Snow at Pentecost? A strange phenomenon for those living north of the Equator. But in the Southern Hemisphere this is nothing unusual at this time of the year. In fact, the world is so big and colourful that what seems normal for us may appear novel and perhaps a little unusual for someone else somewhere else. A look at some of our congregations on three continents proves the point.
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Photo: Brigitte Nycamp
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Photo: Brigitte Nycamp
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Move-A-Thon turned family celebration: the congregation in Hamilton
Photo: Brigitte Nycamp
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Photo: Graham Stanford
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Photo: Graham Stanford
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Confirmands from Toronto, Hamilton, and Kitchener covered their kilometres by canoe
Photo: Graham Stanford
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Photo: INA Sud
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Photo: INA Sud
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Photo: INA Sud
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Photo: INA Sud
Canada
The New Apostolic Church Canada has launched its 2015 Move-A-Thon. Some 76,000 dollars have already been raised. This year’s goal is to raise 220,000 dollars. The objective is to travel 12,000 kilometres Canada-wide and collect money for the homeless. “Join our efforts this year as the proceeds from the 2015 Move-A-Thon will help the homeless,” the organizers’ appeal reads. The initiative is captioned with the biblical motto, “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (Proverbs 19: 17).
Two years ago, the Move-A-Thon raised 214,000 dollars. The proceeds went to various causes at the time, including the overseas regions that the New Apostolic Church Canada looks after. The focus this year is on helping the less fortunate in Canada’s own communities, especially the homeless. Soup kitchens and private initiatives that provide hospitality and emergency shelter for the homeless will benefit from the proceeds this year.
South America
Snow at Pentecost? A strange thought for people living in the Northern Hemisphere. But the Southern Hemisphere is heading into the thick of winter. And so is the town of Ushuaia, home to the southernmost New Apostolic congregation. Ushuaia is on Tierra del Fuego. Shepherd César Barneau, the rector, reports, “During the transmission from Zambia we watched our African brothers and sisters in their short-sleeved shirts and blouses while we were experiencing heavy snowfall here in Ushuaia. We—there were forty of us—had the heat turned up to maximum,” he wrote and continues, “At first we thought that there were not many similarities between us, but when we put aside these outward differences we were all friends celebrating the birthday of the Church.”
Netherlands
The New Apostolic church building in Hilversum in the Netherlands has been officially reopened following extensive rebuilding work. The sanctuary has been enlarged and the main entrance hall transformed into a concert hall. The entrance hall, which has been used for combined or district services in the past on account of its size, can now also be used for concerts. An opening concert is scheduled for Saturday, 27 June 2015 at 2 p.m. Performers will be the ensemble 4 Harmonie from Groningen, La Symfona, the symphony orchestra of the New Apostolic Church Netherlands, the children’s choir from the district of Leeuwarden, a regional choir (Cantare), the gospel choir from Utrecht, as well as several young soloists.