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International Church of Bangkok

Advancing the Work of Jesus!

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

Don’t miss it!!    10 am at ICB (at SCC)

also Communion Celebration

Sunday, 4th December

In Person Worship
MORNING WORSHIP – 10am
Our Service is at
Student Christian Centre

328 Phayathai Road.   

(NOTE: Our venue location!)
100m from BTS Ratchathewi Exit 1 (one stop from Siam Station)

Google Maps ref: Click here

13°45’01.7″N 100°31’50.7″E

(SCC Creative Space Coffee Shop)
Please note: The above reference is correct. The Student Christian Center is incorrectly positioned on Google Maps.

 

The map here will help you find our
In-person
  morning  worship service held at this location:      Scroll down for more details

We will join together

in-Person

 this Advent 2 Sunday

 

4th December 2022

at 10.00 am

Student Christian Centre

This Sunday: Special Choir music for Christmas and Holy Communion.

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

Advent 2

Sunday, 4 December 2022

Advent Reflection

by our minister,
Revd. Chee Keong Yong
This week’s theme: “Do not despise small packages”

Scripture Readings for this week:
Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10*
Psalms: Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19*
Epistle: Romans 15:4-13*

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12*
(*click for online Bible)
Pastor Chee introduces this week’s theme:

 

This coming Sunday, I will take a rest and not preach as we are having a service of Advent Lessons & Carols with Communion. So I will take the opportunity of reflecting on this passage from Isaiah 11:1-10 .

It is a natural human response to go after things that are big, generally speaking. We see this played out in life. I was reading a short article in the news this morning that Malaysia is building a tower much taller than the current Petronas Twin Towers. It will be the third tallest in the world (tinyurl.com/5f6uszpk ).

There is a tendency to go for the best, greatest, tallest, etc. Supersizing seems to be a response that most will identify with. Come Christmas Day, children will go for the biggest parcel to be opened first.
However, when it comes to God’s way, there is a reversal.

Humble beginnings: Isaiah reminds us that God’s way is the opposite of how the world perceives greatness. Who would have thought that anything great will come out of Judah? Compared to the surrounding nations and Assyria in particular, Judah was tiny. Christians worship a big God with a big mission that will one day reach this whole big world. Yet for all of his bigness, our God has a remarkable love for the small. He sets his eye upon small people in small places during small moments (Psalm 33:18Matthew 6:4). The Son of God, who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” even became small to save us (Philippians 2:6–8). Salvation will rest with a plain Palestinian girl.

“Greatness” in smallness: Are you ashamed of being “small” compared to others? Learn from the Saviour. We cannot afford not to follow His path that will lead to oneness with God. The world may laud “bigness” and “greatness”. Be faithful in small things. Virtually everything Jesus ever did came in a small package. He touched the marginalized to manifest his power—a boy with fishes and loaves, a bleeding woman, and a diminutive tax collector. He said, “Blessed are the meek.” His followers were ordinary people, yet they changed the world. After all, he taught that his Kingdom would begin as a tiny mustard seed and would become a great tree. His death was the most ignominious possible, but through it, he accomplished the redemption of the human race.

Value in smallness: The best presents at Christmas are not found in big boxes. Many ladies can identify with this. If one desires value, look for the small boxes. Amidst, all the presents, look for the one, who comes in a small trough – the little tiny baby Jesus. Do not miss Christmas, this Christmas.

Come and join us this Sunday at our Advent Lessons and Carols service.

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. THIS SUNDAY!

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.

December 25 (Christmas Day) – Jesus came for you! We celebrate with Holy Communion followed by a pot-bless feast (not snacks but a feast).
(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.

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

Sunday School has resumed
in-person on Sundays at SCC
(morning service).

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)

Handel’s Messiah
Christmas Concert 2022

The Combined Churches’ annual concert has only one performance this year on Sunday, 18th December at Thailand Cultural Centre (near MRT of same name).
Abridged version of ‘Messiah’  and a Thai ‘Christmas Special’  chorus
Tickets are free of charge but you should register online for seats now before they are all gone.
Scan QR code (left)  or CLICK HERE
Covid Care and How to Get to
ICB Morning Services
(NOTES for in-person congregation)

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)

ICB Evening Service at
Bangkok Christian Guesthouse (BCGH)
has been suspended until further notice.
 

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.

Read more about ICB’s partnership with Life Raft: click here
See more about the problem, and how
YOU can be part of the solution with Life Raft International: click-here
Donate to ICB Ministry to Displaced Persons:
KBank: 003-1-09408-9 mark MDP and email transfer slip to: office@icbangkok.org
Thank You!!
ICB URGENTLY needs people like YOU!

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

ICB – Caring for Displaced People through partnership Life Raft International 

An updated document relating to the above has now been uploaded to the Policies section of our website. The ICB Council has been working with Life Raft International for many years in seeking to relocate people to various countries for resettlement. The uploaded document gives clear parameters of our relationship with Life Raft International.

*Link: Church Policies

Fellowship is essential for the wellbeing of any true community – but it’s not so easy when we cannot all meet personally face-to-face, and have no social events.
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.
Contact Pastor Chee: minister@icbangkok.org
For more information, please contact Pastor Chee (minister@icbangkok.org)
The ICB Outreach Committee welcomes new members to join our hardworking team to help ICB share the love of Jesus with Bangkok.
ICB 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 through the Church account.

In the first half of this year, a total of 78,000THB has been given to eight of our mission partners. Reports from three of them have been uploaded to our FB page – https://www.facebook.com/ICB-Outreach-Ministries-105101068484139. These are from Cornerstone Chapel Hatyai, Rahab Ministries Bangkok, and Concordia Welfare & Education Foundation Bangkok.

Find out more about our outreach partners

www.icbangkok.org/outreach/

This concert will also be held on Wednesday 14th December at 6.00pm at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Soi 50 Sukhumvit Rd.(Soi Roemcharoen) Prakhanong.
Tickets: www.ticketmelon.com/bms/christmaswish
ICB is a fully self-supported congregation.
We gladly receive your donations.
KBank a/c 003-1-09408-9
More information on the ICB WebsiteThank you!
You can email the ICB office for a covenant form
office@icbangkok.org
Our minister, Pastor Chee, and members of the Church Council can be contacted as and when needed:
Email: 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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Office Phone Number (Mon-Thur) +66 (0)2-258-5821
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