We had a very good service at church this morning with several Chinese Christians from the Mandarin-speaking fellowship that meets in our church “Family Centre” being baptised and so our ranks were swelled with many people from that church. With the introduction, baptism and sermon all being translated into Mandarin after each phrase, the service was quite long but it was worth it. We didn’t translate the worship (which I was helping lead) but we did do one song with the Chinese singing it first, followed by the English version. After the service was over, our Chinese friends shared a large buffet with us.

They are back with others in a couple of weeks for a candlelight confirmation service led by the Bishop of Oxford. I don’t always go down for the evening service but that date is fixed in my diary.