Motto for 2022: Together in Christ

Motto for 2022: Together in Christ

Jan 1, 2022 | Announcements

The Chief Apostle has announced the motto for 2022, and he explains this further in his New Year’s address. The theme is about togetherness, and this is explained on four levels:

  • first: our fellowship with the triune God 
  • second: our fellowship in the divine service 
  • third: living together in fellowship
  • and finally: the fellowship of the living and the dead. 

Each year, the various districts around the globe are invited to design a logo for this theme.  In previous years, the logos for the Western Pacific district have been designed by members in South Korea, Papua New Guinea and Australia.  This time, the task fell to our members in Samoa.

There are a number of elements represented in the logo that they have designed:

The small oblong shapes on the top and bottom represent grave stones (the dead), and the four shapes of people represent the living (living and dead; Together in Christ)

The three crosses represent the Trinity

The four green triangular shapes signify that ”I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven & earth.” (Psalms 121:1-2)

The long orange spear shapes in between the circles represent the long boats that are found in the Pacific Islands. These boats are used to move productively forward, and the people in the boats row in absolute unison.  These spears also symbolise courage and fight for the good.

We wish all a happy and successful New Year, and God’s richest blessings in the days ahead.

LISTEN TO THE CHIEF APOSTLE’S MESSAGE HERE

December 2021: Promise

December 2021: Promise

Dec 1, 2021 | Word of the Month

A promise is a declaration or assurance, stating a commitment to give or do something specific. Whether what has been promised is actually done is a different question.

The first message for Advent, however, is: God keeps what He has promised! After the fall, He promised the first human beings that He would send them a Redeemer, and He confirmed this again and again through the prophets. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Yet only very few really recognised Him. Only those to whom the Holy Spirit revealed it could really recognise who He was. It was the same for the disciples. Only after the Holy Spirit had come upon them were they truly able to recognise that all the promises from the Old Testament had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

It is the Holy Spirit who proclaims God’s promises to us; it is the Holy Spirit who keeps them alive in our hearts; and it is the Holy Spirit who lets us experience their fulfilment. We have been promised that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, will return. This promise is being kept alive in our hearts so that we can experience its fulfilment.

Those who allow the Holy Spirit to lead them will experience that God keeps what He has promised!

Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle

November 2021: Comprehension

November 2021: Comprehension

Nov 1, 2021 | Word of the Month

What God does is often incomprehensible to us humans. We ask ourselves why He allows the one or other thing and does not prevent it. We do not agree with God at all.

We humans also tend to overestimate ourselves and believe that we can do things better than God. Was this not one of the main reasons for man’s fall into sin?

Peter made this experience too. Sometimes he did not agree at all with what His Master did or said. It was simply beyond his comprehension. Jesus was fully aware of this, which is why He showed understanding to His disciple and said to him: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this” (John 13: 7).

This is our comfort: God does not resent our lack of understanding. He is patient with us and does not allow this to stop Him from continuing to work on our salvation. As our Father He knows that many things are beyond our comprehension, and He will not push us away, even if we behave like a defiant child here and there. If we remain faithful to Him and hold on to His hand, we will experience that He gives us peace and joy.

Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle

Community 2021 – Edition 4

Community 2021 – Edition 4

Oct 1, 2021 | Community

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.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE