Letter to the Congregations: 17th January 2026

Our Dear Brethren,

“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2). If we’ve been keeping the festivals of God for any length of time, we have no doubt come across this verse. We’ve learned that the beginning of the year according to God’s calendar is in the spring (in the northern hemisphere). This is important for us to note because the calendar dictates when we keep the feasts starting with the Passover.

We have just over two months before this annual time marker comes around again. This leaves only a certain amount of time for us to prepare for the next Passover. Of course the Passover is something that we should be preparing for all year long. Are you prepared for this Passover?

Are you prepared to remember how God powerfully brought His people out of bondage in the land of Egypt? Are you prepared to read through the instructions He gave His people to keep a lamb without blemish until the 14th day of the first month at twilight when they were to kill those lambs and put some of the blood from that sacrifice on the doorposts of their houses? Are you prepared to remember that very first Passover?

Are you prepared to gather with your brethren and remember that the lambs whose blood was brushed on the doorposts of the people symbolized the Lamb of God who was slain “from the foundation of the world” (see Revelation 13:8)? Are you prepared to remember that He, this Lamb of God, the Christ, who walked the earth with mankind, took the punishment for your personal sins so that you can have your name written in the Book of Life? Are you prepared to read through the events leading up to and including His excruciating crucifixion? Are you prepared to take of the symbols of His body and His blood, renewing your baptismal covenant for another year?

Are you prepared to humbly and gladly wash the feet of your brethren as Jesus Himself did as an example for us of service and love? Are you prepared to partake of the sacrifice of the Christ together as a spiritual body, being bonded by the same sacrifice, by the same faith, by the same Spirit which bonds us together? “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The beginning of the year for God’s people is coming. Along with it the Lord’s Passover and the deep meaning behind this God-given festival. Now, immediately, is the best time to start preparing for this important day so it doesn’t come upon us as if we didn’t expect it. We should have the Passover and all the festivals of God marked in our calendars. We should be preparing our hearts and minds to keep each one holy by gathering with one another and by understanding what each means to God and to His people.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe