Dear readers,
Imagine the following scene. A woman walks into a coffee shop, orders a cup of coffee, and sits down at a free table. She gets up again to get herself some sugar from the counter. As she turns around to go back to her table she notices that a man is sitting at her table, drinking her coffee. A thousand thoughts shoot into her head in the fraction of a second: he is a thief, a homeless person, who is after her bag and money; that is all they ever want anyway; what has this world come to; honest people are a thing of the past … The woman approaches a waitress and asks for assistance. The waitress points out that the man is not sitting at the woman’s table, but at a neighbouring table. The woman’s cup and bag are still sitting there, untouched. Everything is as she left it. Tables in restaurants simply often look a lot alike. The prejudices were not really very helpful…
On Sunday, 6th of November 2016 New Apostolic Christians all over the world celebrate a Divine Service for the Departed. Inner reflection, emotions and memories are feelings that influence these days.
In the bible we can find several indications how the living can intervene for the departed. Such Divine Services for the departed play an important role in New Apostolic clerical year. It is obvious that you need a lot of faith to believe in something which humans cannot see and what cannot be scientifically examined. Although we have a limited perception the following has its validity for us:Salvation exists for the living and the dead equally.
That Sunday, 6.11.2016 the day we intervene for the departed – is a day of friendly remembrance, helping intercession and of active love for your neighbour. And please without prejudice!
Everybody is heartily welcome to this special Divine Service. The Divine Service will adorned with special musical contributions and very often is a very touching moment in the course of a year.
Kind regards,
Wolfram Laube