Letter to the Congregations: 26th April 2025

Our Dear Brethren,

The eleven remaining disciples gathered with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. They were to return to Jerusalem and remain there even after He returned to sit at His Father’s right hand in heaven, until the gift of the Holy Spirit would be given to them. Although they had been baptized by water, having repented of their sins, they hadn’t yet received the power from God. This was something they didn’t quite understand, but at this point their sense of obedience was strong enough to follow their Teacher’s instructions as they waited.

After forty days of walking with them and teaching them, after Jesus answered a few final questions and gave these men some final instructions, the disciples watched as Jesus “was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). They stood watching, waiting, hoping that He would return immediately. But that’s not what He said would happen. Jesus had said He would be going away and would return, but He also described His return in association with the end of the age filled with tribulation and heavenly signs. That time hadn’t yet arrived.

And yet the men stood and stared and waited. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so com sin like manner as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11). These angels were sent to give the disciples a nudge in the right direction, a wake-up call, a reminder that Jesus had given them work to do. They would need the power of the Holy Spirit to begin that work, but they first would need to focus and pray and prepare themselves to receive God’s power and presence. They would need to make a conscious decision to focus on the work that would be coming.

So with angelic encouragement to refocus, the disciples continued gathering with one another “with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 2:14).

We recently celebrated another Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. We are in a period of time like the disciples, between one Feast and another. We are waiting for the next Feast of Pentecost, a reminder of our own receiving of the Spirit of God after our baptism. This period of time is a reminder that our work as God’s people must continue. We are called to overcome, to encourage, to strive, to be God’s elect, and to endure until the end. We are nearing the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ. While we wait for that great day, we must stay focused, continuing to gather with other disciples of Jesus in one accord, praying together, serving together, preparing together.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe