A sacrament without signum and without res? That’s impossible. At least that is what the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church says. Sounds strange? Maybe, but there are good reasons for it. Join us for an excursion into the fifth century. There is no doubt about it, baptism and Holy Communion are firmly established in […]

According to the liturgical calendar, Christians are currently observing Lent, a period of fasting and penitence that ends shortly before Easter. Soon we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, reason enough to reflect on all that God means to us and does for us. The sermon on Sunday, 8 March 2020 will be […]

A universal language for all? Forgetting your mother tongue? Is that even possible? Sure it is! Fortunately, there is a common solution to both problems. A reflection on today’s International Mother Language Day. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to travel around the world and speak to all the people you meet in their own mother tongue? […]

The term ‘sacrament’ and the Bible—it’s just one of those things: the idea is there, but not the actual word. The term only made its way into Christian vocabulary later on—and it even took two tries! Here is a story about semantics. Carthage, North Africa: it was here of all places—and not in the great […]

Travelling to individual countries can certainly be strenuous, especially if the responsible District Apostle has announced his visit to congregations that are quite distant from one another. It is on just such a weekend in Colombia and Peru with District Apostle Leonard Kolb that Bishop Manfredo Stegmann reports. Photo: NAC USA Photo: NAC USA Photo: […]

Sacraments — what is required for these? Wouldn’t faith be sufficient all on its own? The answer to this comes from Jesus Christ Himself. But how do they actually function, these doors that bring us close to God? A smile darts across the face. This is first of all a sign of joy, but at […]

There are moments in our life of faith when heaven and earth practically touch. And these moments are so important that they have a name all to themselves: sacraments. What are these? Where do they originate? What do they accomplish? — Introducing a brand new series. When a bride and bridegroom give rings to one […]

Retired Shepherd Christoph Müller has a very special perspective on the celebration of Holy Communion. This is because many of the chalices containing the wafers originate from the workshop of the master metalworker. Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Photo: privat Anyone who […]

Designated and called: but authority alone is not sufficient to permit someone to actually exercise a ministry. This requires something more—something that also plays a role in retirement and transfer from one area to another. According to the New Apostolic understanding, a ministry comprises both ministerial authority and a ministerial mandate. The authority is of […]

When the Chief Apostle conducts a divine service in Mulhouse, France, he is practically “in his living room”. He had packed along plenty of comfort to bring the believers, and encouraged them in their struggles. Photo: Église néo-apostolique France Photo: Église néo-apostolique France Photo: Église néo-apostolique France Photo: Église néo-apostolique France Photo: Église néo-apostolique France […]

Designated and ordained: the ordained minister is authorised to act and speak in the name of God. Nevertheless, these powers are anything but limitless. The New Apostolic Church always understands ministry from the perspective of ministerial authority. And ministerial authority—so reads the official definition—“constitutes the right to act and speak in the name of the […]

With the end of the anniversary year, our series draws to a close. Since 1919 bread and wine have been united in Holy Communion throughout the New Apostolic Church. Interesting bits and pieces in conclusion. Fifty-fifty This is what the congregations did during World War One out of sheer necessity. Sometimes there was so little […]

It was always there, a large capital “F” in his calendar. And it did not stand for “free”, but for the word “family”. This is how Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler regularly scheduled time for his loved ones. Bishop Hans Plüss with his grandson, Hans Urwyler Photo: privat Hedi and Hans Urwyler with their sons Hans-Jürg […]

Christophe has lived in a refugee camp for 23 years. He not only looks after his own family there, but as a Priest also provides pastoral care for his brothers and sisters in faith. His life is one of huge challenges and an even greater dream. Ayumba Eca Christophe and his family Photo: privat The […]

Form is subject to content. When the wafer sprinkled with wine replaced the chalice, the communion vessels also began to slowly change. Photo: Jessica Krämer Photo: Zentralarchiv NAK NRW Photo: Zentralarchiv NAK NRW Photo: Jessica Krämer Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: Jessica Krämer Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: Jessica Krämer Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: Jessica Krämer Photo: […]

Going on a treasure hunt—a childhood dream for many. In many religious contexts this is also a topic, albeit at a totally different level. This was the case in a divine service in Ndola (Zambia), where the Chief Apostle was referring to spiritual riches. Photo: New Apostolic Church Zambia Photo: New Apostolic Church Zambia Photo: […]

Priests from the USA came together for a national conference in September. “Mosaic” was the theme for a conference that kept the North American ministers busy over a whole weekend. Photo: New Apostolic Church USA Photo: New Apostolic Church USA Photo: New Apostolic Church USA Photo: New Apostolic Church USA Photo: New Apostolic Church USA […]

Can the Apostles just go ahead and do that? Are they even allowed to reorganise the ministerial structure? Not only are they allowed to do so—they must! Read on to find out why they did so in the first place, and where the limits are—ministry between the past and the future. The number of the […]