Reimagining Church

Thriving Congregations Initiative: New Models for the 21st Century

Reimagining Today

hand with fishing net Church Town

Trinity Episcopal Church Branford is a centuries-old church on the Branford Green with a storied past and an unfolding story to come.

 By Milton Glider
October 9, 2024 		Trinity Episcopal, Branford
open hymnal In the Midst

I first walked into St. John’s Episcopal Church in late August of 2022.

 By Molly Cooke
October 9, 2024 		St. John's Episcopal, North Haven
hand holding seedlings Beginning the Co-Creating Process

 At the beginning of this project, my thoughts are filled with wondering what Reimagining Church will become.

 By Lizzie Chiarovano
October 9, 2024 		First UCC, Milford
peach colored roses “We Come to Worship We Leave to Serve”

When I was selected by Pastor A.J. Smith to represent our Church, First Baptist of Branford I wasn’t sure what was to be expected of myself or the group. Caroline put my anxieties to rest as she really helped guide us along in this process from the first meeting on.

 By Dave Chadwick
May 14, 2024 		First Baptist Church of Branford
sunset over the sea To Do God's Will

I have been so impressed for the courage of my working group members at First Baptist Church in Branford – their courage to say yes to this program, say yes to the process, and say yes to the listening for where the Spirit is already moving.

 By Janice Lexton
May 14, 2024 		First Baptist Church of Branford
sunrise sky Learning to Embrace Uncertainty

To be a Christian in 21st century America is to have plenty of opportunities to practice tolerating uncertainty. We are in the midst of navigating a huge shift in what it means to be religious, to be Christian.

 By Sarah Neumann
May 14, 2024 		Church of the Holy Trinity
school materials Reflections on My Year at Cornerstone Community Church

For me, the end of an academic year always brings up a multitude of feelings—gratitude for the people who taught me so much, relief to be done with writing papers and taking exams, and disbelief that nine months could go by so quickly. 

 By Sutton Smith
May 14, 2024 		Cornerstone Community Church
hand holding sparkler in the dark The Spirit’s Work is Never Finished

We are reminded that we are not merely finding our “mission,” we are attempting, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to locate our “next proximate purpose,” that place where the “divine spark” is already being kindled in our midst. 

 By Amanda Bryant
May 14, 2024 		Woodmont UCC
waves Waves of Grace

I used live on Mission Beach in San Diego. Outside of the busy summer months, the beach houses were turned into student rentals.

 By Jonathan Maresca
April 30, 2024 		Zion Episcopal Church
balls of yarn Find the thread.

One of the speakers at a recent Reimagining Church session at Yale Divinity School spoke of “finding the thread” that both connects us with our past, present, and future as a church community.

 By Sarah Robertson
March 26, 2024 		Church of the Holy Trinity