Sunday Service in Sozhou

Dear all:
Sunday in Suzhou, China was a flurry of activity. Getting four grandchildren ready for church was a task in itself. Add to that the grandparents and a car not quite big enough for us all and what started out as an outing transitioned into more of an event!
None the less we arrived in one piece and on time at a huge downtown skyscraper and passing through the revolving door and past the security guard we headed up to the third floor to a large auditorium where the Suzhou International Fellowship (SIF)holds its services. As we entered the international congregation was assembling. A small musical group consisting of a cello, keyboard, and three guitars stood in ready to the side of a large drop down movie screen with rotating messages. The one that let you know you were definitely in China was the one stating that in accordance with the law, this service was only for passport bearing non Chinese. At the bottom right hand corner of the screen was the biblical passage “Be still and know that I am God.”

The service opened with the congregation standing to sing a series of four hymns. There were no hymnals and one joined in by following the words printed in giant letters on the screen. I didn’t know most of the songs so had to try to figure out the melody as we sang along. The service was a special one with a special offering in recognition of the retirement next Sunday of its founding pastor, Phil Kellerman, who at eighty was heading back to the USA. The fellowship is ecumenical and embraces most, if not all Christian traditions. Neighbors of our daughter from Brazil who we guessed were Catholic attend regularly.
Being Palm Sunday the scripture and sermon reviewed Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem and the promise and the sacrifice of the week that followed. Pastor Phil was a commanding figure with a rich voice, well toned delivery and obvious deep spiritual center.

Climaxing the service was the entrance of the children from the Sunday school waving palm branches. They convened on the stage in front of the giant screen and recited Romans 8:38. "I am convinced that nothing can stop me from the love of God, not death or life, neither angels nor demons, nothing can separate us from the love of God."
They then sang a lovely song and the pastor came forward for a prayer and benediction.

I was amazed by the number of children, swarms of them mostly from other Asian countries with a third or so from the west.

During the service an announcement about an all church retreat the weekend after Easter was made. It would take place at a large local hotel to welcome and get to know the new pastor.

Today, Monday we are going to try to get in touch with Pastor Mary for a visit to her church in Jiangyin. It’s a public holiday today so schools are closed. We will probably stay close to home to avoid the crowds.
We’ll keep you informed.