seasons.today

The making-of: how the New Year’s message is created

It is late November. Christmas still seems so far away, let alone the new year. But Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider wants to record his New Year’s message today. All good things come in threes.

December 3, 2016

Chief Apostle Christmas

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• History 
• New Year
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Sunday School graduation ceremony

The only way children really have a future is with a good education. This not only applies in everyday life, but also spiritually. Featured in this week’s review are these two aspects, as well the Chief Apostle’s recent trip to the USA.

December 2, 2016

Advent

+5

• Africa
• America
• Charity work
• Congregation
• Society

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A remake: Jesus in words and miracles

It was one of the biggest music projects that the New Apostolic Church has ever staged. Now there are plans for a remake. The pop oratorio “I am! Jesus in words and miracles” will be restaged in 2018.

December 1, 2016

Event

+2

• Music
• Organisation

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Strength, courage, joy: the anchor of hope

Whether one is tossed about by storms or drifts away because of the current, there is an anchor that keeps souls from foundering. A divine service on a complicated Bible text, which the Chief Apostle explained in an easy to understand way.

November 30, 2016

Australia / Pacific

+5

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

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Setting the future course in Switzerland

Switzerland will shortly be taking vital steps for the future: Apostle Jürg Zbinden has been chosen as Helper to assist District Apostle Markus Fehlbaum, who is planning to retire in June 2018.

November 26, 2016

Apostolate

+9

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Ministry
• New Year
• Pastoral care
• Retirement

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The language of the heart

Music speaks to the soul—in joy as well as in sorrow. Our review this week looks at a choral competition, a choir practice, a memorial service, and a wedding anniversary.

November 25, 2016

Africa Congregation

+7

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Good Friday
• Grieving
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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How awake are you?

The end of the year is just a few weeks away, and a new liturgical year has just started. The season of Advent is upon us. New Apostolic services in the month of December are dedicated to the theme “Time of fulfilment”. Following is a closer look at what to expect.

November 24, 2016

Advent

+2

• Christmas
• Divine service

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On the trail of angels

What is the essence of angels? The Bible says very little about this. But is this really all that important? “We are interested in what they do, or more precisely, what God does through them,” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider said, “and how we respond to this.”

November 23, 2016

Apostolate

+5

• Ascension Day
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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The Chief Apostle in the City of Angels

Los Angeles, a fascinating city. It brings to mind images of beaches and the sun. The city is a big tourist destination. But the purpose of Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider’s trip there is not pleasure. He has a tight schedule.

November 21, 2016

Advent

+11

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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How gratitude strengthens faith

Recognizing and appreciating the gift, sharing it with the giver and with others. “We actually celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving every Sunday.” Thoughts from a divine service by the Chief Apostle.

November 16, 2016

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Thanksgiving Day

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Between here and there

Joy and sorrow are never far apart. Remembering the departed bridges the gap between this life and the afterlife. News from around the New Apostolic world about premières and farewells.

November 11, 2016

Apostolate

+10

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Grieving
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Black and white squares and a guide to faith

Pokémon GO was yesterday, today it is Pakeiman GO. It means “applying one’s faith” in Indonesian. Following is a report on a Day of the Youth at which modern technology was used to transport a timeless message.

November 7, 2016

Acts of blessing

+6

• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Youth

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Love, comfort, and new life – the Creator at work

An ancient message, one that is still valid. A Bible text that has been set to music. And a prayer that was answered a long time ago. In a recent service, the Chief Apostle examined the clean heart and the steadfast spirit mentioned in the Psalms.

November 3, 2016

Chief Apostle

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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We come in the name of God

On 5 February 1855 two missionaries arrived in Papua, the western part of the island of New Guinea, to preach the gospel to the inhabitants. Even today missionaries are active on this second largest island in the world.

November 2, 2016

Asia

+9

• Australia / Pacific
• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Music
• Pastoral care

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Never be without hope!

The last month in the church year has dawned. Soon the Advent season will begin, and with it the new church year. But before that, New Apostolic divine services will focus on the last things. First and foremost, these include our hope for the future and the judgement. A true Christian never needs to be without hope.

November 1, 2016

Advent

+3

• Ascension Day
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Chief Apostle to visit Blantyre, Malawi’s oldest municipality

Malawi is the cradle of the New Apostolic Church in Central Africa. George Henwood, the later Apostle, was born here in 1901. He was one of the great pioneers of missionary work and instrumental in building up the church in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will celebrate the upcoming service for the departed in Blantyre.

October 29, 2016

Africa

+10

• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Ministry
• Retirement

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Hope, an anchor of the soul

The president of the New Apostolic Church flies to Australia regularly. Still, District Apostle Andrew Andersen referred to the Chief Apostle’s recent visit as historic. The reason, all national leaders of the New Apostolic Church had been invited to a conference in Perth.

October 27, 2016

Africa Australia / Pacific

+8

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• History 
• Music
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Bringing in the sheaves

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. What exactly is this harvest? And who are the workers? The Chief Apostle has two interpretations. Following is the summary of a divine service directed not only at ministers.

October 26, 2016

Chief Apostle

+3

• Divine service
• Good Friday
• Pastoral care

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Service for the departed goes public

Making a guest service out of the service for the departed? Across Europe this will be a first and take place on 6 November 2016. But a congregation in Africa is going even further—and will number more participants in the end than all of Europe put together.

October 25, 2016

Africa

+7

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

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Good Hope: several generations under one roof

The New Apostolic Church operates child care facilities in a number of countries. In some areas, the Church even runs retirement homes. The multigenerational project Good Hope in Oberhausen is a combination of the two, and it is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

October 24, 2016

Buildings

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There is music in the air

A flashmob in the city, a charity concert in a shopping centre, and a singing contest sponsored by the radio. There is music in the air and New Apostolic Christians are right in the middle of it all when it comes to professing their faith or doing something good.

October 21, 2016

Congregation

+5

• Divine service
• Event
• Music
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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The treasure in our hearts

Christians have a treasure that needs to be protected—and shared. The Chief Apostle examines some of the gems of this treasure and reveals why they are sometimes hard to recognize.

October 12, 2016

Chief Apostle Congregation

+5

• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Event
• Youth

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The Chief Apostle in Lausanne

Lausanne is beautifully set on Lake Geneva in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Surrounded by the Jura Mountains, the city enjoys a mild climate—a good destination for Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, who will be visiting the congregation on Sunday to celebrate a divine service.

October 8, 2016

Chief Apostle

+10

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

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A thankful congregation is a joyful congregation!

Against cholera, for peace and understanding between peoples—the programmes of the congregations around the world are creative, diverse, and fantastic. It is important that we take on responsibility in society, not only spiritually but also in a concrete and material way.

October 7, 2016

Charity work

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Society
• Thanksgiving Day

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God’s commandments: orientation for human beings

No other collection of laws has had such a high degree of influence on the cultural history of mankind as the Ten Commandments of God. Here the term ‘commandment’ is a translation of the Hebrew word for “instruction”. The Ten Commandments thus serve as direction and orientation for humanity.

October 3, 2016

Concept of salvation for the departed

+6

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Sacraments

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Historical meeting in Hilversum

The rapprochement of apostolic denominations is continuing: after declarations of reconciliation in Germany and Switzerland, as well as an initial meeting in South Africa, there has now also been a meeting in the Netherlands—and this one was in a much larger context.

September 30, 2016

Africa

+7

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Easter
• History 
• Society

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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.

March 23, 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.

May 28, 2025

Ascension Day Pentecost

+2

• Divine service
• Society

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Lead-up to Pentecost

God reveals Himself as Trinity. The self-revelation of God is concluded in the Pentecost event, the grand finale. The divine services in the month of May revolve around the promise, sending, and efficacy of the Holy Spirit.

May 3, 2024

Pentecost Doctrine 

+2

• Divine service
• History 

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Not your typical Christmas article

Star, stable, shepherds, angels—and a crying baby in the living room. This year, Christmas will not just be explained, but experienced. A Christmas article of a different kind.

December 24, 2025

Christmas Advent

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