seasons.today

The church year is quietly drawing to a close

This year, the month of November has five Sundays. The church year ends on the last Sunday of the month, meaning that the Advent season begins at the end of November. How quickly a year passes! Reason enough to occupy ourselves with future things. What is meant here is a fundamental theological concept.

29 10 2020

Advent Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Giving thanks? Now is precisely the time!

Giving thanks to God? In difficult times this may not come to us so easily. Yet it is part of the battle against the crisis, says the Chief Apostle. He also explains how to manage this and what we get out of it ourselves: a divine service in two groups of five thoughts.

28 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+9

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Society
• Thanksgiving Day

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Gratitude not only on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the creatorship of God. This is what the New Apostolic Catechism says. Once a year, a Sunday is set aside for this in the church calendar. But gratitude is something that Christians can show God on all the other days of the year as well, the Chief Apostle says.

13 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Society
• Thanksgiving Day

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Between Thanksgiving and the service for the departed

In the northern hemisphere, the month of October is often described as a “golden” month: it still brings quite a bit of sunshine, boasts some beautiful sunsets, and paints the leaves of the trees in fabulous hues. This only serves to reinforce the realisation that God’s creation is wonderful!

28 09 2020

Concept of salvation for the departed

+3

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Thanksgiving Day

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A divine service with singing is grace

COVID-19 has even had an influence on the liturgical sequence of the divine services: where choirs used to sing, voices must often be silent now. What remains is the search for creative solutions…

11 09 2020

Africa

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Youth

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First female Church president appointed

Esther Kompare is the new president of the New Apostolic Church Slovenia. This is the first time that a woman has taken on this responsibility in this country.

04 09 2020

Asia Congregation

+7

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (17): commonalities and differences in black and white

Naturally the churches acknowledge each other’s baptisms, even though this step has taken centuries to achieve. After all, the question of sacraments is intimately linked to the respective understanding each one has of what constitutes church. And yet they have all managed to approve sound papers on the subject.

01 09 2020

Denominations

+6

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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… the church comes to the believer

Lockdown, bans on assembly, no divine services—in many places, believers cannot gather together in the church. For them the offer of divine service by video continues.

28 08 2020

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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One faith, one church

Who or what is the New Apostolic Church? In any case, it is more than just one individual church. In fact, legally speaking, it is an association of independent churches. What makes it a global entity?

21 08 2020

Advent

+14

• Africa
• Apostolate
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Poster series 2021: I do my part in the congregation

Despite the corona pandemic, there will still be a new series of showcase posters for use in our congregations next year. Contrary to previous years, however, there was no photoshoot this time around.

18 08 2020

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Easter
• Europe

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Who is your God?

“One time doesn’t even count,” people often say in an attempt to diminish the weight of individual decisions and put them into a broader perspective. And indeed, what counts in the long run is not the individual misstep, but rather the fundamental inner values of the person.

11 08 2020

Acts of blessing

+4

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Confirmation
• Doctrine 
• History 

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Using my gifts to bring glory to God

Olga Shcherban (50) is a chorus master at the Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theatre in Russia. Our sister in faith also puts her gift and her musical skills to use in her congregation and the Church.

01 08 2020

Chief Apostle

+8

• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Event
• Music
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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Spotlight 14/2020: Doing something good for ourselves and others

Doing something good for yourself and giving your neighbour without expecting anything … This is what District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic Congo South-East) reflects on in his article on our annual motto.

28 07 2020

Annual motto

+5

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• New Year

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The same help, here as well as there

Whether here on earth or in the beyond, the sufferings are the same. And the solutions are the same too. Here are seven examples of how Jesus Christ alleviates our spiritual needs.

15 07 2020

Apostolate

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2020)

Chief Apostle Schneider ordained three Apostles in the first half of the year. Two Apostles went into retirement and one died while still active.

08 07 2020

Africa

+14

• America
• Apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Retirement

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From the “new light” to the “message”

It is not all that uncommon for a pendulum to swing to the other side. This too is part of the story of Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, who died on 6 July sixty years ago—to the dismay of many brothers and sisters.

06 07 2020

Chief Apostle

+9

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Holy Sealing
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Ranging from the familiar to the controversial

The divine service themes in the month of July are filled with contrast: they range from God’s loving grace to His strict law, from the hallowed Sabbath to the prohibition against killing.

25 06 2020

Chief Apostle Concept of salvation for the departed

+4

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Society

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The sacraments (12): The durability and resistance of baptism

Acceptance, cleansing, total renewal: Scripture knows many interpretations of baptism. What the sacrament meant to people in concrete terms has changed in the course of history. Often it was a matter of politics and society.

23 06 2020

Acts of blessing

+7

• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments
• Society

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Welcome to the virtual church

Part of our congregational and church life has moved online because of COVID-19. Here is a look at some of the means used and what online offers are available this coming Sunday in terms of divine services.

19 06 2020

Acts of blessing

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Palm Sunday
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

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Music to overcome the lockdown blues

One faith, many songs … Anyone who wants to see and hear how alive New Apostolic life is around the globe despite Pandemic restrictions only has to go to YouTube and look for virtual choirs. Join us for a tour of magical melodies.

18 06 2020

Africa

+10

• America
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Event
• Music
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Helping where Covid-19 has fueled hunger and poverty

For many people Covid-19 is just one more emergency they have to cope with. For them it has long been a question of survival! Here is what New Apostolic organisations are doing to alleviate the worst.

16 06 2020

Africa

+7

• Asia
• Charity work
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Local news
• Seniors

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Reunion at Holy Communion: “Unforgettable!”

The first in-person services after the lockdown have taken place. And although everything is a little different than before, there was joy all around at being reunited in the congregations and being able to celebrate Holy Communion again. Also the Chief Apostle experienced this.

12 06 2020

Africa America

+16

• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Local news
• Pentecost
• Sacraments
• Youth

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When differences no longer matter

On Pentecost 2020 Chief Apostle Schneider preached about the power of the Holy Spirit, which makes it possible that people from different cultures and traditions can be brought together. A commandment also for Christians in modern times.

10 06 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Pentecost
• Society

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Trinity Sunday: three persons in one and the consequences

What makes a divine service a New Apostolic divine service? One possible answer is that it begins and ends with the invocation of the triune God. Who is this triune God? What are the implications of our belief in this? Reflections on Trinity Sunday.

08 06 2020

Congregation

+2

• Divine service
• Pentecost

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Triune, holy, apostolic: divine services in the month of June

The post-Pentecost season is here. This year, it brings us a new chapter in the coronavirus diary: in many countries, divine services are becoming possible again in the local congregations, at least gradually. Following is an overview of the Divine Service Guide for the month of June.

02 06 2020

Buildings

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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Snapshots (2): The Pentecost service

Hundreds of thousands followed the divine service at home; only a few could actually be in the church. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider celebrated the Pentecost service in our Darmstadt church. Our picture gallery presents some impressions of the sermon, the music, and the congregation.

31 05 2020

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Pentecost

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don't miss

The donkey, that’s me

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He chose His mount to enter Jerusalem. What’s more, He sent signals right up to our own time. Here is a reflection on the theme of Palm Sunday.

23 03 2024

Palm Sunday Good Friday

+3

• Congregation
• America
• History 

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Ascension means: now it’s your turn

Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church. But like a plant that germinates underground before the first shoots emerge, the origins of the church lie deeper and earlier.

28 05 2025

Ascension Day Pentecost

+2

• Divine service
• Society

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Silent extras, active seekers 

Not everyone is in the stable, not everyone sings in the angel choir. But the silent figures in the Christmas story are more than mere extras. They show that God speaks to everyone. The question is: who will answer?

25 12 2024

Christmas Advent

+1

• Bible study

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