We will join together

in-Person

 this CHRISTMAS Sunday

25th 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

Scripture Readings for this week:
Old Testament: Isaiah 62:6-12*
Psalms: Psalm 97*
Epistle: Titus 3:4-7*
Gospel: Luke 2:8-20*
(*click for online Bible)
Pastor Chee introduces this week’s theme:

There is an air of excitement around this time of the year. Whether you observe Christmas or not, there is a sense of anticipation. It may be that we heading for the end of an old year but whatever it is, there is something “magical”. Children have been brought up with the sense that Christmas ushers in a festive mood. Something’s up in the air, so to say. How’s the season shaping your life so far?

After the past two years of lockdown throughout the world, hardly anyone is going to let the pandemic bother them too much despite rising cases of Covid-19 spreading. All sense of precaution seems to have vanished in certain countries.

The Gospel reading brings us back to life on earth. For a group of shepherds out in the fields at night, all seems ordinarily dreadful on a cold winter. So when the sky is lit up one evening with sounds and lights, it would have caused a bit of a shock to the system.

It was a heavenly announcement of the birth of Christ (The Messiah). The dream that had eluded the entire nation is about to be fulfilled. I don’t know about you but I do like spontaneity, like a flash mob. Here are angels doing a flash mob. Wow!

Have you ever witnessed a flash mob where singers and musicians come together without any prearrangements and start to perform? This is no ordinary flash mob, though.

It is like a birthday party surprise but on a much grander scale. This angelic flash mob is for all people – no matter who and where you are. Allow the Christ child to be born in you, this Christmas.

Join us on Christmas Day to celebrate Christ and enjoy a “pot-bless” lunch after the service. All are invited. Please bring a dish to share, but join us anyway even if you cannot.

Blessings for Christmas and the New Year.

Blessings for Advent

Below have been 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.

and NOW,
The Coming of CHRIST!

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 this year, there will be no Christmas Eve Service. Please join us on Christmas Day morning, instead. THIS SUNDAY!

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!

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 & stewardship.
• the Council Chair or Vice-Chair,  or
• one of the at-large positions (council adviser; 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!

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.

• 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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