Lord God, we thank you for our families. Thank you for grandparents, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. We also thank you for our church family. Help us to love and care for one another as you have taught us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Pastor Perry Torain

Family is important — our earthly family and our spiritual family. You might not realize it, but when we put our faith in Jesus, we become a part of another family. We become a part of God's family. When we put our faith in Jesus, we become a part of a family of believers — the church. Just as the members of our earthly family have a responsibility to love and care for one another, members of our church family have a responsibility to love and care for one another.

What are some ways we can show love to our brothers and sisters in the family of God? Pray for those who are sick. Feed those who are hungry. Give clothing to those in need. Give shelter to the homeless. Comfort those who are sad. Be a friend to those who have no friends.

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35 (NIV)

What is a family? One definition I found in the dictionary said a family is "A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household." That is, no doubt, one way to define a family, but a family can be much more than that, can't it? A family can be any group that is brought together by common interests, beliefs, and love for one another. One of the best examples of this kind of family is the Church. The church is a family bound together by love for God, their Heavenly Father, and for one another