Reimagining Church

Thriving Congregations Initiative: New Models for the 21st Century

Reimagining Today

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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
Flocking Power

Starlings flock in unique patterns, undulating over the fields, thousands of little wings and heartbeats, never smashing into one another. Leaderless, they actively sense the movement of those next to them, lifting, turning, creating patterns together that would be impossible on their own or even to replicate en masse.

Molli Mitchell
October 4, 2021
UCC Tolland