Week 1- Date: 4/19/26
Sermon Title: Accept One Another
Text: Romans 15:5-7 (NIV)
Takeaway: Belonging begins with acceptance. Acceptance is more than tolerance. Acceptance welcomes others as beloved, mirroring the welcoming attitude of Jesus Christ into the family of God.
Preacher: Pastor Sara
Special Elements: New Member Sunday; Introduce S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Week 2- Date: 4/26/26
Sermon Title: Be Hospitable to One Another
Text: Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
Takeaway: In looking at Zacchaeus’ story, we discover that he found belonging when Jesus made room for him. In belonging, we make room for others. How might you make room for others to experience belonging?
Preacher: Pastor Sara Nelson
Special Elements: S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Week 3- Date: 5/3/26
Sermon Title: Encourage One Another
Text: Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 9:26-28 (NLT)
Takeaway: To take the congregation on a journey with Barnabas as he encourages the church and Paul. Barnabas is one of the most influential people in the New Testament, not because of what he builds, but because of who he encourages. Who in this community needs your encouragement?
Preacher: Pastor Sara Nelson
Special Elements: High School Senior Sunday @ all services; Lay Minister Commissioning @ 9:45am service, Holy Communion; S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Week 4- Date: 5/10/26
Sermon Title: Forgive One Another
Text: Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)
Takeaway: We don’t usually get hurt by strangers. We get hurt by people we know, people we care about, people we belong to. And when that happens, forgiveness can feel impossible. Yet without forgiveness, belonging begins to unravel. Forgiveness is ongoing, costly, and necessary because it creates room for grace to restore what hurt has threatened to break. God sets us free when we release our hurts into God’s care.
Preacher: Pastor Sara Nelson
Special Elements: Celebrate Women for Mother’s Day; S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Week 5- Date: 5/17/26
Sermon Title: Serve One Another
Text: 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)
Takeaway: We belong to God and to one another, and that belonging comes to life when we serve side by side, each offering what we’ve been given so that God’s grace may be made visible among us. What gift has God entrusted to me to use? How might God be calling me to serve?
Preacher: Pastor Sara Nelson
Special Elements: Baptism Party & Picnic; S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Week 6- Date: 5/24/26
Sermon Title: Love One Another
Text: 1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)
Takeaway: Belonging requires us to love actively. We choose to love actively… others will be seen, known, and experience the embrace of God’s love because God is love.
Preacher: Pastor Sara Nelson
Special Elements: Pentecost; S.I.T. Challenge
Download the 8:30 & 9:45 a.m. Bulletin/G3 Guide
Watch: Traditional Unity Modern
Summary: Belonging is something we all long for… but what if belonging isn’t something we find, but something we build together? You Belong is a reminder that we were never meant to follow Jesus alone. But belonging doesn’t just happen on its own. Belonging is fostered through the small ways that we treat each other.
In a world marked by isolation and division, God calls us into a community shaped by a different standard. Over these six weeks, we explore what it means to accept one another, encourage one another, be hospitable to one another, forgive one another, serve one another, and love one another as we build a place to belong together. This series invites us to discover that belonging is not found in perfection but in practicing faith together and learning how God’s grace shapes us into a community that reflects Jesus’ love.
During this series, we are going to try a simple practice as a church, called the S.I.T. Challenge, which focuses on three small actions.
S- See someone. Who in your life is looking for a place to belong? Maybe it’s a co-worker, a friend, a family member, or a neighbor.
I- Invite someone. As you think of that person who might be looking for a place to belong, invite them to come with you to church when the time feels right.
T- Take a seat with someone. When you’re at church, look around. Sit beside someone new. Introduce yourself. Make sure that no one has to sit alone.
They are small actions that can make a big difference when someone notices you, invites you, and sits beside you. And suddenly you realize, maybe there is a place for me here. Belonging often begins with these three simple actions