It is a privilege to love and stand with others. To rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. We who experience the love of Jesus poured into us cannot help but give that same extravagant love away, just like the song goes –

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love.

This week, we had a chance to stand with one of our own in their time of loss, and to love on them well. We thank you with all our heart. Monina and Robert’s families thank you all as well: “I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for all that you’ve done for me and Robert. No words can express/describe how thankful I and my family are for the whole church for all you have done for the homecoming of Robert. Please accept my deepest gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Your love extends to others too in the community – the sick, the elderly, the hungry, the imprisoned, the widowed, the orphaned, the homeless. Even those who don’t agree with you. Everyone for whom Jesus came to save is worthy of being loved, and you love them well!

We love because Jesus first loved us. We serve because He gave up His life for us, and He desires that all men may see that we are His disciples, if we love one another. You are true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are so honored that you are known by your love!