"For I am the LORD, I do not change…."(see Malachi 3:6). We therefore mustevaluate what is doctrinal (and therefore isnot changeable) and what is not (and istherefore changeable).

It is reasonable to suggest that for some insociety today the relevance of Christmashas changed. However, the celebration ofthe birth of Christ, God's gift to mankind,remains a sacred and holy event for many.Such individuals are able to see the truepurpose and value of the sending of God'sSon and rejoice over the benefits thisknowledge brings with it. We are thankfulthat for us as New Apostolic Christians,Christmas is a time of both spiritual andnatural rejoicing.

I wish you and your loved ones a veryhappy and blessed Christmas and a joyfuland fulfilling new year as we enter a newdecade together under the hand of ourHeavenly Father.

With loving greetings,

Andrew H. Andersen

AUSTRALIA DISTRICT

NEWS

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

On occasions we are confronted with questionsabout the relevance of the church today.These questions vary from the desire ofsome to see the church remain a firm andauthoritarian institution to others who feelthat the church should accept the standardsthat society sets today. The firm answer tothis matter is that the mission of the NewApostolic Church is to reach out to all peo-ple in order to teach them the Gospel ofJesus Christ and to baptise them with water(Holy Baptism) and the Holy Spirit (HolySealing). It also seeks to provide soul-careand cultivate a warm fellowship in whicheveryone can experience the love of Godand the joy of serving Him and others (theNew Apostolic Church’s official MissionStatement).

In order to achieve this we must adapt tothe environment in which we work today. Itis pointless to practise traditional ways thatare no longer practical. Therefore we mustincreasingly monitor our working area andbe prepared to modify procedures wherenecessary. However, the doctrine of theLord Jesus Christ as promoted by theApostles of today is not subject to modification.It remains as it has always been-withoutcompromise!

As time progresses, there will inevitably bechanges. History teaches us that nothingremains the same in the material sense.However, God has made it perfectly clearthat He (ie His will ) does not change:

Edition 24/4 - December 2009

al Bebendorf receivededding blessings in Riverleigh

July 2009

Holy Baptism of Espoire Fideliin

District Apostle visits Beenleigh, QldThe District Apostle conducted a Divine Service in Beenleigh, Qld on Sunday, 11 October 2009. The Q1 & Q2 subdistricts of South EastQueensland were combined for this occasion. During the Service District Evangelist Barry Laufer was placed into retirement, andShepherd Richard Graf was confirmed in the District Evangelist ministry, which he previously held when he resided in New Zealand.After a fellowship lunch together the District Apostle conducted a Service for Ministers and wives.

District Apostle visits Canberra, ACTDistrict Apostle Andersen travelled to Canberra on the weekend of 17 & 18 October, 2009. On this occasion he was joined by the DistrictLeaders of Australia and New Zealand in order to conduct meetings. On Sunday morning the congregation gathered for the DivineService. On Sunday afternoon, the combined congregations from N1 & N2 subdistricts presented a concert.

25th Anniversary in Popondetta, PNGOn Thursday, 17 September 2009 Apostle Trevor Williams travelled to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where our brothersand sisters of Oro Province celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the New Apostolic congregations in Oro.Retired Bishop Lorne Brown, who served in this working area during his ministering years, took the opportunity to be presentfor this historical occasion.

Apostle Pouru, with his large team of willing helpers, prepared the site where first Holy Sealing Service was conducted byApostle Joe Mani to accommodate up to 5,000 attendees. A number of sturdy, well constructed buildings were erected,including housing for the brethren travelling great distances, a stage for the choir to sing from and the Apostles and Bishops toserve from, a rest house for the Apostles and Bishops and storage houses for fruit and vegetables.

On Friday, 18 September 2009 our brethren arrived from far and near on large trucks with much singing and joyful anticipation.The celebrations continued on the Saturday with presentations that acted out the historical events that lead up to the first ApostleService in that district. This was followed by a concert where the choirs from the various districts of Oro Province presenteditems to a large enthusiastic audience. A large congregation assembled on the Sunday for the Jubilee Service. Among thehighlights of this service was that Apostle and Sister Pouru and Bishop and Sister Hungito received the blessing for their SilverWedding.

Youth Convention - Perth, WAOn the weekend of 12 & 13 September 2009 Youth Conventions were simultaneously held in Perth - Western Australia, Mapleton -Queensland and Christchurch - New Zealand. District Apostle Andersen was gathered with the Youth in Perth, where he carried outHoly Sealing and a number of ordinations. Apostle Williams travelled to New Zealand and Bishop Green was present in Mapleton.From all reports an enjoyable - but tiring - weekend was had by all. We bring you a selection of photos from each location.

Youth Convention - Christchurch, NZ

Youth Convention - Mapleton, Qld

Seniors

District Apostle Andersen conducted a Divine Service for the Seniors of the South East Queensland region on Sunday, 2 August2009. This occasion also coincided with the birthday of retired District Apostle Rosentreter. After the Service the congregationenjoyed fellowship lunch together, followed by birthday cake!

Around the Congregations

Father's Day in Newcastle (NSW)

Apostle Williams with SundaySchool children and Youth from

Q6 (Qld) subdistrict

A combined service with Invercargillcongregation was held in Cromwell (NZ)

Youth from various congregations in NewZealand travelled toTokaanu for a snow trip

Bishop Green gathered with members ofKingston (Qld) congregation

Croyden (Vic) Sunday School supporttheir favourite footy teams

Ascot Park (SA) congregation hosted aChristmas in July fellowship

Apostle Williams went bowling with the youth in Bundaberg (Qld)

Youth in Wellington (NZ) visiteda Sister and sang for her

Father's Day in Croyden (Vic) congregation

Seniors in Auckland (NZ) gatheredfor a choir practice

District Apostle Andersen with youthin Christchurch (NZ)

Around the Congregations

Sunday School children from Wellington(NZ) visited the zoo

Father's Day in Fairfield (NSW)

Apostle Williams & Bishop Green with Sunday School children from

Leumeah (NSW)

Sunday School children in Kingston (Qld)Youth from Auckland visited the youth

in Wellington (NZ)

Father's Day in Gosford (NSW)

A Youth Service was conducted for youthfrom Wellington (NZ) in a vineyard

owned by one of our members

Father's Day in Ascot Park (Qld)

Father's Day in Toowoomba (Qld)

A Youth Service was conducted inRockhampton for youth from

Q5,Q6 & Q7 (Qld) subdistricts

Sunday School children in Mackay (Qld)sang during a Service conducted by

Apostle Williams

Redcliffe (Qld) congregation had a fellowship outing to Mt Glorious

Celabrations

Holy Sealing of Sis LesleyPotgieter of Wollongong (NSW)

on 18th October 2009

Holy Baptism of Xavier Smith-Pereira ofSpringvale (Vic) on 18th October 2009

Br Adolf Muntz of Springvale (Vic) celebrated his 85th birthday

on 10th November 2009

Ev Denver & Sis Judy Davids of NewLynn (NZ) received Silver Wedding

blessings on 4th October 2009

Ev & Sis Giselle Stellenberg ofBeckenham (WA) received Silver

Wedding blessings on 25th October 2009

Shepherd & Sis Mabothareceived Silver Wedding

Blessings in Box Hill (Vic) on 27th September 2009

Adoption of Br Nick Thompson inChristchurch (NZ) on

16th August 2009

Sis Candice Blumlein & BrAllan Hay received wedding

blessings in Ashmore (Qld) on12th September 2009

Br James (Shamus) McKeown andSis Kathryn Gulli received

engagement blessings in St Marys (NSW) on 16th August 2009

Holy Baptism of Andy & Julie Doan ofSpringvale (Vic) on 23rd August 2009

Sis Tarryn Fredericks & Br NickThompson received engagement blessings

in Christchurch (NZ) on 19th July 2009

Adoption of Sis Tienie Geleyns inChristchurch (NZ) on

23rd August 2009

Br Jason Pereira & Sis Kelly Ringreceived wedding blessings in

Gosford (NSW) on 19th September 2009

Br Donald & Sis Erika Ross ofCaloundra (Qld) received Silver

Wedding blessings on 27th

September 2009

Head Office:

58 Brookes Street

Bowen Hills

Brisbane,Qld.4006

Australia

Telephone

Facsimile

Email

A.B.N.

(07) 3214 1400

(07) 3214 1444

nacho@newapostolic.org.au

67 011 031 780

Postal address:

New Apostolic Church

P.O. Box 2332

Fortitude Valley BC Qld 4006

Australia

Published by the New Apostolic Church - Australia District

Celebrations

Deceased

Br Patrick & Sis Anita Maxwell of Newcastle(NSW) received wedding blessings

on 8th September 2009

Holy Baptism of Keagen Rademan inHamilton (NZ) on 4th October 2009

Br Manie & Sis Linda Du Rand ofToowoomba (Qld) received Silver Wedding

blessings on 16th August 2009

Sis Erika Lopa of Leumeah (NSW) celebrated her 90th birthday on

2nd November 2009

Pr (ret) Noel & Sis Val Bebendorf receivedGolden Wedding blessings in Riverleigh

(Qld) on 30th August 2009

Holy Baptism of Zebadiah Clark in Rivervale (WA) on 6th September 2009

Sis Edna Williams of New Lynn (NZ) celebrated her 80th birthday on 15th July 2009

Br Alfred Harson of AscotPark (SA) celebrated his 75th

birthday on 15th October 2009

Br Karl Martens of Croyden (Vic)celebrated his 90th birthday

on 13th October 2009

Sis Minnie Dietz of Toowoomba(Qld) celebrated her 99th birthday on

6th September 2009

Holy Sealing of Sis Karen Lodewick in Redcliffe (Qld) on 4th October 2009

Br Willem & Sis Shirley Nieuwoudt ofToowoomba (Qld) received Golden Wedding

blessings on 16th August 2009

Holy Baptism of Espoire FideliinKingston (Qld) on6th September 2009

Br Colin Keiler, Rockhampton (Qld) 16/09/2009Sis Marion Knuth, Kingston (Qld) 28/09/2009Br Peter van der Poel, Koondoola (WA) 5/10/2009Br Donald Quick, Mackay (Qld) 19/10/2009Baby Jayla Dargusch, Windsor (Qld) 22/10/2009Baby Bryce Dargusch, Windsor (Qld) 25/10/2009Br John Schaefer, Box Hil l (Vic) 2/11/2009Sis Elfriede Tobiasz, Braybrook (Vic) 23/11/2009