The new church year has commenced and will be ushered in with concerts and celebrations around the world. Whether virtually or live and in person—our brothers and sisters have already begun celebrating the feast of love for their neighbour.

In many congregations, singing has resumed and so have concerts. Here is a small overview of concerts and workshops in different parts of the world, showcasing that music is a universal language that speaks to the soul.

Love, friendship, and sharing the same faith… These are things that make us strong. And this is something that brothers and sisters from all generations and walks of life were able to experience in various countries over the past few weeks. Together in Christ still applies even if the year is almost over.

Living by faith, not by sight. That was the subject of a divine service the Chief Apostle conducted in the Philippines recently. He used the example of the people of Israel to explain what exactly this means. .

Children in Ghana perform some theatre, a District Apostle celebrates six divine services in a single week in Argentina, and the members in the Philippines take delight at the visit of their District Apostle. Let’s take a trip around the world with the online magazine of the New Apostolic Church.

Whether young or old, many people love to make music. Music brings people together and it can create peace. The language of music is an international one and is understood across the world.

There are many occasions that bring people together for a celebration. Whether it is confirmation or a day of activities to prepare for the confirmation service, people enjoy being together. This week we are celebrating diversity in the Church.

The greatest wealth of a congregation is its children. This is a treasure that to be cherished and fostered—whether in special services for children or singing together or planting a garden. Here are some inspiring ideas to imitate.

The Covid crisis is still not over, there are wars, natural disasters, and catastrophic hunger. With all the negative news, it is easy to forget a very important group within the Church: children and young people, who are our future.

Around 100 members in Paris, France are looking forward to the visit of the Chief Apostle on 17 October. The special thing about this congregation: they come from many different countries but are nevertheless connected by the same faith.

Holger Hantke (70) worked as a composer in the creation of a number of sheet music collections for the New Apostolic Church. Born in Lübeck and today a resident of Hamburg, he talks about his life and what he thinks of New Apostolic music.

There is so much that competes for our attention, and we have to set priorities… But what really matters? Here is an answer from Chief Apostle Schneider. The new issue of community also features aspects of the Church’s teachings, people who share our faith, and congregational life around the world.

“Tina im Kirchturm”—in English: “Tina in the church tower”: this is the name of a series that has been running on YouTube since January 2021. There, a budding music teacher from the Hannover South congregation in Germany posts music videos for children, to which they can sing and dance along.

Joy and sadness often exist side by side. While some can come together and celebrate again, others are struggling to come to terms with destruction. Let’s pray for all.

“Sown into the heart”—this was the motto of the Christian churches at the Federal Garden Show in Erfurt, Germany. All around the world, Christians are sowing positive things into the hearts of their fellow human beings. For example, our Apostles sow love, and our young people are sowing the notion of taking responsibility for the creation.

Wilhelm Sebastian was a man who was entrusted with special missions. He was barely 25 years old when he was sent from Hamburg to Brunswick to establish a congregation there. One of the special assignments given him is still of importance to the Church today.

These were difficult times in the history of the New Apostolic Church. They included two world wars, internationalisation, consolidation, division, and realignment—a little bit of everything. And he stood firm like a rock in the pounding surf: Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff was born 150 years ago today.

Who cares for the children? Their parents, of course, but also the teachers, the whole congregation, and naturally also the ministers. But how can they help? And what are the special challenges of pastoral care for children?