As the sky lightened in the East, and the rising sun reflected its first golden rays on the tall cross on the church bell tower, I finished washing and walked into the church. The believers had not yet come, and the church looked so empty and quiet.
A few sparrows landed on the window sill, peeked through the glass, and looked curiously into the church. I came to the altar in front of the church, knelt down, prayed for the morning prayer meeting and the pastoral work of the day, and asked God for guidance. Just after half past six, believers begin coming to the church in twos and threes. Some of them hum hymns quietly, and some silently pray, approaching God in their own way. I put on the liturgical white robe and the green belt according to our church’s tradition. Everything is ready.
The morning prayer meeting started at 06:45. I walked slowly up to the altar as the music played and stretched out my hands: "May the Lord ’s grace and peace be with all you brothers and sisters." "Amen," the believers responded. Then, the singing, the prayer, Bible reading, and the preaching all took place as planned.
Finally, the morning prayer ends with the blessings of "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessing of our Heavenly Father, and the touch of the Holy Spirit be with you always." The believers stepped out of the church in twos and threes, but some believers did not leave immediately. They gathered in small groups in a corner of the church, praying for each other and sharing with each other. I stood at the gate of the church with a smile, watching the brothers and sisters leave.
These things are a part of my daily life. I am a pastor of a church with more than 500 people. The church was built more than 100 years ago and was affiliated with the Anglican Church. At that time, the missionaries came to this small town that is surrounded by mountains on the outskirts of Yanjing and sowed the seed of the gospel in this land.
After graduating from seminary, I was sent here by the provincial CC&TSPM and took charge of the pastoral work. In the past 15 years, I have witnessed the prosperity and development of the church, experienced the separation and death of believers, answered questions that made people laugh and cry, and also gave directions to the lost sheep.
During these 15 years I have settled down, gotten married and had children. In 15 years, I changed from a 20-year-old young theological student to a middle-aged uncle. I have experienced 15 years of pastoring in the wilderness. I don’t know even what it’s like, perhaps only God knows it best …
- Translated by Abigail Wu
牧者日记——礼拜的清晨
当东方泛起鱼肚白，初升的太阳将它的第一缕金光映射在教堂钟楼上高高耸立的十字架上时，我已洗漱完毕，走进了教堂的大门。信徒们还没有来到，教堂里显得那样空旷宁静。
几只小麻雀飞落在窗台上，透过玻璃探头探脑，好奇地向教堂内观望。我来到圣台前，跪下，为今天的早祷会，为这一天的教牧工作献上祈祷，祈求上帝引领。六点半刚到，信徒们就三三两两地来到教堂，他们有的轻声哼唱着赞美诗，有的默默祈祷，用各自不同的方式亲近上帝。我换上洁白的圣袍，按照教会的礼仪要求，佩戴绿色的圣带，一切准备就绪。
06:45，早祷会正式开始，我在悠扬的琴声中缓步走上圣台，伸开双手：“愿主的恩惠平安，常与众弟兄姊妹同在。”圣台下的信徒以：“阿们”回应。接着，唱诗、祷告、读经、讲道分享，一切都有条不紊地进行着。
最后，早祷会在“愿我主耶稣基督的恩惠，天父上帝的慈爱，圣灵保惠师的感动常与你们同在。”的祝福声中结束。信徒们三三两两地步出教堂，还有的信徒没有马上离去。他们三五成群地聚在教堂的某一个角落里，彼此代祷，用心沟通。而我则站在教堂的大门口，微笑着目送弟兄姊妹们离去。
这样的场景每天都会在我的生活中出现。是的，我是一位牧师，牧养着一个500多人的教会，我们的教堂建于100多年前，曾隶属于英国圣公会。当年，传教士们不远万里来到这个燕京近郊的三面环山的小镇，将福音的种子撒播在这块土地上。
神学院毕业后，由省两会安排，我来到这里承担牧养工作，至今已经有15年了。15年中，我见证了教堂的繁荣发展，经历了信徒的生离死别，回答过令人哭笑不得的问题，也指点过迷途的羔羊。
15年的时间，我在这里安家落户，娶妻生子。15年的时间，我从一个20多岁的年轻神学生变成了一个年近不惑的中年大叔。15年岁月流逝，15年旷野牧羊，个中滋味连我自己都未必说得清，或许只有上帝最清楚吧……
As the sky lightened in the East, and the rising sun reflected its first golden rays on the tall cross on the church bell tower, I finished washing and walked into the church. The believers had not yet come, and the church looked so empty and quiet.
A few sparrows landed on the window sill, peeked through the glass, and looked curiously into the church. I came to the altar in front of the church, knelt down, prayed for the morning prayer meeting and the pastoral work of the day, and asked God for guidance. Just after half past six, believers begin coming to the church in twos and threes. Some of them hum hymns quietly, and some silently pray, approaching God in their own way. I put on the liturgical white robe and the green belt according to our church’s tradition. Everything is ready.
The morning prayer meeting started at 06:45. I walked slowly up to the altar as the music played and stretched out my hands: "May the Lord ’s grace and peace be with all you brothers and sisters." "Amen," the believers responded. Then, the singing, the prayer, Bible reading, and the preaching all took place as planned.
Finally, the morning prayer ends with the blessings of "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessing of our Heavenly Father, and the touch of the Holy Spirit be with you always." The believers stepped out of the church in twos and threes, but some believers did not leave immediately. They gathered in small groups in a corner of the church, praying for each other and sharing with each other. I stood at the gate of the church with a smile, watching the brothers and sisters leave.
These things are a part of my daily life. I am a pastor of a church with more than 500 people. The church was built more than 100 years ago and was affiliated with the Anglican Church. At that time, the missionaries came to this small town that is surrounded by mountains on the outskirts of Yanjing and sowed the seed of the gospel in this land.
After graduating from seminary, I was sent here by the provincial CC&TSPM and took charge of the pastoral work. In the past 15 years, I have witnessed the prosperity and development of the church, experienced the separation and death of believers, answered questions that made people laugh and cry, and also gave directions to the lost sheep.
During these 15 years I have settled down, gotten married and had children. In 15 years, I changed from a 20-year-old young theological student to a middle-aged uncle. I have experienced 15 years of pastoring in the wilderness. I don’t know even what it’s like, perhaps only God knows it best …
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Pastor's Diary: Worship In The Early Morning
