Pastoral Letter: The importance of love

Dear friends,

A happy new newsletter to you! Ah, and a happy new year 2020! I am wishing you much love, grace, joy in our Lord, courage for the future and an open heart for all that God may hold for you this
year.

Stay connected in prayer to the One who stilled the storm, and trust Him to lead you through unfamiliar terrain.

For some of us, this year will be quite decisive. For some of us it may seem to be much the same. For some of us this year continues to be the walk into the unknown which already started last year.

For some of us there is great promise. For some there is dread, and fear of loss. I pray that for some of us there will be excitement in how our God may want to use us for His purposes this year – despite or even because of our shortcomings.

Let us reach out in prayer to the One who appointed even Peter!

On February 14th there is an annual commercial event which we as Christians have the freedom to ignore (ditch the “coupleterror”, the card/ restaurant/ red flowers etc).

But we also have the option of using it as a reminder of the importance of LOVE. Love that we need like daily bread to be happy. Love like a seed that God planted into our lives and that yearns to be cultivated and practiced and pampered, because only then it brings forth joy and all the other good
things in life: friendship, happiness, the ability to ask for forgiveness and the grace to forgive.

Why not make that day an effort to tell those whom who love that you really do love them, and have a celebration! Invite them for coffee! Have a pizza delivery, decorate your table!

We know LOVE has many faces and kinds: let’s include especially someone who may feel unloved and who possibly is difficult to love, because they make it difficult for others to love them - maybe we can do on that day what we are supposed to do every day anyway: try and see them with our Lord’s loving eyes.

Be mindful of the widowed grandmother, the divorced friend and others who live on their own, or of those who are caught in a cycle of poor decisions.

Be thankful in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Valentine’s Day can be a good reminder of how we have been loved and who has loved us. Let your parents and grandparents know that you are grateful to have them as examples of how to love your own children and spouse.

Call your friends to tell them how much you appreciate the love you’ve shared through laughter, shopping sprees, Harry Potter marathons, and sleepovers.

A faithful source of love is precious, and whether it is familial, platonic, or romantic, it has the capacity to inspire, encourage, and heal.

Too often, we ignore the opportunity to share Christ’s love through the simplest actions. Our faith sends us into the world to love unconditionally, but if we are not exhibiting that love, how are we going to make disciples in His name?
​
Ulrike