New Year in February and help for food banks

Chinese New Year

The Gregorian calendar is observed nearly everywhere, but there are some exceptions, and one is China—at least where festivals and traditional activities are concerned. Two calendars are used there concurrently: the Gregorian and the Chinese calendars. And according to the traditional Chinese calendar, which follows a lunisolar system, 8 February marks the beginning of the year 2016. Chinese New Year begins with the new moon near the midpoint of winter solstice and spring equinox. The year 2016 according to the Chinese calendar will be the year of the monkey. Most Chinese observe these traditions, also the New Apostolic Christians in the country. For them, as for everybody else, 8 February 2016 is a public holiday—the most important festival of the whole year.

Sixtieth anniversary in Gendeng

The congregation of Gendeng on the island of Java in Indonesia was established sixty years ago. The congregation celebrated this special feast with a “Victory with Christ Concert”. What was first planned as a small concert became a popular event attended by many members from the Yogyakarta and Surakarta districts. A concert was organized by the youth. There were renditions by the choir with orchestra and with angklung. There were several guests from other denominations, who were really inspired by the music.

Support for food banks

A cheque of 50,000 Euros was donated by the Missionswerk, the missionary organization of the New Apostolic Church Southern Germany, in January to 70 so-called food bank stores. These stores are run by non-profit organizations and church-related organizations in which people can buy quality food and everyday necessities at low prices. There is a big demand for such offers. The idea, according to the Missionswerk, is to enable the poor to actually buy food. Also refugees applying for asylum in Germany can buy in the food bank stores. The stores complement the volunteer work being done by members of various Church committees and groups that look after asylum seekers.

The cheques were presented in the course of January by members representing the various congregations.

Seminar and divine service

Santa Maria da Boca do Monte is a city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city with a population of 270,000 also has a New Apostolic congregation. On Saturday, 9 January 2016, District Apostle Raúl Montes de Oca had invited the congregation to a seminar to discuss a number of issues that could affect our faith negatively, such as a false belief in miracles and excessive materialism. The members listened carefully. Afterwards everyone gathered in the church garden.

On Sunday the District Apostle conducted the divine service in Santa Maria and based his sermon on John 15: 1–2: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Referring to the text, the District Apostle said, “We have been called to produce fruit. Fruit is that part of the plant which contains the seeds. In order to attain eternal fellowship with God we have to produce such fruit.”