddlers of bad news are striking rich these past years while the ordinary hard-working people are feeling more than a pinch. There seems to be a competition as to who can produce bad news. It varies in its quality and quantity. News of an ongoing pandemic. News of violence, oppression, and communities pitted against one another. News of natural disaster. It is around this week that we first got the news of Covid19 two years ago. Who’s tired?

Psalm 27 for this Sunday seems rather apt in our times. It declares, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?” and “though war should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him”.

I find it rather uneasy when Scripture is used as a cliché. It cheapens and degrades the words that are meant to uplift our souls. These words here in Psalm 27 are about trusting God and not being afraid. Truthfully, are we not afraid and fearful of our times? I suggest to you that these are not merely words to be rid of fear but rather it is an acknowledgment that together with people of old in the Bible, we are fearful.

God is found not only in moments of great faith but also in times of great fear. This psalm longs for the days of “[dwelling] in the house of the Lord,” “sounds of great gladness,” and “[seeing] the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” It is a psalm of comfort. It is a psalm seeking the balm in Gilead.

This Lent, may we seek the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living at such times as ours today. Lent does not shy away from the harder things of this life; when we are reminded of our own mortality, we are also reminded of the life we have yet to live. The goodness of the Lord is still present, even in times of great trouble – perhaps, especially in times of great trouble. The implication of this is that if we believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, then we’ll look for it.

“Look for it.” Where indeed do we look for it? Luke gives us the image of a mother hen. This is not an image of God that we are accustomed to. God as the mother hen does not gel with the image of the “lion of Judah”. I have seen many images of God on stained glass windows or on pictures and paintings that show God’s might and power. I cannot say that I have seen God as the mother hen.

In many of the great “I am” sayings of Jesus, we find the Good Shepherd, the bread of life, light of the world, the door, … etc., but you will never find one that says, “I am the mother hen”. So what is it about the mother hen that Luke is writing about?

Themes of protection and safety are all over this metaphor. And it’s worth noting that mother hens can be quite fierce if their babies are in danger. If you are a parent, you know you would do anything to protect your children.

We may recall our own experiences of our mothers and grandmothers. There is always the instinctive nature within a mother to gather up her loved ones. When a child hurts, the mother hurts more.
The image here of the mother hen comes in response to a threat posed by King Herod. Does this sound familiar? Whatever the source of threat of violence maybe, we do not find here a stronger source of power to counter it. Rather, we find a “mother hen” doing all to protect the vulnerable ones.

May the image of God as the “mother hen” travel with us in our struggles as we journey on this side of life. Be safe under her wings as it is outstretched over us.

May God be with you, Amen.

Chee


Please scroll down below for notices from Pastor Chee: information about the resumption of In-Person Services starting NEXT WEEK on 20th March (Note: new location),
Also about Fellowship at ICB, Thursday Prayer meetings, and Outreach needs.
Scroll down, too, for news of in-person Evening services in April at BCGH (Bangkok Christian Guesthouse).

Please pray
a)
 for those who have contracted Covid19, including those in our own congregation and their families.
b) for the refugee families and other displaced persons residing in Bangkok, for their safety and well-being as well as positive progress in securing permanent resettlement solutions to their plight.

Sunday School will meet on-line this Sunday

VISIT our
ICB Sunday School Facebook Page!!

HERE
https://www.facebook.com/ICB-Christian-Education-106748784983710
(copy this URL into your browser)

Sunday Classes for young people of 9 to 13 years
The former Faith Formation class has just ended but if you have a middle-school age child or children who would like to join a similar course, please let Pastor Chee know. If there are enough students, a new Faith Formation group could be started.  email: minister@icbangkok.org
Announcements
from our Minister, Pastor Chee
ICB Morning (in person) Service
from NEXT WEEK
For those of you attending ICB Sunday morning service, we will start in-person service (with Zoom simultaneously) next Sunday (20 March). Please note that the venue has changed (temporarily) to
Student Christian Centre
328/1 Phyathai Road
which is within walking distance from BTS Ratchatewi. Follow the map below.
All are advised to follow social distancing to keep others safe. A temperature check is required. We have members who have been infected lately and we do not wish others to be infected. If you are not feeling well, please stay at home and join us on Zoom. For safety precautions, the ICB Council has advised against any form of fellowship potlucks for the time being. Bottled water will be available.

ICB Evening Service will restart on the first Sunday of next month, 3rd April at BCGH.

This is early notice to those intending to join in-person at Bangkok Christian Guesthouse, off Convent Road (BTS Saladaeng / MRT Silom stations). Services will start at 6.30pm. Please inform your friends. Watch this space for more details in coming weeks.


Our minister, Pastor Chee, and members of the Church Council can be contacted as and when needed:
Email: minister@icbangkok.org

Fellowship is essential for the wellbeing of any true community – but it’s not so easy when we cannot meet personally face-to-face, though hopefully many of us will be soon.
At ICB, we wish to develop new ways to extend Christian fellowship among all of us during 2022. We invite you to help with your ideas for such fellowship activities.

Mary Santhi has recently taken on the role of ICB Fellowship Chair but she needs a committee to lead!
Mary cannot undertake the work alone and so she is inviting you to join her in one of the most important and joyful aspects of the church which is appreciated by everybody.
Please send an email to Mary and she will respond by telling you more: jmmsanthi@gmail.com

One of Mary’s early ideas for Fellowship is to recognise everybody’s birthday so we can all pray for every person on her/his special day. Birthday greetings are now appearing on the ‘ICB Morning Service’ LINE app. Unfortunately, our list of birthdays is far from complete and so, if you are in agreement, please let Mary know by email your special day (your birth year won’t be posted without your consent).
Weekly Prayer Meeting –

Thursdays from 7:00 to 7:30pm (pls join before 7:05)
This is a wonderful opportunity to pause for a few moments, however busy we are, and join together to reflect and pray for our Church, Bangkok, the World and for ourselves. You will feel better for it – and so will God!
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH
The International Church of Bangkok
partners with Christian ministries throughout Thailand to advance the work of Jesus.

5% of ICB’s yearly total income goes directly to the outreach partners. Members and friends are also encouraged to give directly.
Urgently needed: Offerings to our
Ministry to Displaced Persons

to assist refugee families and asylum seekers currently residing in Bangkok
(details of how to donate are shown below)

ICB’s Outreach is presently focused on our
“Ministry to Displaced Persons”.  
which assists vital everyday needs for refugees and asylum seekers in Bangkok who come here from many nations.
We urgently need your further offerings to support this vital ongoing work of our church.

Thank you or your prayerful consideration for those in greatest need. We need more funding support to keep our commitments to them going through 2022.

Bank transfers are easy to do and very welcome
Please Donate NOW when it’s Most Needed!!
KasikornBank (KBank):  003-1-09408-9
Transfer your donation to the ICB Bank account above and please email your transfer confirmation with the message:
“For Outreach: month/year (or MDP )”
office@icbangkok.org

Find out more about our outreach partners
ICB is a fully self-supported congregation.
We gladly receive your donations.
KBank a/c 003-1-09408-9
More information on the ICB Website

Thank you!
Making a Covenant
with God and His Church

2022

Advancing the Work of Jesus!

Please return the form shown below either by placing in the offering bag or sending to the church office:

61/2 Soi Saen Sabai 3; Sukhumvit 36 Road; Bangkok; 10110
Or you can scan and email to office@icbangkok.org.

International Church of Bangkok is a fully self-supporting church. We are not sponsored by any foreign church body and thus receive no outside financial assistance. In fact, we take joy to be a congregation who supports ministries all over Thailand!

We need over 5 million baht each year to cover expenses and keep our
ministry and the ICB community sustainable.

Your contributions to ICB may be tax-deductible under Thai tax rules.
For more information or to donate in US tax-deductible dollars, please contact the church office: office@icbangkok.org


Covenant Form
After prayerful consideration for the year 2022,
I/We enter into covenant with God and His Church to:

Pray for my Church_______times per week.
Attend Worship_______times per month.
Give back to God the following in God’s tithe (10%) & offerings
Baht_______per week/month/year (please circle one)
Other Currency_______per week/month/year (please circle)
Serve God in ministry. I’m interested in (please circle):

Christian Education
Outreach
Worship Prayer
Personnel & Property
Evangelism/Membership
Finance/Stewardship
Fellowship
Other ……….

Name______________
Date______________
Email/Telephone______________

You can email the ICB office for this covenant form or copy & paste the above to:
office@icbangkok.org

Missed a sermon?
Want to hear one again?

If you missed any of the recent sermons or would like to hear one or more again, recordings are available from Rev. Chee himself. Please let him know which Sunday(s) you are interested in and he will send you the link.
Send an email to: minister@icbangkok.org
Internati­onal Church of Bangkok (ICB)
Advancing the Work of Jesus!

ICB is an English language congregation, composed of native and non-native speakers.
We are committed to welcoming people of all backgrounds to Christian worship for a diverse, inclusive and unifying faith experience.
We seek to advance the work of Jesus Christ by promoting and supporting spiritual growth, community and service to others.

ICB has a specific policy on “Diversity, Inclusiveness & Unity” recently adopted at our annual congregational meeting. You can download the file here (click).

Scan these QR Codes to
find out more about
International Church of Bangkok

This upper link will guide you to our
ICB Website
This lower link will guide you to our
ICB Facebook page
For personal inquiries, more information and
church membership, please email
Rev. Chee Keong Yong: minister@icbangkok.org
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Copyright © 2022 International Church of Bangkok, All rights reserved.

Office Phone Number (Mon-Thur) +66 (0)2-258-5821
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