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- A call to repentance: 450,000 souls took part in the Pentecost divine service with Chief Apostle Fehr!
Wiesbaden. Unfortunately the satellite transmission to Zambia failed again this year but despite this, around 450,000 souls were able to experience Chief Apostle Richard Fehr's serving live in their congregations.
The chief apostle - who began his 17th year of office this Pentecost - chose a word of greeting from 2 Peter 3: 9, which he addressed to all New Apostolic Christians throughout the world: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
In his serving from the altar, Chief Apostle Richard Fehr mentioned the fact that the word "repentance" is not very popular with all people, but that it is imperative and signifies a return to divine order. As an example of divine order he stated the first Commandment: "I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me."
Sixty-two apostles from all over Europe accompanied the chief apostle to Wiesbaden. Already on the Saturday prior to the Pentecost service there was a workshop on the subject of the "Word of Life"1, during which the apostles were made aware of generally applicable rules for drafting articles for the circular.
The divine service on Pentecost Sunday was transmitted by satellite to Argentina, Brazil, Europe, Canada, the USA, and South Africa, reaching a total of approximately 450,000 brethren in faith. The chief apostle's serving was translated into English at the altar, and a further 20 languages were added in the broadcast centre of the Friedrich-Bischoff-Verlag in Frankfurt.
The performance of three hymns from the new hymnal2 was another pleasant surprise. The hymns featured were:
- "The Spirit that God gives from heaven" (text: Paul Gerhardt, melody: Wolfgang Lack),
- "Whosoever will may come" (played by the organ while the apostles took Holy Communion - already contained in the current hymnal, but some changes have been made: the chorus has become its own 4th verse),
- "Praise the Lord, all ye who honour Him" (text: Paul Gerhardt, melody: Johann Crüger).
Further details from this festive divine service will be published on the official homepage of the District Church of Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland (see www.nac-mgemnowa.org/gk/de/mitte/).
1) The "Word of Life" is a circular comprised of brief discourses on the content of particular passages from the Holy Scriptures. It is published monthly for the ministers of the New Apostolic Church throughout the world and constitutes the basis for the various divine services.
2) The new hymnal will be introduced first in the German speaking congregations of the New Apostolic Church starting in 2005 (see www.nak.org/news/20030101-25-d.html).
4 June 2004