This week is Chinese National Day, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It means a week off work, yay!
Today I headed over to the Dawanglu area and met up with Barbara Birmingham, an older lady from Congregation of the Good Shepherd(COGS). The Birmingham's are from England. Barbara's husband Bill works with the European government in Beijing. Barbara had recruited me to work with one of COGS service projects, teaching English to blind people at Golden Key. Golden Key raises money to build schools and provide education to blind children in rural and impoverished parts of China. COGS assists with financial support and also by supporting Golden Key's local work, a blind massage center.
The afternoon consisted of Barbara and myself having conversations with the masseurs that work at the center. Their aim is to improve their English so they can better provide massage services to the foreign population. There aren't many job options for blind people in China, mostly due to lack of laws protecting disabilities to the extent they are protected in the west. Working in massage parlors is one of the ways blind people do find employment. Some of these people could see, but barely, and some could not see at all. Any profits made at this center go to support the education efforts of Golden Key.
I stayed around after the lesson for a massage, how could I pass up donating money to such a good cause? (Suffering for the Lord!) It was a very thorough massage, what in the U.S. would probably be called a deep tissue massage. The lady massaged muscles I didn't know I had! Let me clear up a few misconceptions for you. It probably doesn't fit the picture you have in your mind. Chinese massage is done fully clothed and is actually a medical procedure. They have various massage treatments for various illnesses. I had the basic "full body" massage that focuses on the back, neck, and leg muscles. It gets quite painful as they massage very deep and very hard, but afterwards you feel more relaxed than you ever have.
Afterwards I rode a cab over to my favorite American restaurant: Peter's Tex Mex, for a chicken fried steak dinner and grocery shopping at Jenny Lou's.
Expect multiple updates this week since I am off work and will have more time for exploring the city.
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A View From My Apartment...
Today was one of Beijing's unusually clear days. I opened the windows to let some fresh air in and snapped these pictures of the mountains in the distance. Click on the pictures to enlarge for a better view.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Congregation of the Good Shepherd Welcome Luncheon...
Today was the fall welcome luncheon at Congregation of the Good Shepherd (COGS), the expat (a person living outside his country of citizenship) church that I have been regularly attending. COGS was founded 15 years ago by a group of expats who desired to have a traditional church in Beijing. It meets with the government's approval provided only foreign passport holders are admitted. Worship here is liturgical following the seasons of the church year: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.
Above: Member of COGS enjoy the lunch.
Above: Member of COGS enjoy the lunch.
Each fall a welcome luncheon is held to welcome newcomers and welcome back expats who have been away for the summer.
Here are a few highlights:
A college student was visiting today from Hunt, TX. Again it is a small world, I worked in Hunt, TX during the summer of 2000 at Camp Stewart, a summer camp in the Texas Hill Country.
During the lunch I was seated at the same table as the choir director. He asked me if he detected a southern accent in my voice and I told him where I was from. He then said he was from Alabama! Three years ago when he made the move to China to become music teacher at an international school, he happened to be on the same plane as Pastor Dan when Dan was first coming over to be the pastor. Coincidence or something else?
The congregation is presided over by Pastor Dan Sandifer-Stech, an ordained Presbyterian minister from Louisiana and an elected church board:
Above: Pastor Dan covers the church's history during the welcome luncheon.
Above: Board chair Jim Gradoville goes over plans for the year. I didn't know David Rickman had a twin brother living in Beijing!
In case you are curious, here is what the order of worship looks like for a typical COGS service:
Announcements
Choral Introit
Call To Worship (Responsive Reading)
Hymn
Welcome to Visitors and Farewells
Passing The Peace
Prayer
Scripture Readings
Choir Anthem
Sermon
Prayer
Hymn
Pastoral Prayer/Prayers of the People
Offering
Confession of Sin
Communion
Hymn
Dismissal and Blessing
Choral Benediction
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pictures from the Beijing Zoo...
I bet these two are glad that the Chinese don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Also, that the main food Beijing is known for is Roast Duck and not Roast Turkey. Remember A Christmas Story?
My favorite bird- the penguin was kind enough to pose for me. This one was really curious. While the others just seemed to ignore the tourists this one stayed right up by the window interacting with them
Pandas Enjoy Lunch- Notice the one laid on his back eating upside down.
After a long afternoon walking the zoo, I think I will go home and do the same as this Panda.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Haidian Christian Church...
Today I visited a native Chinese church. While there are many myths, misconceptions, and outright lies floating around the Western church about the Chinese church, I am not here to try to argue or disprove them. I will just say that my experience at this church was nothing like what I had been told growing up as a Southern Baptist that the Chinese church would be like.
Again, a church visit in the style of the Mystery Worshipper from
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/
The church: Haidian Christian Church, Beijing, China
Denomination: Non-Denominational, (There are no denominations in China. Haidian Christian Church is a member church of the China Christian Council, the governing body of the Protestant churches in China.)
The building: The church is in a new, sleek modern building nestled amongst the skyscrapers of Zhonguancuan. Its original building being deemed unsafe as well as too small to hold the crowds of worshippers, this new building was built.
Notice the cross in the entryway.
The church: The congregation is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic churches in Beijing. Six Sunday services are held: 5 in Chinese and 1 in English. At their annual baptism services it is common to have more than 100 new converts baptized. How many churches anywhere in the world can claim that? The church has a small book/gift shop selling Bibles in Chinese, Christian books translated to Chinese and Christian artwork and knick knacks.
The neighbourhood: The Zhong Juan Cun area of Haidian district is known as Beijing's Silicon Valley. It is where to go if you work in technology or are looking to buy a computer. It is also the area of the city where I work.
The cast: The service was led by a young lady whose name I did not catch. There was a small choir and music leader. The preacher was Pastor Wu, senior pastor of the church.
The date & time: Sunday, 14, September, 2008 11.00 am
Name of the service: English Fellowship- This is not a foreigners service. The majority of the congregation was Chinese college students who are learning and regularly speak English.
Size of Congregation: I would guess about 1000 in this service. It was standing room only. Also, one of the Chinese services was going on in the main sanctuary upstairs. From what I have been told, all services are standing room only here.
Did anyone welcome you? A greeter at the door pointed me in the direction of the English service and a very friendly family of Indonesians from Arizona noticed me as an American and we had a short conversation in the entryway. Inside the worship room, a college student approached me and asked me to fill out a survey getting foreigner's opinions on tourism in Beijing.
Describe the Sanctuary: This sanctuary was actually the overflow room that is used during the Chinese services. It was primarily filled with green plastic chairs. Bleachers surrounded the main floor area and there were some pews in a small balcony area in the back. Every seat was taken despite the pastor stating that attendance was down due to the Mid-Autumn holiday.
Pre-Service Atmosphere: People were talking, praying, reading the scriptures, and the worship choir was rehearsing. Yep, its Sunday in Beijing!
Opening Words of the Service: Good morning brother and sister.
Books Used: None used. Words and scriptures were projected onto a screen.
Musical Instruments: Acoustic Guitar
Worship Style: Why don't I show you? Watch the following video:
Sermon Length: 20 minutes
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? 8, Excellent, simple sermon challenging the church to be the church, even including a relevant T. S. Elliot poem, not something I expected in a Chinese pastor's sermon!
Sermon Topic: Jesus healing the man at Bethesda from Matthew. The pastor drew the analogy of visiting and praying with athletes in the Paralympic villiage and told several stories of people he had ministered to over the years in Beijing who were spiritually paralyzed. Jesus is the answer to our physical and spiritual needs. The church should be a Bethesda pool of spiritual healing always. Those in need physically and spiritually should find those needs met by the Church of Jesus Christ.
What part was like being in heaven? Experiencing the joy of Chinese Christians able to worship freely and openly.
Anything you didn't like? The microphone had a short in it and let out several ear splitting crackles. Pastor Wu commented that the mic needed some pastoral care and would be thrown away soon!
Did anyone speak to you after the service? No, everyone made a mad dash for the door.
After Service Coffee? None that I saw, however this being the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon Festival, Chinese moon cakes were passed out to all worshippers. THESE ARE NOTHING LIKE MOON PIES IN THE U.S.!
Would you make this your church home? Absolutely, it is close to my apartment and very dynamic. However, my work schedule doesn't permit me to attend here normally.
Did this service make you glad to be a Christian? Yes, the Chinese church is one of the fastest growing in the world. I am glad to have experienced it.
What is one thing you will remember most? At the end of the service visitors were asked to stand. After being applauded, the choir and congregation stood to sing a welcome song during which the people tried to clap to the beat. They were all off and I couldn't help but think, "Man, Chinese people are so white!", but seriously the sincerity of worship and the boldness of the message was a rare thing to witness; I think those things are what I will remember most.
Again, a church visit in the style of the Mystery Worshipper from
http://www.ship-of-fools.com/
The church: Haidian Christian Church, Beijing, China
Denomination: Non-Denominational, (There are no denominations in China. Haidian Christian Church is a member church of the China Christian Council, the governing body of the Protestant churches in China.)
The building: The church is in a new, sleek modern building nestled amongst the skyscrapers of Zhonguancuan. Its original building being deemed unsafe as well as too small to hold the crowds of worshippers, this new building was built.
Notice the cross in the entryway.
The church: The congregation is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic churches in Beijing. Six Sunday services are held: 5 in Chinese and 1 in English. At their annual baptism services it is common to have more than 100 new converts baptized. How many churches anywhere in the world can claim that? The church has a small book/gift shop selling Bibles in Chinese, Christian books translated to Chinese and Christian artwork and knick knacks.
The neighbourhood: The Zhong Juan Cun area of Haidian district is known as Beijing's Silicon Valley. It is where to go if you work in technology or are looking to buy a computer. It is also the area of the city where I work.
The cast: The service was led by a young lady whose name I did not catch. There was a small choir and music leader. The preacher was Pastor Wu, senior pastor of the church.
The date & time: Sunday, 14, September, 2008 11.00 am
Name of the service: English Fellowship- This is not a foreigners service. The majority of the congregation was Chinese college students who are learning and regularly speak English.
Size of Congregation: I would guess about 1000 in this service. It was standing room only. Also, one of the Chinese services was going on in the main sanctuary upstairs. From what I have been told, all services are standing room only here.
Did anyone welcome you? A greeter at the door pointed me in the direction of the English service and a very friendly family of Indonesians from Arizona noticed me as an American and we had a short conversation in the entryway. Inside the worship room, a college student approached me and asked me to fill out a survey getting foreigner's opinions on tourism in Beijing.
Describe the Sanctuary: This sanctuary was actually the overflow room that is used during the Chinese services. It was primarily filled with green plastic chairs. Bleachers surrounded the main floor area and there were some pews in a small balcony area in the back. Every seat was taken despite the pastor stating that attendance was down due to the Mid-Autumn holiday.
Pre-Service Atmosphere: People were talking, praying, reading the scriptures, and the worship choir was rehearsing. Yep, its Sunday in Beijing!
Opening Words of the Service: Good morning brother and sister.
Books Used: None used. Words and scriptures were projected onto a screen.
Musical Instruments: Acoustic Guitar
Worship Style: Why don't I show you? Watch the following video:
Sermon Length: 20 minutes
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? 8, Excellent, simple sermon challenging the church to be the church, even including a relevant T. S. Elliot poem, not something I expected in a Chinese pastor's sermon!
Sermon Topic: Jesus healing the man at Bethesda from Matthew. The pastor drew the analogy of visiting and praying with athletes in the Paralympic villiage and told several stories of people he had ministered to over the years in Beijing who were spiritually paralyzed. Jesus is the answer to our physical and spiritual needs. The church should be a Bethesda pool of spiritual healing always. Those in need physically and spiritually should find those needs met by the Church of Jesus Christ.
What part was like being in heaven? Experiencing the joy of Chinese Christians able to worship freely and openly.
Anything you didn't like? The microphone had a short in it and let out several ear splitting crackles. Pastor Wu commented that the mic needed some pastoral care and would be thrown away soon!
Did anyone speak to you after the service? No, everyone made a mad dash for the door.
After Service Coffee? None that I saw, however this being the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon Festival, Chinese moon cakes were passed out to all worshippers. THESE ARE NOTHING LIKE MOON PIES IN THE U.S.!
Would you make this your church home? Absolutely, it is close to my apartment and very dynamic. However, my work schedule doesn't permit me to attend here normally.
Did this service make you glad to be a Christian? Yes, the Chinese church is one of the fastest growing in the world. I am glad to have experienced it.
What is one thing you will remember most? At the end of the service visitors were asked to stand. After being applauded, the choir and congregation stood to sing a welcome song during which the people tried to clap to the beat. They were all off and I couldn't help but think, "Man, Chinese people are so white!", but seriously the sincerity of worship and the boldness of the message was a rare thing to witness; I think those things are what I will remember most.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Royal Treatment....
Above: Myself, EF Student Crystal, EF Teacher Nadine
When I prepared to leave for China, I was told that the red carpet would be rolled out for me. In Chinese culture, teachers are considered third in a list that includes Heaven and family in spots 1 and 2. I got to experience some of this royal treatment the other night.
Crystal, the student in the middle in the above picture, just finished her year at EF. As a thank you to her teachers, she took us out to dinner on the evening of her last EF class. Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately directed to sit in a specific place. The teachers were to sit in the places of honor at the table. Crystal paid for the entire dinner which included many very good Chinese Sichuan (meaning spicy) dishes. One of them was Kung Pao Chicken, a dish I was familiar with!
I don't think all students need to do this for us, after all we are just doing our jobs, but I must admit it was nice to feel appreciated for what I do.
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