seasons.today

Cologne/Zurich. It was a high point of the church year for New Apostolic Christians around the world: Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted the Pentecost divine service in Cologne on 27 May 2012. The spiritual leader of all New Apostolic Christians called out to the believers with a special Pentecost message: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” The sermon revolved around the question as to how children of God are to lead their lives in our time. What is important is to keep faith, always be willing to make peace, subordinate our will to God’s will, and draw strength for daily life from the resurrection of Christ.

Zurich/Cologne. After many years, the New Apostolic Church once again has a Chief Apostle Helper. In the Pentecost service on 27 May 2012 in Cologne Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber appointed the French District Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider with this new commission. He will in future provide support to the Chief Apostle and also take on some of his travels. “The transition is to proceed in as continuous a manner as possible,” said the Chief Apostle. He himself is already looking toward his own retirement, he explained, and is working early to address the matter of his succession.

Cologne/Zurich. One of the items in the program for the Saturday of the Pentecost weekend in Cologne was a meeting of the European Apostles A total of 45 Apostles from Europe, as well as all the District Apostles and District Apostle Helpers of the world, had assembled for this occasion. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber began with an emotional prayer for the unity of the Church and the welfare of all congregations. A comprehensive spiritual portion followed.

Zurich. In the divine service on Pentecost Sunday, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber will appoint a Chief Apostle Helper. “I would like to set an early course for the future,” stated the international Church leader, who will turn 65 this year. The date when he himself will retire remains open—perhaps in 2013 or 2014—however the work of a Chief Apostle Helper will already lighten his load quite perceptibly now.

Zurich. The liturgy is what orders and governs the sequence of music, prayers, Bible readings, the sermon, and the dispensation of the sacraments within the divine service. With the start of the new church year, a reform will come into effect (we reported) in the New Apostolic Church. The celebration of Holy Communion in particular is to be structured in even more dignified fashion through the enriched liturgical elements. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international Church leader, explained that the new liturgy is intended to bring greater solemnity to the sequence of the divine service.

Zurich. An extended liturgy will be introduced in the international New Apostolic Church with the start of the new Church year. In a letter to all the Church’s ministers the international Church leader, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, designated the first Sunday of Advent as the starting point of this new development. In the letter he states that it is his wish to notify the ministers of this change already at this early point in time.

Zurich/Cape Town. With a seating capacity of 4,000, the New Apostolic congregation in Tafelsig (Cape Town) has the largest church building of the New Apostolic Church anywhere in the world. It was there that Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted the divine service on Pentecost 2010, which was transmitted by satellite to approximately 5,000 other New Apostolic congregations around the globe.

Cape Town. District Apostle Noel Barnes expressed it best after the divine service: “I may not be able to look into the future, but I believe that this will remain a unique event for us in Cape Town!” The Pentecost service had just come to an end. Some 1.2 million believers had been able to participate in it live, either by satellite or internet transmission. Four thousand of these had been seated in the congregation of Tafelsig, the largest New Apostolic Church building in the world.

Zurich/Hamburg. Pentecost 2007 is already in the past, but the Pentecost divine service in Hamburg, which was transmitted by satellite to some 8,000 New Apostolic congregations in over 70 countries throughout the world, is to have a lasting echo.

Cape Town. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted this year’s Pentecost service in Cape Town, South Africa. He preached about being filled with the Holy Spirit: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”