Covid 19 measures for ICB
The Thai government has relaxed many restrictions but Bangkok Christian College, where we normally meet, has yet to reopen so we must wait a little longer before we can meet and worship in-person.
ICB Zoom-only services will continue while we pray that we can resume in-person soon.
November’s Outreach Partner
is the Thai Tai Church
also known as the
Thai Faith and Music Foundation To find out more and how you can help, please go to our Outreach section towards the end of this newsletter
On-line ONLY
Stay at Home and Please Join us on ZOOM!
(computer, tablet or smartphone)
Due to COVID19 health measures, our worship service will NOT be in-person this Sunday
About ICB worship on Zoom:
Please come on time and allow a minute or two to connect.
You will be “muted” upon entering the zoom room with the musical prelude on. Please stay muted during the service.
Pastor Chee suggests, “while you listen to the prelude, please pray for the service to run smoothly for God’s glory. There’s plenty of time to chit chat in the break out rooms after the service.”
This Sunday’s Sermon
is delivered live on Zoom by our minister, Revd. Chee Keong Yong
Revd. Chee’s sermon theme is entitled: “Terror & Hope”
Our Scripture Readings are: Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-14* Gospel: Mark 13:1-8*(*click for online Bible)
Pastor Chee’s brief & notes:
The RCL lectionary provides that this is the last Sunday for this year that we will hear from Mark’s gospel. It has not been easy exploring the hard sayings contained within the stories that Mark gave to his readers. They are pretty much sombre readings and yet there are glimpses of light.
Mark does not hold back any punches – he gets right to the point. Too much of human religion is infused with ungodliness and untruths about God’s Kingdom. The Jesus of Mark’s Gospel offers a new set of values for those who choose to follow Jesus.
The sacred cows of human religiosity will be torn down – you can be sure of it. Thus, even the Temple of Jerusalem is not spared from destruction, which makes today’s readings all the more sombre.
What are our sacred cows? What is it from our own religiosity that needs to be torn down? Ponder it over and examine your life in the light of God’s words.
Didn’t Mark tell us that many left Jesus because they could not stand the hard sayings? Do not be surprised that many will fall away.
What underpins Mark’s stories is the parable of the sower that comes in Mark 4:1-20. Remember the story – some seeds fall on a hard pathway.. rocky ground .. among thorns and are choked .. on good soil.
The receptiveness of the Gospel into human lives producing different results is not the focus of the parable. It is God’s generosity in freely sowing into all lives – giving a chance to all so that none can have an excuse of being excluded.
Today’s story by the one we call Mark is a pretty scary story. Historically it probably refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple many years after the death of Jesus.
The Jesus of Mark takes us into this world of terror and offers a vision of hope.
A defiant hope.
A hope centred on the vision of the domain of God.
Where inclusiveness is its rule.
And a passionate concern for others fires imaginations and compassionate acts.
Come along to our services on Zoom at 10.00 am every Sunday.
Blessings,
Chee
Please scroll down below for notices about Sunday school in November, our weekly on-line prayer meeting on Thursday evenings, as well as this month’s Outreach Partner: Thai Tai Church
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!
Announcements from our Minister
In-person services are being prepared for when Bangkok Christian College reopens…….We are hoping that Sunday morning in-person worship services can resume within a few weeks.Please keep a lookout on email, ICB website, Facebook or Line (morning service group) for further announcements about when in-person will start. For now, we will continue on Zoom, only.
We plan also to try to continue live streaming on Zoom even when we can meet in-person again.
Please pray and bear with us as we go forward in what is continued uncertainty.
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 forour Church, Bangkok, the World and for ourselves. You will feel better for it – and so will God!
ICB Church Council
will meet next Sunday (21 November). If you have any matters you would like the Council to discuss concerning any aspect of our Church, you are welcome to contact Council Chair, Margaret McMillion and/or our Minister, Pastor Chee.
This will probably be the last meeting of the present Council. At the ICB Annual General Meeting (AGM) in January, ICB members present will elect a new Council including the Chairs of all ICB’s standing committees. Nominations for those positions will be sought soon. Please consider prayerfully if you would be interested to take on such a responsibility during 2022. More details will follow in subsequent weeks.
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.
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 name of O/R partner)” office@icbangkok.org
ICB’s Outreach Partner
for November 2021
Thai Tai Church in Bangkok and
Maha Sarakham (in NE Thailand)
A church serving all regardless of background
The Story behind the Thai Tai Church
After 4 years of Christian mission work in low-income neighborhoods of central Bangkok’s Huai Khwang District (เขตห้วยขวาง), Pastor Revd. Ruth and Director Revd. Inchai Srisuwan soon discovered the spiritual needs of the community had “no soil to grow in”. Churches in the area did not welcome slum dwellers.
As the children and young people had no church to call “home”, they founded the Thai Faith and Music Foundation in 1998, setting up the Thai Tai Church the following year to provide open worship space for all regardless of background. The words Thai (ไทย) & Tai (ไท) mean freedom and independence – “free from slavery or sin”.
Church Planting in Isaan (NE region)
In 2015, Revd. Ruth and Revd. Inchai moved to become full time ministers in Huai Ang in Maha Sarakham Province, where their their son, Pastor Atiraat, had before introduced music and sport activities to reach local villagers. This small church sanctuary, built using Korean missionary funds, was dedicated in March of the same year.
Bangkok Ministry Continues to Expand
Pastor Atiraat and his family moved back to continue his parents’ Thai Tai Church ministry in Bangkok at a new location in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 190. This low-income community houses 2000 families, giving ample opportunity to mingle with locals and spread the Good News.
“What an opportunity to attract passers-by!”
Bible study classes for children are conducted on the sidewalk where street vendors sell their wares. This way, more people are interested to hear the Good News.
ICB’s funding contributes to school scholarships for the youth both in the Capital and Isaan. The students are always very grateful for the continuing partnership with ICB.
Revd. Dr Ruth Srisuwan asks us to pray:
For God to take away Covid 19 from us so we can gather together again in worship. Also, that we will soon be able to resume teaching the children.
For all our Thai Tai Church family: Ruth, Inchai and Pastor Atiraat, his family and our church members who also contracted Covid 19 of whom 9 are still in recuperation. Although we still worship on line, may God strengthen us soon to meet in person.
For ICB Church, may God’s blessing be on all ICB church members to remain far from Covid 19.
Revd. Dr Ruth Srisuwan will join us on Sunday, 28th November, to tell us more about the work of the Thai Tai Church.
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.
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
