The CCC/TSPM and Shanghai CC/TSPM (Shanghai Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches and Shanghai Christian Council) jointly held a Thanksgiving Service in Mu'en church at 3:30 P.M., October 8 th , 2006 to welcome Dr. Rowan Douglas Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Company. The Director of Advisory Committee of the Protestant Churches in China , Vice-chairmen, vice-presidents, associate general secretaries as well as pastors and colleagues from CCC/TSPM and over 1000 Christians worshiped God together with guests from the Church in UK . They thanked the Lord for his blessings to churches and people in the two countries.

Rev. Cao Shengjie , President of CCC, presided the Thanksgiving Service. In the name of the Lord and on behalf of the brothers and sisters from Church in China , Rev. Cao warmly welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury and his company. The Archbishop of Canterbury, representing his company, extended his thankfulness for the invitation from Church in China and asked Christians of Church in China to pray for the Church in UK . He wished that the churches in the two countries would share with each other and serve together to glorify the Lord Jesus.

The Thanksgiving Service was started by an anthem, “Ye Watchers and ye holy ones, bight seraphs, cherubim and thrones, raise the glad strain, Alleluia! Cry out, dominions, princedoms, pow'rs, virtues, archangels, angels' choirs, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, lead their praises, Alleluia! Thou bearer of the eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Respond, ye souls in endless rest, ye patriarchs and prophets blest, Alleluia, Alleluia! Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant raise the song, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing, Alleluia, Alleluia! To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia !”

Guided by the Cross, the clergies and the Morning Service Choir of Mu-en Church proceeded into the church in succession. Rev. Hua Yaozeng, the Chairman of the Shanghai Christian Church, offered a prayer; Bishop David Andrew Urquhart read the Bible passage from chapter 11, verses 1 to 9 in the Book of Prophet Isaiah, Old Testament ; Rev. Shi Qigui from the Shanghai CC/TSPM read Chapter 1, verses 1 to 3 and verse 14 from the Gospel of John ; the congregation recited the Apostles' Creed together. … T he Morning Service Choir of Mu-en Church presented an anthem “The Incarnation” which was composed by Rev. Shi Qigui. Its words are based on chapter 1, verse 14 from The Gospel of John .

In his preaching, The Archbishop of Canterbury shared with the congregation the message of Jesus' calling disciples in chapter 1, the Gospel of John . Jesus said to his disciples: “come and see”. He expressed that, they came to china to see what happens now and here. Jesus asked us to come into a new world and he told the others also to come into a new world. The door of the church is open, come and see, let the others see a new world in us. When we are called to come and see, we are called to see the grace and truth. When we see the truth, we see the glory of God. When glory of God comes upon us, there is place in harmony. When life works in us, there's place that we see the world differently. He said, when I see my neighbor, I know that God loves him Just as God loves me. We will be no longer afraid of strangers. This is the mystery of Christianity. May glory of God be among you! May the others see God's glory in us!

Presbyter Ji Jianhong, Chairman of national TSPM, in response to the preaching of Archbishop of Canterbury, led the congregation to pray. Thereafter the congregation recited The Lord's Prayer and the Archbishop of Canterbury blessed for them. The Thanksgiving Service was filled with glory of God. May all the glory be to the triune God.

[The Archbishop of Canterbury was offering a preaching.]

[The Archbishop of Canterbury was offering a preaching.]

[Rev. Cao Shengjie , President of CCC, presided the Thanksgiving Service.]

[Presbyter Ji Jianhong, Chairman of national TSPM, in response to the preaching of Archbishop of Canterbury, led the congregation to pray.]

[Rev. Hua Yaozeng, the Chairman of the Shanghai Christian Church, offered a prayer.]

[Bishop David Andrew Urquhart listened to the anthem of the Choir. ]

[The Archbishop of Canterbury l istened to the anthem of the Choir. ]