The most recent District Apostle Meeting began with the closing benediction. But this was not the only time that the subject of “liturgy” appeared on the agenda. Today we will talk about its meaning, purpose, and valid publication.
For a number of weeks now, the Liturgy of the New Apostolic Church and the Guide for Ministers have been available online at the Church’s website nak.org. It was with this remark that Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider introduced the spiritual part at the start of the District Apostles Meeting at the end of November in Accra, Ghana.
“These two publications are intended to strengthen the unity of the Church,” emphasised the Church leader. “They are also to signal to the outside world that the NAC has clear and reliable organisational structures and a uniform divine service format.” And “Initial reactions from the brothers and sisters to these texts have been very positive”.
For searching and downloading
Liturgy of the New Apostolic Church is the name of the work that describes the course of a divine service. Like the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church and the Guide for Ministers, this text has now also been integrated into the international homepage at nak.org. There visitors can also download a 99-page PDF, which even contains photos to illustrate the actions.
The content ranges from regular divine services with the usual elements to special forms such as services for the departed, church dedication and deconsecration services, and weddings and funerals. There are also separate chapters that cover the dispensation of sacraments, holy acts, and acts of institution, for example those associated with ordination to ministry or appointment or assignment to a service.
Individual leaflets to be retracted
The liturgy book was published in English, French, and German in mid October of last year. The Spanish version will follow shortly. The District Apostle areas are also producing other language translations on their own.
The new complete work replaces a series of four special editions of the Divine Service Guide that were published separately in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2020. The revision describes all the content in uniform language, incorporates new updates from the Catechism and the revised concept of ministry, and for the first time, publishes explanations pertaining to Holy Sealing and ordination, which are reserved for the Apostle ministry.
The four old booklets are no longer valid in the languages into which the new publication has already been translated. The District Apostle Meeting in Accra therefore decided to retract these.
“Filled with divine power”
“The publication of the Liturgy of the New Apostolic Church gives me the opportunity to talk about the final benediction in the divine service,” said the Chief Apostle in the spiritual part of the meeting. “It is my impression that the meaning of this piece of liturgy is not always fully understood everywhere.”
The function of the final benediction is not merely to signal the end of the service and swish the participants well on their way home. “In reality, there is much more to it than that: when announced by a minister commissioned by God for this purpose, these words are filled with divine power, and provide the listener with spiritual guidance.” But: “As with every blessing, its effect depends on the faith and conduct of the person who receives it.”
The Church leader then went on to explain in detail the Trinitarian character of the benediction and the meaning of its various elements, namely the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit. And the explanation that Chief Apostle Schneider gave concerning the liturgy as a whole also applies to the final benediction: “It is a sign of God’s reliability which conveys the assurance: ‘No matter what happens in your life, I am there.’”
Photo: Oliver Rütten