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.

SEPTEMBER

The New Parish
Thursdays at 2:00 EST
Hosted by: Parish Collective Staff

  • Ever Hear of the Parish Movement?

    Common perception holds that the Western church is dying. But The New Parish describes an amazing movement of love and compassion that is springing up in the everyday life of neighborhoods all over North America and the world.

    This movement is a phenomenon that has escaped traditional measurements of success. It cannot be discovered within the walls of church buildings. You don't hear about it on the news. But it is happening.

    Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, and Dwight J. Friesen, authors of The New Parish and cofounders of the Parish Collective, have seen—in cities, suburbs and small towns all over North America—how powerful the gospel can be when it takes root in the context of a place, at the intersection of geography, demography, economy and culture.

    This is not a new idea—the concept of a parish is as old as Paul’s letters to the various communities of the ancient church.

    But in an age of dislocation and disengagement, the notion of a church that knows its place and gives itself to where it finds itself is like a breath of fresh air, like a sign of new life.

    They write, “When . . . faith communities begin connecting together, in and for the neighborhood, they learn to depend on God for strength to love, forgive and show grace like never before. . . . The gospel becomes so much more tangible and compelling when the local church is actually a part of the community, connected to the struggles of the people and even the land itself.”

    The New Parish is filled with stories that light the imagination and offer practical insights for how each person can participate in what God is doing in the place he or she lives.

  • Thursdays 2:00 EST

    Weekly Zoom Conversations:
    September 4 - 2:00 EST
    September 11 - 2:00 EST
    September 18 - 2:00 EST

    Conversation with author(s):
    September 25 - 2:00 EST

  • This is the book that helped shape Parish Collective’s identity. It’s where our language, imagination, and deep hope for neighborhood-rooted faith all began. Whether you’re new to the idea of “parish” or have been living it out for years, this book is a grounding, spacious place to begin (again).

OCTOBER

You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone
Wednesdays at 3:00 EST
Hosted by: Parish Collective Staff

  • You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone is a bold, practical invitation to rethink leadership not as a top-down role, but as a shared, embodied practice rooted in community.

    In an age when ministry can feel isolating, hierarchical, or unsustainable, Eun K. Strawser offers a refreshing and deeply contextual vision of leadership built on mutuality, place, and the diverse gifts of the Body.

    Drawing from the early church’s model of shared leadership — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers — this book names what so many leaders already sense: we weren’t meant to carry this work alone.

    Strawser writes from lived experience in neighborhood-based ministry, and her call is clear: to create churches that decentralize power, reflect the fullness of Christ, and grow sustainable, justice-rooted communities of faith.

    If you’re weary of celebrity models of leadership and hungry for a way of leading that actually reflects your values and your neighborhood, this book will feel like both a challenge and a lifeline.

  • Wednesdays 3:00 EST

    Weekly Zoom Conversations:

    October 8 - 3:00 EST
    October 15 - 3:00 EST
    October 22- 3:00 EST

    Conversation with author:
    October 29 - 2:00 CST

  • There are a lot of books for leaders. How is this one distinct?

    Eun: With the continual headliner of domineering leadership and failure of leadership in the church, most work involving a different kind of leadership as an antidote to this culture has often been focused solely on the health or soul care of the main leader.

    There is a stark need to offer a more practical antidote in addressing a different approach to leadership apart from hierarchical leadership.

    While many have read through books theorizing shared leadership, including works on APEST and even church leadership based on personality types (e.g. enneagram), there is a need for:

    1) a real-life model where distributed leadership is embedded into the structure of the church and its impact on thecommunity it serves

    2) APEST explained through the lens of gender, race, and culture that includes both women and men, BIPOC leaders, and the local community.

November

TBD

  • Stay tuned!

  • Weekly Zoom Conversations: TBD

    Conversation with author:     TBD

  • Check back for more info!

Why Should You Join?

  • Because your bookshelf is full, but your spirit might be a little lonely.

    CONNECTION

  • Because you’re tired of doing this alone.

    COMMUNITY

  • Because you want a good rhythm for some real conversation.

    CONVERSATION

 FAQs

  • Anyone who:

    • Cares about faith, neighborhood, and lived-out presence

    • Wants to read in community, not just alone

    • Believes formation happens in everyday life

    • Is looking for a lighter lift and deeper conversations

    You don’t have to be a bookworm or a theologian. Just bring your curiosity and your actual life.

  • Nope. No quizzes. No guilt. No gold stars. (Well, maybe a few gold starts…)

    We think the books are worth reading and encourage you to come with thoughts and wonderings about what you have read.

    BUT…

    whether you read every word, skim the highlights, or show up because the conversation sounds interesting — you’re welcome to join us!

  • No worries — we’ll record the author conversation and send you the replay.

    The weekly gatherings are not recorded (to keep them spacious and informal), but you’ll still receive the book prompts and practices so you can follow along even if you can’t join live.

  • Whatever you can give.

    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, which helps us support authors, our staff, and resource creation — but you’re welcome whether you can give more or less.

    You’ll get the same warm welcome either way.

    *However, you will need to purchase or borrow the book from a friend or the library.

  • Wherever you like! You are responsible for buying or borrowing the book — we’ll take care of the prompts, gatherings, and conversation.

    If you are able, we’d love for you to purchase the book as a way to support the author.

    We recommend your local bookstore or bookshop.org (which supports local shops).

    You can also borrow the book from a friend or a library.

  • Nope — we are offering the Book Club to anyone. And joining the Book Club does not automatically include you in membership.

    If you’re not a member, this is a great way to dip your toes into the community. And if you like what you experience, we’d love to welcome you deeper into the Parish Collective ecosystem.

  • Can I join mid-month?

    Yes!

    Join whenever you’re ready. We’ll send you the Zoom links, prompts, and any resources you need to catch up or jump in right where we are.

    You’ll still be invited to the author conversation and any follow-up resources we share.