Worcestershire is notoriously difficult to pronounce. It is a word that often must be repeated over and over in a sentence so that the sounds may be intentionally crafted as the speaker communicates. There have been times when sharing a recipe with a friend that I have intentionally left out this ingredient because I did not want to bother with learning how to spell it. But nevertheless, the recipe does not turn out quite right if the woosh-tuh-shire is left out!

       Similarly, we can tend to gloss over moments in scripture that are difficult to pronounce or are not immediately familiar. This is so often seen when someone reads scripture aloud, comes to an ancient name, and, as if taking an eraser to the importance of the life mentioned in scripture, they simply say, “oh this person whose name I cannot pronounce,” and then they forge forth. While this is surely not intended maliciously (and admittedly we have all been guilty of it!) It can lead to missing something beautiful we see throughout the scripture.

      Colossians 4: 7-18 is a portion of scripture where it can be easy to fall into that habit of skipping the hard-to-pronounce names. If we do this, we miss so much of the richness of this chapter, almost as if we have missed some of the seasoning Paul intended. Tychicus - a fellow believer and beloved brother, Onesimus - a fellow beloved brother, Aristarchus - a fellow prisoner, Mark - a fellow worker, Jesus Justus - a comforter and friend to Paul, Epaphras - always laboring fervently in prayer warrior, Luke - The beloved physician, Nympha - someone who opened their home up to the church. These are some of the names listed in this chapter. The names listed display a beautiful affection amongst the body of believers. They did not simply know of each other, but they were familiar with and loving towards one another. As we in the church today navigate our relationships with one another and our families, we must remember that there was an example of this in the New Testament church. The work of the kingdom has never been a solo endeavor; it has always been a relational effort that is deeply personal.

      1 Corinthians 12:12-27 highlights how we, as the body of Christ, cannot attempt to fully walk in what the Lord calls us to alone. We need one another! Paul specifically does not refer to the church as a crowd of people or even as an organization. Instead, Paul refers to the believers as a body. This is an echo of what we see Jesus communicate in John 13. These two chapters make clear the criteria that will set apart the followers of Jesus - that we would have love for one another. As we, the body of Christ, the church, work to accomplish all that God calls us to, let us lean into this truth - that we need each other. Even though it may at times be cumbersome, like trying to pronounce Worcestershire, we still need the body of Christ. This does not imply weakness in needing one another, but an embracing of the truth that Jesus set out before us: that we are to love one another even when it does not come naturally. So, as we prepare to go into the holidays, if there is one other member of the body of Christ or your family who always provides extra patience practice or a chance for you to practice intercession, please remember: the early church showed intentional affection for one another, and we must do the same! Ephesians 4:15-16 again highlights this Biblical theme as it shows how the whole body of Christ grows together. This matters because being part of the family and body of Christ is not just about our comfort, but it is about being formed more and more into the image of Jesus. So let us be a church that is known not only for what we do but for who we are as a body. A people who intentionally and affectionately love one another even when it is difficult and more time-consuming than we would like. As in Colossians 4 we can pray fervently, encourage intentionally, write lovingly, and stand alongside each other even when facing difficulty.