Letter to the Congregations: 11th April 2026

Our Dear Brethren,

The weather over the past few weeks here in Brooklyn has been a bit unpredictable, although we haven’t seen snow recently. The temperature one day makes everything feel like summer has arrived, and the next it feels like winter is creeping back in. I haven’t figured out how to dress to stay comfortable anywhere I go. At the same time there are definitely indications that spring is here. Many of the trees that usually flower have been doing so, and they are especially beautiful when the sun shines brightly.

With the changing of the annual seasons, and the recent completion of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, I’m reminded that God’s timing is perfect. Not only the timing of His Feasts and the timing of weather patterns and seasons of the year, but also in the seasons of life. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

I love reading through this passage because I am reminded that if there is something happening that is more trying, it will pass at the right time. Not that we simply wait until a difficult situation is over. We are to be active in working on our relationships with God and one another throughout every season of life. When people are sick we pray. When we have disagreements with brethren we seek to reconcile. While we mourn the dead we seek to be encouraged by the hope of the resurrections. When babies are born we enjoy the time we have with them. When we are in the midst of the Feasts we feast together even though not every day can be so joyous and full. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

And when one season ends, another season will be just beginning. So we remember to continue moving forward through these seasons as we seek the Kingdom of God. I pray that we all continue to seek and follow the will of our God and of His Christ throughout the seasons of life!

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe