7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.REFLECTIONSWritten by Sarah CameronWhen I get to the end of one of Paul’s letters, I find it easy to skim over these last bits. But after reading these verses, I’ve been reminded that they are indeed important and encouraging for us as a church.These verses remind me that Paul was a real person, writing to other real people, in a real time and place. We can rejoice in the way the gospel was going out through people like Tychichus, Onesimus, Jesus called Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas and more. In a counter-cultural move, Paul also mentions a woman – Nympha, who hosted a church in her home. Just think: one day we will get to meet these brothers and sisters in heaven, along with all the generations of Christians between them and us who heard the gospel through their work of sharing the good news of Jesus.We also get see how the early church loved and served each other, even in the light of imprisonment, persecution and hardship. I find it particularly comforting to read that they wrestled in prayer for each other (verse 12). What were they praying? That they would stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Will you stop and pray that prayer for other Christians today?For us today, communication with other churches and missionaries is quick and easy. How often are we taking the time to encourage each other as Paul and these early Christians were? Let’s be proactive in contacting friends in other churches, cities and countries to spur each other on in Christ. Especially with our link missionaries, when a newsletter comes in from them, it only takes a moment to hit reply and tell them you’re praying for them and encouraged by their news – but you can know it will bring encouragement on the other end.ABOUT THE AUTHORSarah is a member of our Fairfield Morning Congregation.