Celebrating Christmas!

Christmas is a feast of joy and love even if numerous things can cloud this joy. For Christians, however, there is always a reason to celebrate: namely the birth of Jesus.

December 23, 2022

Chief Apostle Christmas

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• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• History 
• Music

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The team has got the hang of it

The blue shelf in the background is unmistakable. This piece of furniture always appears when a new year begins, namely in the Chief Apostle’s New Year’s address. In a supporting role this time around: a piece of invisible art.

December 22, 2022

Annual motto

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• New Year

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Revealing God—in His fullness

Jesus Christ and His church: how does this relationship function? A Bible passage that references the head, the body, and the feet promises to provide some enlightenment. And even these verses pose something of a riddle in and of themselves at first.

December 21, 2022

Chief Apostle

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• Congregation

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Ministry (20): A second glance at the image of God

“Adam”—that’s the name of the first man, right? Actually the word means something completely different. And it has a lot to say about gender equality. However, this can only be recognised by someone who reads the Bible carefully.

December 20, 2022

Doctrine 

+1

• Ministry

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A disaster on one’s own doorstep affects people more

The relief organisation NAK-karitativ received significantly more donations in 2021 than usual. The reason for this was the special willingness to help after the flood disaster in Germany. In terms of the number of projects, the focus was on East Africa.

December 19, 2022

Africa

+3

• Charity work
• Congregation
• Social commitment

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Christmas is around the corner!

The new church year has commenced and will be ushered in with concerts and celebrations around the world. Whether virtually or live and in person—our brothers and sisters have already begun celebrating the feast of love for their neighbour.

December 16, 2022

Advent Africa

+9

• Children
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Music
• Society
• Youth

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Thoughts and links for the fourth Sunday of Advent

Traditionally, we can be certain that the fourth candle on the Advent wreath is always lit after the third one. And just as certain are the YouTube services being offered by the various districts. Here are the links for this Sunday.

December 16, 2022

Advent

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music

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Intercession is a sign of faith, love, and hope

Those who experience their faith as a gift want to share and communicate that. But an invitation is only the first step. Intercession always goes a little further. How? This is described in a divine service by the Chief Apostle.

December 14, 2022

Chief Apostle

+4

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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The sacraments (67): A story behind every sentence

Three years and 66 parts later… The series on the sacraments has given us a lot of food for thought on theology and history in general and on New Apostolic specialties in particular. As a final instalment, here is an overview with dozens of links.

December 13, 2022

Baptism 

+9

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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Slogging away for the future, preferably in Africa

From Togo to Austria and back. Laura Johanna Fischer lives in two worlds. Several times a year, the 27-year-old travels to the African continent to advance her heart’s project there. This is still a tender plant and needs a lot of care.

December 12, 2022

Africa

+7

• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Profile

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Anticipating Christmas

This Sunday we will light another candle on the Advent wreath as we turn our attention more and more to Christmas. Even so, not all feel comfortable enough yet to join the in-person services in their local congregation.

December 9, 2022

Advent

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music

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What is written where and how

God as an author of books? A many-sided image from the Bible: the Chief Apostle took out four very different volumes from the library of the Holy Scriptures and deciphered their code in a divine service recently.

December 7, 2022

Chief Apostle

+2

• Divine service
• History 

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A District Apostle Helper for Western Germany

The new man has already demonstrated leadership qualities: both in the Church and in his working life. He also has pastoral qualities. This is what companions say. They are convinced: the New Apostolic Church Western Germany can look forward to its District Apostle Helper.

December 6, 2022

Africa

+14

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Society

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The mysterious Apostle

One hundred years ago today, Apostle Sadrach is believed to have retired. This is not verified information though. What we do know is that the Europeans at the time were a little suspicious of the Javanese Apostle, and today we cannot say with certainty whether he held divine services until shortly before his death in 1924 or retired on 5 December 1922.

December 5, 2022

Apostolate

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Ministry
• Society

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Active in church and in everyday life

The members of the New Apostolic Church advocate many different values and promote them in their congregation and district in various ways: for example, by doing something eco-friendly, by helping to save lives, and supporting education. And, of course, church attendance is important to them.

December 2, 2022

Africa

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Seniors
• Social commitment

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Divine services on six continents

There are members everywhere who are doing what they can these days to ensure that divine services are transmitted via Internet and telephone. There is only one continent from which the New Apostolic Church does not transmit online services.

December 2, 2022

Chief Apostle

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• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music
• Social commitment

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He is here to stay

At Christmas, Christians look back and celebrate the birth of their Saviour, Jesus Christ. But they also look ahead, full of hope in the return of Jesus. But the significance of Jesus’ birth can also be experienced in the present.

December 1, 2022

Advent Christmas

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• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Society

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Peter Lambert becomes new District Apostle Helper for South Africa

Apostle Peter Lambert, who was the head of music of the Church in South Africa for many years, will be assigned as a District Apostle Helper for the New Apostolic Church Southern Africa on Sunday, 4 December. A big task, but one that he faces with confidence in God: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18: 27).

November 30, 2022

Africa

+7

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Music
• Youth

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The invincible power of good

Overcoming evil with good, is that possible? In a recent divine service, the Chief Apostle showed how.

November 29, 2022

Chief Apostle

+2

• Congregation
• Divine service

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Teamwork on a global scale

Work on the new children’s teaching material is progressing well. An overview was given at the recent international District Apostle Meeting. Writers and teams from various countries are involved in compiling the various books.

November 28, 2022

Acts of blessing

+10

• Africa
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Music is at home everywhere

In many congregations, singing has resumed and so have concerts. Here is a small overview of concerts and workshops in different parts of the world, showcasing that music is a universal language that speaks to the soul.

November 25, 2022

Africa

+13

• America
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Music
• Seniors
• Social commitment
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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Starting the new church year together

On Sunday Christians around the world will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. A time of special lights, being together, and extraordinary emotions.

November 25, 2022

Advent Chief Apostle

+5

• Christmas
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Music

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The sheer will to help defies the threat of war

It feels as though the war is closing in. Yet the people already have so little to live on. Despite their own hardship, however, the people in the Republic of Moldova are helping Ukrainian refugees in any way they can. This is the situation of the brothers and sisters whom the Chief Apostle will be visiting this weekend.

November 24, 2022

Advent

+11

• Buildings
• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Sealing
• Music
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Jesus instead of Adam: from old to new

The old Adam: an old acquaintance from past sermons. But is this more than just an empty phrase? Who remembers what exactly this is all about? A fresh boost from a divine service with the Chief Apostle, including instructions.

November 23, 2022

Chief Apostle

+9

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• Music
• Organisation
• Sacraments
• Society

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On the way to a new life

From the old to the new Adam, from the first human being to perfect human beings. The Chief Apostle traced this development in the divine service that marked the end of the District Apostle Meeting. The report will be published this evening. In advance, here are the sketchnotes.

November 23, 2022

Chief Apostle

+3

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Organisation

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Ministry (19): Man and woman in the image of God

Men and women in ordained ministry? This is only a fragment of a much larger question: how do human beings understand themselves and their task in the world? The Bible gives us the answer in the creation account. And there we read: created in the image of God.

November 22, 2022

Doctrine 

+2

• Investiture
• Ministry

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