Meet us in person at 5:30pm at the church steps (corner of College and Elm). Once we’re all together, we’ll cross the street and begin our meeting on the Green. Amidst protests around policing, questions abound these days. What is authority? What is good authority? What’s a safe community? How does it get safe or stay safe? These questions are not simply for the policymakers or the activists of our city. They’re for communities. They’re for the church. After all, the Church is founded by the authority of a man who died at the hands of state violence. He shared his otherworldly authority with a diverse community of ordinary people. This gathered assembly, only a few months after his death, promoted spiritual freedom, practiced radical community, and experienced persecution. The Church at its best is a place to discern God’s wisdom collectively then to “turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” What if the orienting question for the Church is what does authority look like in heaven? And how can we bring more of that authority to New Haven? In that Spirit, we want to bring together a weekly assembly called Reimagining Authority: A Spirit-filled Assembly for a Different World that will start on Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the freedom of enslaved Black folk. Like in seasons past when the Church led through freedom struggles, during these Friday gatherings we will sing simple songs of justice and liberation, share more about this good authority in Jesus, then hear a vision for reimagined authority — sometimes from someone in the Church and sometimes from someone who is inspired by justice and would to love to check out what the Church is thinking or doing around those issues. We’ll close with some discussion, prayer, another song, and a lot of time for personal prayer ministry to keep us sustained and encouraged as we pursue justice work. We’re hoping this space is nourishing for the churchgoer, activist, and skeptic (of justice? Of Jesus?) alike. Wanna hear more? Bring a mask and meet us there!