We will join together

in-Person

 this Advent 4 Sunday

18th December 2022

at 10.00 am

Student Christian Centre

Zoom relay is only available for those whose long-term health prevents travel or those who are not in greater Bangkok.
Please contact Pastor Chee for login details minister@icbangkok.org

Sunday, 18 December 2022

Advent Reflection

Scripture Readings for this week:
Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16*
Psalms: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19*
Epistle: Romans 1:1-7*
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25*
(*click for online Bible)
Pastor Chee introduces this week’s theme:

It is customary in many churches during this season, for young people to be recruited to act out the nativity play. There will be auditions for the different roles – the animals, the shepherds, the wise men, and of course Joseph and Mary. And it will be great too if someone is young enough to play baby Jesus. Hopefully, the pastor does not find herself or himself in the unenviable task of having to choose who will play Joseph and Mary.

If it is in a large congregation, there will not be enough roles for all, and many end up being “bystanders”. Have we all had the experience of playing “bystanders?” We all like to be in control naturally. We want to steer the course of our own lives. Unfortunately, life is never so neatly packaged for us.

In the Gospel story, we find Joseph in much the role of a “bystander.” He does not get to choose. He is merely a “responder” to a message given in a dream. In Luke’s Gospel, Joseph does not even feature much.

Mary on the other hand is given more of a starry role. Instead of a dream, she gets a visitation from an angel. She gets a more “speaking” role in the play. She gets to narrate the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Wow!

Would you like to play “Mary” in a nativity play? Why? What do we learn from Mary’s role?

It is the fourth Sunday of Advent, this Sunday. Come and join us in worship and learn from Mary, the Christ-bearer (Christo-tokos).

Blessings for Advent

Below are the highlights –
November 27 (Advent 1) – Service marking the beginning of a new year

December 4 (Advent 2) – Service of Advent Carols with guest choir & Lessons with Communion.

December 11 (Advent 3 – Blue Christmas) – Service especially for those who have suffered loss and are aggrieved.

December 18 (Advent 4) – Service highlighting Mary’s role in bringing about the coming of the Saviour. THIS SUNDAY!

NEXT WEEK:
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS (Sun)DAY WITH US AT ICB – even if this is your first time, you are most welcome!!
December 25 (Christmas Day) – Jesus came for you! We celebrate with Holy Communion followed by a pot-bless feast (not snacks but a feast). Do bring a dish or sweet to share, if you like, but we want you to join us even if you cannot do so!
(Note: Because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, there will be no Christmas Eve Service this year. Please join us on Christmas Day morning, instead.)

Come, one and all.

Blessings,

Chee
Sunday School is now meeting again for young children during part of the worship time (see below)

ICB Choir: If you enjoy singing, please join in by arriving about 45 minutes before the service for practice. All are welcome, even if you have little experience. We welcome new singers to take part!

Notes about in-person and online worship:

Now the worst of the pandemic is over, Sunday Morning Worship is now for inperson attendance only at Student Christian Center (SCC). We join together in person again, rebuilding our community. Please make every effort to join us during this Advent season
Zoom relay is not now available for all, though there are a few exceptions.

Exceptions: For a limited period, Zoom will continue to be made available but only to those who are
a) unwell or with disabilities preventing their travel to SCC
b) living or travelling in the provinces or abroad.

These people, a) and b), who wish to worship via Zoom are asked to contact Pastor Chee via email  before the service.
They will receive an email reply with a special meeting code and password.
Contact: minister@icbangkok.org

For more news, please keep an eye on the
ICB Sunday School Facebook Page
HERE
https://www.facebook.com/ICB-Christian-Education-106748784983710
(copy this URL into your browser)

• Head (or member) of a committee: Worship, Outreach, Education (incl. Sunday school, study groups), Membership, Fellowship, Property & personnel, Finance.
• the Council Chair or Vice-Chair,  or
• one of the at-large positions (council adviser and minute secretary).
  The Council meets 4 to 6 times per year, and is open to all ICB members and regular attendees.

Are you interested in serving our church this way?
Christian leadership

• can be a fun opportunity for spiritual growth
• is an excellent way to get to know other church members better
• enables more involvement in the life and direction of ICB.

No prior leadership experience is necessary, and as always, we would like next year’s council to reflect the diversity of nationalities and worship backgrounds at ICB. All Christians are welcome.
Details about specific church positions are at this link. You can also ask for more information from the contacts shown below.
Please don’t be shy about serving our community in this way in 2023.
If you are interested to serve – or have an idea of someone else whom you think would fill one of the roles well – then please contact either
Pastor Chee (minister@icbangkok.org) or
Cameron Macky (current Council Chair) (cameronmacky91@gmail.com),
preferably by 15 January 2023.
We look forward to hearing from you soon
Thank you!

At our new Location
SCC Creative Space Coffee Shop
Student Christian Center
328/1 Phyathai Road

A very short walking distance from BTS Ratchatewi.
Click here for Google maps reference or follow the map near the top of this newsletter.

Please remember the COVID Code:
As still recommended by the health authorities, all are advised to follow social distancing to keep others safe. We have members who have been infected lately and we do not wish others to be also infected. If you are not feeling well, please stay at home. For safety precautions, the ICB Council has advised against any form of fellowship events for the time being. Bottled water is available.

If you plan to come in your own car:
It is best to enter Phayathai Road from the Patumwan intersection (at Discovery Center/MBK) and drive across Hua Chang (elephant head) Bridge, taking the left-most lane. Then, immediately over the bridge, turn left into the SCC/CCT compound just before Evergreen Place and Asia Hotel.
There are limited parking spaces (free) just inside the compound but if full, you can park in the CCT Tower Building at the back of this same compound (there maybe a small charge p/hr)

We, at ICB, support displaced individuals and families in Bangkok with regular financial support through Life Raft International.

We also offer congregational, emotional and spiritual assistance.
Who qualifies?
Those who have been granted (or are applying for) recognition as refugees by UNHCR.
Why do we need to help these people?
Ongoing support is needed to help them bridge the gap while they seek and wait for resettlement in another country, which most often takes many years.
UNHCR recognition very rarely means they can live and work freely in their country of asylum.

Owing to several people leaving ICB and Thailand over the past months,
the ICB Church Council is seeking people to fill the following positions as soon as possible:

• Outreach – continuing contact with and support for our 8 social service partners
• Worship – overseeing Church services
• Fellowship – organising ICB community activities
• Membership – welcoming new people to our church and maintaining contact with all members.
• Personnel and Property – overseeing needs of our employees and facilities

None of these positions requires specialist skills nor a large amount of time.
All you need is the motivation to help us to develop our ICB community and outreach partners with Jesus as our guide.

To find out more, please contact
Cameron (Council Chair)              or Pastor Chee
cameronmacky91@gmail.com            minister@icbangkok.org

www.icbangkok.org/outreach/

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