Inspirations Blog
A multimedia collection of stories, learnings, reflections, and resources from the people and ministries of Juniper Formation.
4th Week of Lent: I've Decided to Choose Freedom
We’ve released worship music videos with lyrics for each song on the “Speak Boldly” album by Jenny LaJoye. You can find these worship music videos on our Juniper Formation YouTube Channel, and more easily in this “Speak Boldly” YouTube playlist.
3rd Week of Lent: Blessed Are the Saints among Us
The lectionary reading that week was Luke 6:17-26 (the beatitudes). I wanted to use this popular set of blessings to remind this congregation that though they be worried, though they be exhausted, though they have uncertainty about their future as a church...their roots and tradition and belovedness run much deeper than they know.
2nd Week of Lent: Find your Juniper Tree
In telling the truth, I felt like I could finally breathe. The Juniper tree is not always an easy place to be...it makes us reckon with ourselves, our relationships, the world, and the Divine. And sometimes we lose everything on our way to its shade.
Together We Will Gather
When you attend a Juniper Formation Gathering, you are an active participant in yours and others’ faith formation and spiritual life. Every time we gather, we are building faithful relationships with one another and God. As a “priesthood of all believers” our faith community is made up of movement leaders and people in ministry…
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.
Ash Wednesday: Divine Dust & Ash into Oil Home Ritual
We offer you this liturgy of musical meditation, ritual, blessing, scripture, dance, and prayer that you can experience by yourself or in the company of your household.
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…
The Lingering Implications of Christ's Birth: A Christmas Day Reflection
Our Christmas day reflection is offered by Minister Javon Bracy, Juniper Formation Leadership Team and Spiritual Well Ministry Team member. Minister Bracy reflects on the lingering implications of Christ's birth.
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.