Letter to the Congregations: 7th September 2024

Our Dear Brethren,

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:17-19).

We are God's people and are to take on His attributes including the love we have for others. God loves and cares for all of humanity and plans to reveal Himself to each individual in due time. In Scripture we often see descriptions of the fatherless and widow, the Levite and the stranger. In general these were people who didn't have their own inheritance from parents, no land of their own to grow their food on, and nothing to tithe on to keep the Feasts. God pays special attention to those who can't take care of themselves.

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name Yah, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land" (Psalm 68:4-6).

In this song that King David was inspired to write, we see a beautiful and caring description of our Father who, although much greater than us, pays close attention to our care. He has become our Father if we don't have one. And even if we do have a human father who cares very much for us, God our Father has an even greater love which we can always rely on! He has become our family and even given us a great big family which we can be a part of. We have become His children. Through His Holy Spirit He works within us, changing our hearts and minds so become like Him, caring and loving especially towards those who cannot care for themselves.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe