Parishes & Community Groups

Explore and Practice the Christian Faith

What is a parish?

Our five parishes - Berkeley, Emeryville, Rockridge, Oakland City Center, and Lamorinda - are medium-sized groups (20-50 people) that meet throughout the East Bay and provide the ideal environment for building relationships while connecting to the heart and mission of Christ Church.

The parishes are full of people who want to see God's kingdom come in our communities and desire to explore the love of God (Up), cultivate love for one another (In), and express love for our neighbors and city (Out).  Our parishes are essential, as they keep the church small enough for everyone to have a real identity and be involved in our mission, each using his or her own gifts, passions, skills, and experiences.

Parishes are organized not only around a common geography but also around a shared mission to a neighborhood or network. They cultivate partnerships with schools, social service organizations,  business leaders, activists, community organizers, and anyone else who loves the city and wants to make it a better place to live. The parish then leverages those partnerships to implement strategic projects aimed at redeeming and renewing that neighborhood.

Each parish has 2-5 small-sized Community Groups (8-12 people) which regularly gather together and very often meet over a meal in someone’s home. The Community Groups provide an opportunity to abide in God’s love through the essential practices of the historic Christian faith: reading and meditating on Scripture, prayer, fasting, giving, serving, and bearing one another’s burdens.  The Community Groups also regularly split up between women and men or break down into triads (3 people) for more personal sharing.  

Who are the parishes for?

If you are interested in being relationally and spiritually connected at Christ Church beyond the Sunday worship service, our mid-week Parishes are a great way to explore the love of God (Up), cultivate love for one another (In), and express love for our neighbors and city (Out).

Who is leading the parishes?

• Berkeley - Tommy & Celeste Stinson
• Emeryville - Ed & Flora Lai
• Lamorinda - Dave & Jen Roth
• Rockridge - Wes & Adrienne Selke
• Oakland City Center - Stuart & Jenna Rentz

When and where do the parishes gather?

Parishes gather monthly in their respective communities. When you join the online Commuity Network, join a parish, and send a message to your parish leader.  Someone from the parish will follow up with you and let you know about the next gathering.

If you are new to Christ Church, joining our online Commuity Network is the best way to get connected to people, groups, and events at the church.  To create your account please do the following: 1) click the link below, 2) choose your parish based on where you live, 3) enter your basic information, and 4) click the "Help Me Get Connected" tab.  You will receive an email with further directions for creating your account. Join online Commuity Network

To find and join a Community Group within your parish that works best for you (proximity, transit, schedule, etc.), go to online Commuity Network account, go to Groups and Group Search, and please join only one Community Group.

Why parishes?

Christ Church seeks to be organized like Berkeley and Oakland: by neighborhood. We believe our lives are better when we spend time in and care about where we live. That’s one reason why we are launching five parishes - Berkeley, Emeryville, Rockridge, Oakland City Center, Lamorinda - and hope to start more as time goes on.  We also hope these parishes will develop into neighborhood churches so you can worship closer to home and bring your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

A larger, unified network of parishes and movement of neighborhood churches will enable us to sustain ministries (i.e. for students, artists, families, professionals, counseling, and mercy and justice) that serve the common good and seek the welfare of the city in ways that a single neighborhood church cannot do on its own.

Parishes - What? Who? When? Where? Why? (PDF - handout)

Parishes - Formation and Mission (PDF - slides)

Group prayer guide (PDF)

Group prayers for Project Peace partners (PDF)

Group prayers for Global Outreach partners (PDF)

What are Community Groups?

What are Community Groups? from Christ Church on Vimeo.

Learn about what makes Parishes and Community Groups so essential to Christ Church.