Reimagining Church

Thriving Congregations Initiative: New Models for the 21st Century

Reimagining Today

decorative With Gratitude

I plan to look deeper into our church culture and practices to determine what needs to go and be held up and sacrificed at the altar while we seek new and more freeing ways to express our love of Christ.

 Ray Andrewsen
October 15, 2021 		Spring Glen UCC
Doormat reading "All are welcome here," a bushel of green apples is in the bottom right corner Encouragement, Caution, Suggestions, Enthusiasm!

We were encouraged to look at our non-negotiables and must-be’s. For us, that means needing to acknowledge the strong connection to tradition in our church and being creative in how we can appeal to those looking for a fresh approach.

 Lois Pabst
October 14, 2021 		UCC Tolland
decorative Staying Awake: FCCB in Conversation with Church Planter Tyler Sit

On Saturday, October 9, the working group from FCCB gathered on Zoom with eight other congregations and Tyler Sit to discuss his book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers, and ministry experience as it relates to Reimagining Church.

 Zak Carroll
October 14, 2021 		Branford UCC
decorative image of pews Facilitator for St. Francis Episcopal Church

Tradition can feel rigid and archaic, especially in this modern age full of innovation, newness, and fluidity at every corner. And yet, I am convinced that it is precisely a little tradition and structure that we all need to feel grounded in our reality of rapid communication and information accessibility.

 Phoebe Oler
October 14, 2021 		St. Francis Episcopal Church
decorative Embracing Experimentation: AHCC reflects on Rev. Tyler Sit's plenary

As we - the Asylum Hill Congregational Church Reimagining Church Working Group - reflect on Rev. Tyler Sit’s plenary session, we find ourselves drawn to the idea of embracing experimentation and an ethos of learning as part of the reimagining process.

 Andi Lloyd
October 14, 2021 		Asylum Hill
decorative We Have a Lot of Work To Do

We need to challenge the status quo. We can’t fall back and continue to do what we’ve been doing, just because we’ve been doing it that way.

 Joe
October 14, 2021 		St. Peters Episcopal
decorative “It was a seriously lonely time”

Each of us—those in the working group, in the congregation, and throughout our society—has experienced a tremendous degree of change. In a peculiar way, the pandemic has provided us with a common experience.

 David Potter
October 8, 2021 		St. Paul and St. James
decorative Embracing Possibility

This is a moment of possibility not just because we are collectively primed for change, but because it is a Kairos moment. We are in a time of transformation because Spirit is working through disruption and uncertainty; from chaos (or at least what often feels like chaos) we are being drawn further into beloved community.

 David Potter
October 5, 2021 		St. Paul and St. James
decorative Hope in the Midst of Dissonance

Reflections on getting to know Simsbury United Methodist Church and the Reimagining Church program

 Natalie Benson
October 4, 2021 		Simsbury United Methodist Church
decorative God’s Church

The Black church- an enduring community, in a white world; full of fear, doubt and uncertainty. A church born from slavery- an alternative narrative, speaking to what Christianity should be in these yet United States of America. The Black church- not only is it the people’s church, but God’s church.

 Jyrekis Collins
October 4, 2021 		Community Baptist