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The Divine Service Guide turns over a new leaf

Brighter, more modern, with a better overview—this is how the latest edition of the Divine Service Guide presents itself. The most frequently translated publication of the New Apostolic Church is undergoing a relaunch. And this applies to more than just its design.

October 20, 2020

Chief Apostle congregation

+3

• divine service
• Event
• Youth

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The divinity trap

Not omniscient, but certain of their own superiority. Not omnipotent, but securing and defending their rights with all their might. It is in this way that human beings set a trap for themselves. Paul shows how to get out of it—a letter that warrants reading together.

October 19, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry

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Divine services round the clock

Participating in a divine service when the neighbours are still asleep … There is a positive side to the Covid-19 pandemic for people who have to work on Sundays. They can join an online service that is being streamed in a different time zone.

October 16, 2020

Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service

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Those who keep at it will enjoy the reward

We have all heard about the first love. But what do we mean when we speak about the “beginning of our confidence”? A divine service on conviction, trust, and hope, and the answer to the question, where does it all lead?

October 14, 2020

apostolate

+4

• Chief Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• ministry

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Gratitude not only on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the creatorship of God. This is what the New Apostolic Catechism says. Once a year, a Sunday is set aside for this in the church calendar. But gratitude is something that Christians can show God on all the other days of the year as well, the Chief Apostle says.

October 13, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• divine service
• society
• Thanksgiving Day

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Trapped inside his own body

“The only thing that lives on in me is my heart, my soul, and my eyes,” Philippe says, who has suffered from locked-in syndrome for 34 years. He gives us a glimpse of his faith, his freedoms, and his very personal bonus programme.

October 12, 2020

Chief Apostle congregation

+7

• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• sacraments
• Youth

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Divine services on six continents

There are members everywhere who are doing what they can these days to ensure that divine services are transmitted via Internet and telephone. There is only one continent from which the New Apostolic Church does not transmit online services.

October 9, 2020

Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• divine service
• Social commitment

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Mountain climbers, tourists, and believers — welcome to Montreux

The English were not only the first to conquer Swiss mountain peaks, but also built churches in the Alpine region on their trips abroad. One of these is today in the possession of the New Apostolic congregation in Montreux.

October 8, 2020

Buildings

+8

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• history 
• Music
• Pastoral care

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Prayer needs to be learned

Actually, the Chief Apostle wanted to be in the United States for a divine service on 13 September 2020, but had to cancel his plans on account of the pandemic. Instead, he held a divine service in the congregation of Thann in France. A small group of 26 people were overjoyed when Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider walked to the altar.

October 7, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• divine service
• grieving
• Pastoral care

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Spotlight 18/2020: As masters of our destiny, we continue to strive

At the beginning of the year, no one could have imagined what the year would hold in store. The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly changed things, but it has not affected our striving for the kingdom of God, says District Apostle Helper John Sobottka from Canada.

October 6, 2020

annual motto

+7

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Praise and love more

The goal is still the same: the return of Christ. However, the Church is developing. This is what the Chief Apostle made clear in a doctrinal paper that was recently published. He looks back on the way we have covered so far and looks ahead to what still needs to be done.

October 5, 2020

apostolate

+7

• Chief Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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Divine service guaranteed!

Who knows what will happen the day after tomorrow? Making plans these days seems impossible. But one thing is guaranteed: our Sunday service.

October 2, 2020

Buildings

+6

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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… And preach the gospel!

Proclaiming the gospel—that is where Christians enthusiastically do their part. After all, they have been commissioned to do so! Everyone is to know that God is near to all people and that He loves them! This can be preached, explained, and lived in practice.

September 25, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Spotlight 17/2020: Free at last!

Paul und Silas had been arrested and put in jail. Around midnight they began to sing and praise God, while the other prisoners listened. Thoughts on freedom by District Apostle Helper Frank Dzur from Canada.

September 22, 2020

annual motto

+5

• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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The word of God in multimedia form

A hundred years ago it would have been unthinkable: divine services via phone-in, on television, via satellite, or the internet. Today divine services are just a click away. Quite a lot of work goes into this to make it possible.

September 18, 2020

Chief Apostle

+1

• divine service

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A once derelict church restored

In 2014 the congregation in Somerset in Cape Town (South Africa) moved into a different place of worship. The congregation’s new home is an old Dutch Reformed Church that was taken over by the New Apostolic Church and renovated. The building is over 200 years old.

September 14, 2020

Africa

+6

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• history 

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A divine service with singing is grace

COVID-19 has even had an influence on the liturgical sequence of the divine services: where choirs used to sing, voices must often be silent now. What remains is the search for creative solutions…

September 11, 2020

Africa Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Easter
• Youth

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On the air for half a year

In mid-March, the first churches begin closing in response to the corona pandemic. The Church responds immediately: from then on, members are able to participate in divine services live-streamed on YouTube.

September 11, 2020

Africa

+6

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Mozambique: setting off into a new country (Part 1)

“We are happy to finally ‘get on the map,’” explains Apostle Robert Worship enthusiastically. The administrative director of the District Church of Southern Africa is supervising an extraordinary project: the very first mapping of the New Apostolic congregations in Mozambique.

September 10, 2020

Africa

+5

• Buildings
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Profile

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How miracles happen nowadays

Miracles are not the solution—they are merely a reference to it. Rather, it is more about performing miracles of our own and sending a signal—or showing a kind of sign—in the process. How, why, and to what end? Following are some points from a divine service with the Chief Apostle.

September 9, 2020

Africa

+5

• apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 

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Spotlight 16/2020: Allow your eyes to be opened!

Seeing who we really are … without others judging us. That is not easy, seeing that we humans are social creatures and therefore depend on the benevolence of others. Jesus opens our eyes for reality, District Apostle Helper John Fendt from the USA says.

September 8, 2020

annual motto

+2

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle

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First female Church president appointed

Esther Kompare is the new president of the New Apostolic Church Slovenia. This is the first time that a woman has taken on this responsibility in this country.

September 4, 2020

Asia congregation

+7

• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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Continuity in turbulent times

Fluctuating case numbers and adapting to changing Covid19 measures are challenging people everywhere. But there is a comforting constant in all of this—our online and dial-in services.

September 4, 2020

Chief Apostle

+2

• congregation
• divine service

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Whether celebrating or mourning, Jesus’ love is not dependent on the situation

Jesus drank wine and John the Baptist was an ascetic. In that case neither of them could have been sent by God, could they?! Nevertheless, Jesus’ actions prove that He was indeed sent by God. And whoever follows the path that Jesus established has grounds for true joy.

September 2, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments
• society

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Challenge accepted: India celebrates

It all began with a woman who became New Apostolic while on a trip to Denmark fifty years ago. Upon returning to India, she did not keep her faith to herself, but rather told many others about Jesus and living Apostles. And against all odds, there are around 45,000 New Apostolic Christians living in India today.

August 28, 2020

Buildings

+12

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Sealing
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments
• society
• Youth

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… the church comes to the believer

Lockdown, bans on assembly, no divine services—in many places, believers cannot gather together in the church. For them the offer of divine service by video continues.

August 28, 2020

Chief Apostle

+6

• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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don't miss

“A decision with long-term goals in mind”

The New Apostolic Church in Angola is growing. It was time to take another step. Since last Sunday, the country has its own District Apostle Helper: João Uanuque Misselo.

February 25, 2015

Chief Apostle District Apostle

+6

• apostolate
• doctrine 
• congregation
• Pastoral care
• Organisation
• Africa

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“The Lord is risen indeed!”

The Passiontide, with the death of the Lord on Good Friday, ends magnificently in the resurrection of the Lord. This is the fundamental belief of all Christians. But why is this day of the resurrection so important for us?

April 4, 2015

Good Friday Chief Apostle

+9

• apostolate
• doctrine 
• sacraments
• Baptism 
• Holy Sealing
• Holy Communion
• divine service
• congregation
• confessions

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“And God saw the light, that it was good”

Light is life—and truth—and goodness in general: no other physical phenomenon shines so deeply into the human soul. How a simple image can shed light on the divine—illuminated for us on the international Day of Light this 16th day of May.

May 16, 2023

Pentecost

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