Robertson West NAC

Dear brothers & sisters

The memorial service of our dear sister Sanita de Necker will take place on Saturday 9 December 2023, 11h00 at Robertson West Church.

We extend our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to Priest Pieter Stander and his wife San-Marie and their family and pray that our loving Heavenly Father's embrace provides much strength and comfort at this difficult time.

Divine Service conducted by District Apostle John Kriel
on Sunday, 29 October 2023 at 9am
to all congregations on the NACTV Network and via all current online, radio and television platforms.

Impressions from the Young People Divine Service

An eye-catching display of gratitude Saying thank you through concerts, donations to the less fortunate, and of course, richly decorated altars. Some countries celebrated Thanksgiving Day at the start of October—here is the photo gallery.

Message from District Apostle John Kriel to all our matriculants:

Dear Matriculants

My prayers are with you while you do your final preparations for the upcoming final exams.

Despite all the difficulties you may encounter, hard work will always be rewarded.

Best wishes to you and your families.

Kind regards
John Kriel

Thanksgiving 2023

Gratitude indeed does inspire families to serve!

Psalm 116:12 (New King James Version)
What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
https://youtu.be/QSnGlJWOAGs

Meeting for ministers with the Apostle

On Saturday 16 September 2023, Apostle Gavin van der Hoven held a ministers meeting for Robertson district at Robertson West church. The Apostle was accompanied by Bishop Jerome Cook.

The Apostle emphasised the church's vision, a few thoughts from the Chief Apostle and the four-pronged approach to facilitating a vibrant church.

The overall message was that ministers must serve the Lord and our brethren with love and care while preparing them in oneness with the Apostolate for the Lord's return.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Apostle opened the floor for a few questions and answers. Thereafter the Bishop concluded the meeting with closing remarks and prayer. The ministers left with hearts filled with newness and gratitude for a spirit-inspired meeting.

Thinking peace

There are many slogans about peace. Perhaps the best known is “Make love, not war”, an anti-war slogan. A Christian motto is “Peace amidst our earthly fears”. This comes from Jesus Himself.

He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

What exactly does peace in Christ mean? This is an appeal to all Christians to take Him as an example.

Jesus Himself experienced enough suffering to know how people feel when they go through pain or difficulties. He is close to them.

Although Christians are part of the world, they are protected from evil. Jesus Christ Himself overcame the world and evil. And those who follow Him may share in this victory. All they have to do is trust in Him.

The peaceful will be called God’s children, not belligerent or quarrelsome individuals. In order to live in harmony with one another, compassion, love of one’s neighbour, and understanding for others must be something that is very valuable to one. Avoiding prejudice must become a priority again. Instead, patience and self-control should determine the way we interact with one another. Doing good to others paves the way to peace. And people who long for peace walk together on a common path!

Jesus is close to us even in trials

In His last words to His disciples, before He was arrested, the Son of God predicted that they would abandon Him. It was clear to Him though that He was not alone, but that God the Father was with Him. And here He is an example to all who follow Him. We too have to suffer through many things and often find ourselves in situations that fill us with fear or in which we have to deal with rejection and resistance. But we have reason to be comforted and find peace in Christ: He is there.

We are invited
• to pause and perceive God’s presence.
• to trust in God despite our anxieties about the current world situation and remember and make use of the power of prayer.

By their very nature, human beings cannot bring about lasting peace. But when they find it in Christ and accept it, they can pass on this peace and carry it into the world.

And the world needs it badly, because it would indeed appear that humanity has not yet realised how serious the situation is. Disputes, conflicts, and wars destroy within a short time what nature or a society has taken years to build up and establish. War destroys. It crushes. Ambition, the craving for power, and selfish attitudes pit people against each other. A “me first” sentiment can always only satisfy one person. Whereas “all of us together” satisfies and helps many.

Therefore, if we want to properly appreciate peace, we must uphold this one particular principle: all people are equal before God—even if tyrants and dictators refuse to acknowledge this. There is no such thing as inferior or superior, no small or great, no right or wrong. Seeing oneself as the standard in comparison with others is at best an expression of powerlessness and a lack of awareness rather than strength and authority.

Peace doesn’t cost a thing. It does not break anyone’s budget or the public purse. It does not need negotiators, bribes, contingency plans, or missile bunkers. Peace is completely silent and pleasant. Peace is like the child who gets up again when she has fallen down. Peace is life.

But does humanity want to be reminded of peace at all? Sometimes the wish for a peaceful world seems so bizarre, so infinitely far away. There is no end to the news of new wars. Children die for no reason. Civilian casualties are outlawed, but still happen almost every day! War reporting has become a profession, resistance fighters operate between fronts, and aid organisations wear blue helmets. It’s the same as always.

So should we stop dreaming about a peaceful world? Please don’t! If no one dreams of peace any more, war becomes normal. And Christians in particular are called upon to pray for peace. This is a requirement of the gospel.

International Day of Peace

In 2001, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared in UN resolution 55/282 that 21 September will henceforth be observed as the International Day of Peace. The World Council of Churches (WCC), joined this effort in 2004 and observes 21 September as the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Local and international communities are invited to pray and work together for a just peace in all communities and nations across the world. The New Apostolic Church has also officially observed the day since 2005.

This day is an opportunity for all of humanity to commit to peace and make peace a priority among the peoples of this world. The International Day of Peace is to be observed as a day of global non-violence and ceasefire. Prayers from different parts of the world are posted on the internet, for example on Facebook and Twitter.

May this peace captivate many more people! Peace in your own heart, in your family, in your community, in your congregation, and in the wonderful world in which we all live.

Thinking peace There are many slogans about peace. Perhaps the best known is “Make love, not war”, an anti-war slogan. A Christian motto is “Peace amidst our earthly fears”. This comes from Jesus Himself.

On 18 September, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will celebrate his birthday.
All the best and God's rich blessing, dear Chief Apostle!

2024 Sunday School Registrations

On Sunday 10 September 2023, during the divine service conducted by our Rector, Community Evangelist Jerome Jacobs, the parents of baby Ronwin brought their son to God's altar to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism.

The first Sunday of September every year is a festive day marked as Friendship Day on our church calendar.

Our congregation joined in the festivities.

Here is a photo essay of what was truly a blessed, joyful and friendly day.

Divine service + Birthdays + Fellowship = Blessings + Joy + Strength

Today we experienced a cross booking divine service with CEVs X Baird and R Fransman from Worcester district.

Just a few more hours to go to 🤩 and we can't wait to see all those beautiful smiles in Worcester Town Hall😍 How excited are you? Are you ready? 🙏

https://youtu.be/hJfGo-_EqyU

Pentecost 2023: Chief Apostle surprises members in Tafelsig Congregation The members who gathered in Tafelsig, Cape Town expected District Apostle Helper Mandla Mkhwanazi for their midweek divine service on Wednesday, 24 May 2023,...

More of yesterday’s arrivals of the DAs and DAHs’ and their wifes.

https://web.nacsa.africa/db/2121/News/Pentecost-2023-Chief-Apostle-arrives

Pentecost 2023 - Chief Apostle arrives!

Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider has arrived safely in South Africa for the Pentecost festivities!

During his visit to Cape Town, the Chief Apostle will be accompanied by all the District Apostles and District Apostle Helpers from around the world. The visiting District Apostles and their Helpers will conduct divine services in the Western Cape on Wednesday, 24 May 2023. On 25-26 May 2023, our church leaders will attend the International District Apostle Meeting (DAMI). The group will also attend a concert in Silvertown on Saturday, 27 May and the Pentecost divine service conducted by the Chief Apostle in Tafelsig on Sunday, 28 May 2023. Both these events will be live-streamed on YouTube.

https://web.nacsa.africa/db/2121/News/Pentecost-2023-Chief-Apostle-arrives

On this day - 13 years ago!

Pentecost 2010: “Let us pray daily for power!”

Cape Town. District Apostle Noel Barnes expressed it best after the divine service: “I may not be able to look into the future, but I believe that this will remain a unique event for us in Cape Town!” The Pentecost service had just come to an end. Some 1.2 million believers had been able to participate in it live, either by satellite or internet transmission. Four thousand of these had been seated in the congregation of Tafelsig, the largest New Apostolic Church building in the world.

“I wish all of you a blessed feast of Pentecost and a wonderful day filled with joy and power,” said Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international Church leader, as he greeted the large Pentecost assembly. On this occasion he stood behind the altar in the congregation of Tafelsig, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. He was accompanied by 341 Apostles of the New Apostolic Church, who had gathered from all parts of the world over the days preceding Pentecost for an International Apostle Meeting.

Pentecost greeting from Hebrews 12: 1

In accordance with the decades-long tradition of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Leber started out by reading the Pentecost greeting. For this he chose a Bible passage from Hebrews 12: 1: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” He called this a “special message for everyone, and good counsel for our time.” After all, said the Church leader, “there are many things that we can lay aside: disappointment, burdens, cares, and in short, all things that seek to rob us of our joy and peace. This is not always easy, but with the power of the Holy Spirit it is possible.” He also went on to add: “Laying something aside doesn’t mean that it suddenly disappears—but it no longer depresses us!”

Then the Chief Apostle looked into the ranks of the children, and reminded the young participants in the service about the historical feast of Pentecost. Concerning this, Holy Scripture relates that “they were all with one accord in one place” (cf. Acts 2: 1). “What does this mean for us?” asked the Chief Apostle, “Let us keep the peace among one another and then we will experience our God.”

Being witnesses for the Lord

Last of all, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber—who begins his sixth year as Church leader with this Pentecost—came to speak about the actual Bible text at the heart of this divine service. Acts 1: 8 likewise makes reference to the power of the Holy Spirit: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Chief Apostle began his interpretation of this text by stating that he wanted to especially emphasise the aspect of divine “power”. “It is my wish that this power may become even more evident within us,” he said. “After all, we all need such power in order to preserve our faith, remain joyful, and look into the future filled with the joy of hope. We all need power in order to avoid going under in the daily matters of life!”

“A good recipe for possessing this power is to ask the Lord for it,” recommended the Church leader. “Let us pray for this power daily! With it we will also be prepared to be a witness for the Lord. I will speak for all of us: let us be witnesses!”

Three hundred forty-one Apostles from around the world

After the divine service, the Chief Apostle asked all the Apostles to stand, in order of the continents where they are active. It was an impressive picture, which led the hosting District Apostle to exclaim: “This will remain a unique event for us in Cape Town!”

https://nac.today/en/208122/162932

Pentecost Divine Service

Ascension Divine Service