Merry Christmas! Pardon? Christmas is long gone. But not in Russia. According to the Russian calendar Christmas is today, 7 January. For New Apostolic Christians this time of the year is a bit of a balancing act between the cultures.

Today, 6 January marks Epiphany, a religious festival that is not all that well known in New Apostolic circles, but crops up in our publications now and then. It is one of the oldest Christian festivals.

Be it in a large circle or small, with a divine service or without, our members around the world have rung in the New Year in very different ways. But there is one thing that unites them all—and it’s more than just fireworks at midnight.

Zurich. For those who desire official church information, nak.org is the correct address to visit: As of spring 2015, the site will mostly publish announcements of international management and doctrinal texts. Future publications include changes in the Apostle´s circle, statements from the international working groups and project groups as well as news of the Chief Apostle.

Zurich/Dusseldorf. “The UAC and the NAC wish to mend their relationship with one another and go into the future in reconciliation and mutual respect for one another.” So reads the first sentence of the “Statement of Reconciliation”.

Zurich. As already announced, a Statement of Reconciliation between the United Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church is to be signed at the end of November. This is an historic moment for both churches, after nearly 60 years of separation.

Gifhorn/Zurich. The New Apostolic Church in Central Germany and Northern Germany will grow into a new District Apostle district in 2016. This was the news that the incumbent Central German District Apostle Wilfried Klingler shared with the congregation of Gifhorn, from where last Sunday’s Thanksgiving service was transmitted throughout the entire District Apostle district by satellite.

Zurich/Brussels. Since the start of September, the members of the New Apostolic congregation in the Belgian capital of Brussels have been the proud owners of a new church building. District Apostle Bernd Koberstein dedicated the new place of worship at 80 Avenue Franz Guillaume and rejoiced over the special celebratory event together with the 250 members and guests in attendance.

Karlsruhe/Zurich. A large mourning congregation assembled in the Karlsruhe-Central church late Saturday morning, 9 August 2014 in order to bid farewell to District Apostle Klaus Saur.

Stuttgart/Zurich. The Ebola virus is currently raging in a number of West African countries—and hundreds of people are affected. District Apostle Michael Ehrich provides corresponding guidelines for fellowship in church, and calls upon members and ministers to observe preventive measures unconditionally.

The relief organization of the New Apostolic Church in the Philippines NACSEA Relief Fund has released its annual report of 2013. The Fund provides 36 pages of insight into the charitable work of the past year.

Munich/Zurich. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider officially opened the International Church Convention (ICC) in Munich as a celebration of joyful fellowship with a prayer that all might experience the presence of God. Tens of thousands of visitors in the Olympia Stadium witnessed the starting beat to this large premiere for the New Apostolic Church.

Zurich. The divine service which Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will conduct on Pentecost Sunday on the occasion of the International Church Convention of the New Apostolic Church will be transmitted to over 100 countries on all continents with the help of satellites, fibre optic cables, and radio broadcasters. His sermon will first be interpreted into English at the altar phrase by phrase, and then interpreted simultaneously into over 20 other languages.

Dortmund/Zurich. “We praise God and give thanks to His servant”—it was with this simple statement that the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, opened Sunday’s divine service in Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle. With emotional words he retired District Apostle Armin Brinkmann, who had served in ministry for many years, before going on to ordain his successor, the new District Apostle Rainer Storck.

Zurich. Changes will soon be coming to the structure of midweek divine services in the New Apostolic congregations of the USA. The usual midweek service with its celebration of Holy Communion will in future only take place once each month. District Apostle Leonard Kolb plans to supplement this with non-sacramental divine services, home devotionals, Bible studies, Catechism instruction, musical evenings, and discussion evenings. Concerning this Chief Apostle states: “I really welcome this proposal, as the circumstances of the Church in the USA cannot be compared to those in Europe.”

Zurich. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider called his predecessor in ministry a “wise man with great vision”. The majority of New Apostolic District Church leaders from around the world attended the memorial service for the highly respected and popular Chief Apostle, who had directed the affairs of the New Apostolic Church over the seventeen years from 1988 to 2005. It was in gratitude and sadness that they gathered in the Zurich-Hottingen church to take leave of Richard Fehr, who passed away on 30 June 2013, shortly before his 74th birthday.

Zurich. It is with great sadness that New Apostolic Christians around the world have learned of the passing of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who had served in ministry for many years. Expressions of sympathy have begun to arrive from all parts of the globe. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider describes his predecessor in ministry as a man of great wisdom and vision. “He always had a feel for the global Church and promoted its internationality. His time in office always stood—and still stands—for openness and tolerance.”

Hamburg/Zurich. As of this Pentecost Sunday 2013, the New Apostolic Church has a new spiritual leader: Jean-Luc Schneider is the new Chief Apostle and successor in ministry to Wilhelm Leber, who retired from ministry on this occasion. It was a special highlight when the new Chief Apostle discharged the previous Chief Apostle from his ministry with the words: “In our hearts you will remain our Chief Apostle!”