We believe that books can shape more than ideas.

We think they can change lives and neighborhoods.

The Parish Collective Book Club is a space for people who want to be
the Church in the neighborhood.

It’s where you can gather to read, reflect, and connect with others who are wrestling with
questions about faith, presence, and real life in the neighborhood.

Each month you’ll:

Engage a book that sparks imagination and embodied faith
Connect with others on a come-as-you-are facilitated Zoom conversation
Receive reflections and simple practices to try in your actual neighborhood
Chat with the author live at the end of the month

Come gather around a good book, good questions, and good people who share a longing to live differently.

January

Church Forsaken
by Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks

Tuesdays at 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST

Hosted by: Parish Collective Staff

In Church Forsaken, Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks invites readers to rethink what it means to love our neighbors by loving our neighborhoods. Raised in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, Brooks once left his community behind, only to return years later as a pastor and community leader.
Grounded in the themes of Jeremiah 29, the book calls churches to be fully present in the places they inhabit, building homes, planting gardens, and seeking the common good. Shaped by real-world practice, Church Forsaken offers hope for overlooked communities and reminds us that God has always been at work in forgotten places.
Tuesdays at 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST
Weekly Zoom Conversations:
- January 13 – Kickoff + Introduction & Early Reflections
- January 20 – Group Discussion & Reflections
- January 27 – Group Discussion & Reflections
- February 3 - Group Discussion & Reflection
  
  *Author Conversation: TBD
Many churches long to make a meaningful difference in their communities but aren’t sure where to begin. January is a fitting time to reflect on presence, place, and hope, especially as we step into a new year.
Church Forsaken invites us to resist the urge to abandon hard places and instead consider what it means to remain, invest, and love faithfully. Through stories rooted in real neighborhoods, this book challenges us to see local communities not as problems to solve but as places where God is already at work. It is an invitation to reimagine church, community, and belonging right where we are.

Pay What You Can!

We are using a Pay What You Can model because we believe that access to thoughtful conversations and shared learning shouldn’t be gated by income.

The suggested contribution is $25/month — but you’re welcome to give more or less.

Your contribution helps us support guest authors, our staff, and the creation of thoughtful, accessible spaces for conversation or connection. But no matter what you give, you’ll get the same warm welcome!