Congregation of the Good Shepherd...

I attended church for the first time this Sunday at the Congregation of the Good Shepherd. Following is a review of the experience in the style of The Mystery Worshipper from the U.K. website http://www.ship-of-fools.com/

The church: Congregation of the Good Shepherd, Beijing, China

Denomination: Non-denominational. (There are no denominations in China.)

The building: The church is located in the Capital Athletic Club, the clubhouse of a very large apartment complex in the Beijing Chaoyang District.

The church: The congregation is an organization of ex-patriate Christians (Christians living outside their country of citizenship) from around the world. The worship is liturigical and encompasses a multitude of Christian traditions.

The neighbourhood: The Chaoyang district is near the Central Business District and is home to much commerce and trade as well as many foreign embassies.

The cast: Pastor Dan Sandifer-Stech as well as several lay leaders.

The date & time: Sunday, 2 June, 2008 10.00 am

Name of Service: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Size of Congregation: Aproximately 60 or so, Pastor Dan informed me that the congregation was quite smaller during the summer as many ex-pats return home for vacation.

Did anyone welcome you? Pastor Dan handed me a bulletin, hymnbook and bible at the door and then spoke to me briefly later.

Describe the Sanctuary: Typical hotel ball room with padded green chairs. A temporary pulpit and altar was set up on a small stage at the front.

Pre-Service Atmosphere: Quite chatty bunch, piano prelude played in the background.

Opening Words of the Service: Good morning, let's have some announcements!

Books Used: New Revised Standard Bible, United Methodist Hymnal, Service Leaflet With Liturgy and Readings Printed

Musical Instruments: Piano

Distractions: Quite a few restless children as children's church is on summer hiatus.

Worship Style: Traditional, Mainline Protestant, not unlike most Methodist orPresbyterian churches in the U.S.

Sermon Length: 15 minutes

On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? 7, Short, academic, unremarkable, but informative.

Sermon Topic: Conflict between Sarah and Hagar in the book of Genesis. God heard Hagar's cry for help and sent an angel. God is waiting to hear our cry if we will just call to him.

What part was like being in heaven? The welcoming atmosphere of the congregation during the peace and the prayer request time. This congregation is really focused on praying for each other and the world at large.

Anything you didn't like? Not really, it was a little hot in there though.

Did anyone speak to you after the service? I didn't have time to find out as I had to catch a cab to work on the other side of Beijing. People were very friendly during the passing of the peace (meet and greet time for my Baptist friends) so I can only assume that would have continued.

After Service Coffee? There was some, but I had to get to work so did not stay.

Would you make this your church home? Possibly. There aren't many options here for foreigners so after I try a couple more, maybe.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian? Yes

What is one thing you will remember most? The heartfelt prayer time.