History

Our church began in 1966 as the Waterford/East Lyme Presbyterian Fellowship, a group of Christians who met in private homes. In 1970, we became the Waterford United Presbyterian Church. The 85 charter members met in rented space at various churches in the area. We became Crossroads Presbyterian Church when we moved into our current home in 1989. Currently we have 130 active members.

Outreach

Crossroads Church is committed to mission, outreach, and social justice. We participate in ministry through denominational offerings, educational opportunities, and through active involvement in the Interfaith Food Locker of Waterford and the New London Soup Kitchen. We are a Covenant Congregation with Habitat for Humanity, and a member of Presbyterian Promise, working for a church that is inclusive on all levels, without regard to a person's race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.

Vision and Mission Statement

Vision

We, as a church, recognize that we are called by God to be a part of the one body of Christ, an instrument through which he continues his work of reconciliation through the world. It is our hope that through our worship, study and action we will grow as disciples of Christ, loving and serving each other and reaching out to love and serve the surrounding community.

Mission

We invite everyone who shares our vision to join with us. To realize this hope, we plan:

• To provide for regular worship using both traditional and new forms freely, and to encourage active and joyful participation by the congregation, increasing our sense of community with God and with each other.
• To encourage continuing Biblical and theological education of the congregation by providing a program of study for all age groups.
• To respond to the needs of the world, as we are led by Christ to meet them, by encouraging the participation of each member of the congregation in existing community service groups as well as church-sponsored projects.
• To be responsible, along with the pastor, for ministering to each other in order to provide personal and frequent evidence of the love and concern of Christ for all.
• To serve the needs of the elderly in our church and in the wider community.
• To seek the participation of youth in the total life of the church and sponsor a meaningful youth program, possibly in cooperation with other churches.
• To design and use our physical facilities not only for programs of our own congregation, but also for the needs of the wider community.
• To seek pledges of support from all members in proportion to their financial means, and to apportion no less than 15% of previous year's undesignated income to our mission beyond the local church and the remainder for operating our church in the community.
• To support the pastor in her primary role of leading the services of corporate worship by relieving her of administrative tasks to the extent practicable.
• To initiate dialogue with members of other religious organizations in the area.
• To be a sign of God's kingdom by welcoming people of diverse backgrounds into our church community.
• To encourage each other to witness to the unchurched in this community, and to invite them to our fellowship in Christ.
• To encourage all members to take part in the life of the church community, and support each other in their journey of faith.

We reveal ourselves as the church in the world in two ways: by our daily personal actions and by our church programs and pronouncement. With regard to the former, let us resolve to study and worship together so that we may love and serve the Lord all our lives. With regard to the latter, let us always remember that we are joined together to better hear and proclaim in deeds and words the message of reconciliation for all in Christ.