Letter to the Congregations: 7th March 2026

Our Dear Brethren,

In just over three weeks it will be the Passover, when the baptized members of the Church of God will gather to memorialize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf. This year the Passover service will be at sunset on March 31st as the fourteenth day of the first month of God’s calendar begins. On the evening of April 1st, as the sun sets, we will begin another Holy Day by gathering for a meal on the Night To Be Much Observed. This is a traditional gathering when God’s people remember how ancient Israel left Egypt by night. April 2nd is the First Day of Unleavened Bread, the fifteenth day of the first month of God’s calendar. It will be a Holy Day with a holy convocation when God’s people will gather, the word of God will be proclaimed and studied, we will take up an offering, and we will feast together. On the seventh day of the first month we will again gather for a holy convocation on the Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread, this year on April 8th.

In preparation for these upcoming Feasts of God we have no doubt already started examining ourselves, weeding out the unnecessary attitudes and actions which weigh us down. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). And in preparation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread we will be removing the physical leavening from our homes, symbolic of our continued endeavoring to remove sin from our lives, replacing “the leaven of malice and wickedness” with “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (see 1 Corinthians 5:8).

With our world on the precipice of constant conflict, it’s fitting that we are approaching a time that reminds us of both the testing of God’s people and the freeing of them from persecution. Although we go through periods of testing, we should always remember that our God is with us, guiding us and strengthening us so we might grow and mature into the potential people we are meant to be. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe