At home worldwide: how congregations celebrated Easter

A God who sees

Musicians from the Dornhan-Villingen-Schwenningen district in Germany had set up countless candles to guide concert-goers into the New Apostolic church in Vöhringen for a Passion concert by candlelight. The choir and instrumentalists walked up to the front of the church singing Shalom chaverim, a Hebrew greeting meaning “peace”. The programme consisted of sacred and modern songs. In addition to the mixed choir, organ, piano, and orchestra, there was also a male choir, a children’s choir, as well as a youth choir which inspired the audience with a rap interlude. Solo contributions and a poetry slam rounded off the programme. The final song “I have a home in God’s kingdom” served to send the audience home with the assurance that their transitory life on earth is followed by blessed fellowship with Jesus Christ. At the very end, the musicians filed out of the church again with the song Shalom chaverim.

Easter egg hunt

A few days before Easter, the children and Sunday School teachers of the Rustdene congregation in South Africa met to prepare for Easter together. The children spent the morning reading their favourite book, some with the assistance of the teachers. In between, they coloured in Easter pictures. The highlight of the day was an Easter egg hunt on the church grounds.

A blessed Easter

The Easter celebration in Kasai in the Democratic Republic of the Congo consisted of two divine services and the sealing of 130 people. Apostle Mulamba Denis Tshilumba conducted a divine service with 543 believers in the congregation of Kabikabi on Easter morning, where he sealed the many people. In the afternoon, 181 young people came together for a divine service in the Tshikapa church. The sermon was based on Luke 15: 18: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’”

Christ is risen!

The two districts Takoradi North and South in Ghana came together on Easter Sunday for a joint service in the Kojokrom congregation to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Bishop Thomas Ampofo read the Bible text: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15: 20–21). He reminded the congregation that not only the living, but also those who have already died, benefit from Christ’s victory over death. He called on the brothers and sisters to follow the example of Jesus, who prayed right up to His death.

An Easter hike

Hiking enthusiasts from the congregations of Nordhausen, Bleicherode, and Sangerhausen in Germany met up for a hike. Despite the gloomy weather, there were beautiful views, the Bismarck Tower could be marvelled at and climbed, and blossoming forests and green fields made up for the physical exertions. The day’s hike came to a happy end at the Nordhausen church, where barbecued sausages, cake and coffee were waiting for the hikers.