Inspirations Blog
A multimedia collection of stories, learnings, reflections, and resources from the people and ministries of Juniper Formation.
First Week of Lent: Behold; Take Heed
We invite you to journey through Lent by drawing closer to God and one another by deepening your spiritual practices and awareness.
A Lenten Practice: Reimagining History and Releasing White Supremacy
Engage in deep learning about about the creativity, wisdom, and stories of Black and African American people and communities in February, through Lent, throughout the year, and in your everyday ways of engaging the world around you.
Faithfulness & Heartache
What do I miss when I shrink back from the faithfulness a broken heart requires? The thing that continues to break my heart over and over again is the story of how we fail to love undocumented immigrants.
"There's a certain kind of fire that no water can put out"
And that was the fact that there was a certain kind of fire that no water could put out. And we went before the fire hoses; we had known water. If we were Baptist or some other denomination, we had been immersed. If we were Methodist, and some others, we had been sprinkled, but we knew water.When people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.
For the love of all things that are unholy
For the love of all things that are unholy, may you have the courage to choose to abide in the everlasting love of Christ and the Holy Spirit of God.
Congregational Housing Stability Campaign
We just learned that as of 1/5/2021, Family Promise has already received upwards of 100 phone calls from families in need of rental assistance for the month of January. This is much higher than their normal average of 20 calls per month. This 500% increase is because the need is growing. Our federal government failed…
Courageous Love
In order to love like God loves and as children of the one who “sits on David’s throne,” I believe that we were made to be courageous. We were made to be the ones that “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”(Micah 6:8). This can only be achieved by looking at all things through the lens of love and modeling our life after Christ.
Support Prophetic, Transformative Ministry
I have cried so much this year. How about you? Not all my tears have been of frustration and grief. Some tears bear joyful witness to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Most recently, tears rolled down my cheek during our last monthly Leadership Team meeting as staff and leadership team members offered end-of-year blessings…
Joy & Faith: We're becoming a church!
This week’s Advent reflection is offered by Rev. Morgan Fletcher, Juniper Formation’s Leadership Team Chair. She reflects on the joy and faith of becoming a church.
Beholding Peace
Behold what’s written in the dirt,
The word out on the streets
The quiet, and the other, and the
Tattered mystery.
Strange and holy angels spreading Heaven with their feet
Behold these signs of [hope/peace/joy/love],
Don’t be afraid,
Behold; take heed.
Revealing Hope
Hope is a direction. It is the moment we see what is possible and what is probable. It is equal parts imagination, adventure, and determination. It is seeing a great light, but also following it.
Join Us for Advent
As the skies darken we might imagine ourselves in the growing space of the Creator’s womb, journeying alongside the birth of Jesus. Growing and preparing ourselves, with hope, faith and joy, love, and justice and peace.
There is so much that is possible if we are willing to listen for and follow the Holy Spirit in our lives, even during a holiday season that seems less festive, more isolating, and filled with more grieving than years past.