Dear Trinity Family & Friends,

This Sunday, we continue our vision series Trinity Together Toward Tomorrow with a message titled “Where Belonging Begins.”

In Colossians 3, Paul paints a picture of what life looks like when a community truly belongs to Christ. He writes, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience… and above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” In other words, faith isn’t meant to be worn privately, but it’s meant to be lived together. When we practice these virtues in community, the love of Christ becomes visible in our words, our attitudes, and our actions.

The writer of Hebrews echoes that same heartbeat of discipleship: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering… and let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together.” When we gather in worship, in small groups, and in service, we strengthen faith and remind one another of the hope we share in Christ.

In this week’s message, we’ll explore how belonging begins when we move from standing beside one another in worship to living side by side in faith. We’ll talk about how God’s design for the church has always been relational—that discipleship grows best in the soil of connection, forgiveness, and shared purpose. We’ll see how belonging often precedes belief, and how a loving, gathered church becomes its own form of witness to the world.

This Sunday’s Serve Day is a living expression of that truth. We’ll come together for one worship service at 10 am in the Sanctuary, share a Thanksgiving meal, and then serve throughout our church and community. As we worship, eat, and work together, we’ll experience what Paul meant when he said, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.”

My prayer is that this day will remind us that belonging doesn’t happen by accident, but it happens when we open our hearts to one another. May we continue building a church where everyone has a place  to call home. 

With gratitude,

Pastor Dedric