2021 Highlights & Where We Are Headed in 2022
I’m writing to share with you highlights of Juniper Formation’s ministries in 2021, and what we are looking forward to in 2022. I’d love to hear from you what is energizing you in ministry these days, and where Juniper Formation might connect with you in 2022.
In 2021, our faith community became a local church of the United Church of Christ (UCC)! We celebrate this major milestone in our formation as a faith community. Here are a few other highlights of our ministries in 2021:
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We launched the Gathering, an online opportunity to ritually embody our faith life and community as ministers to and with one another through music, divine reading, and relational reflection, prayer, and communion.
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We partnered with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) to advocate in support of the successful passing of Senate Bill 88 Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act and Senate Bill 21-073 Civil Action Statute of Limitations Sexual Assault, which are were actively opposed by the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America. The purpose of these bills is to hold institutions accountable, especially those who fail to hold their leadership accountable to protect our children and all people from sexual abuse and assault. Learn more about these bills here: SB 88 and SB 73.
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We launched the Congregational Housing Stability Campaign and raised over $30,000 by partnering with Family Promise, Sixth Avenue UCC, Park Hill UCC, and individuals from Washington Park UCC, Temple Micah, and non-church affiliated individuals. These funds went to Family Promise to prevent evictions and meet the increased need from families seeking rental assistance.
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We accompanied Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, CO through a Relational Discernment & Engagement Process. All using Zoom video calls for COVID safety. If you are interested in working together to reimagine your church and its ministry, please contact us.
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We began conversations with congregations in Denver and Tucson, AZ, and Soul2Soul Sisters to engage racial justice and reparations work across our congregations and local communities. (More coming soon!)
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We applied for and received grants for new churches and ministers from the Rocky Mountain Conference UCC and the national United Church of Christ, which will support Juniper Formation’s growth, financial stability, and new ministries.
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In Partnership with Denver Presbytery and Presbyterian Church (USA), we developed and launched an app-based discipleship community, called ReFrame, built around the idea that better rituals make better disciples. Framing our days through faithful and meaningful discipleship co-creates more loving, just, and kind communities and lives. To support this app we have a team of diverse content creators who build scripture-based, coaching-oriented discipleship prompts of written reflections, spiritual practices, and journal entries three days a week. In addition, the app hosts co-ops, where you can invite others to join you in a small group to connect, share, and build community through the app. We invite you to join us on ReFrame today! https://reframe.glideapp.io/
In 2022, Juniper Formation will be launching a few new community initiatives built around making church more just, accessible, meaningful, and formative. Here are a few highlights of what is to come:
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The Gathering will meet on on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, at 6:00 pm MT, starting January 26, 2022. You are invited to join us by registering for the Zoom link, here.
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The ReFrame app is now fully launched and for 2022, we’ve gone from three days a week to five days a week, so join us Monday-Friday for faithful reflection and practice and start your own small group in the ReFrame co-op. https://reframe.glideapp.io/
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We created the Barbara Whitcher Memorial Fund for new ministries thanks to generous donations given in memory of Barbara’s life and death this past October totalling over $13,000.
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During Juniper Formation’s first three years, my mom, Barbara, knit prayer shawls for our leaders during their times of need. In her absence and in honor of her ministry of knitting, praying, teaching, and caring for others we are starting a prayer shawl ministry. The prayer shawl ministry will receive the first seed funding from the Barbara Whitcher Memorial Fund to cover the costs of materials to remove the financial barrier for people to join the prayer shawl ministry team. Theo (they/them) is now inviting individuals to join their ministry team to knit prayer shawls and prayerfully make other handcrafts to give in care for activists, people in ministry (lay and ordained), and others in need. Let us know if you are interested in joining.
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Right now, we have a team that is evaluating a mental fitness coaching program. This program centers on helping people develop the tools needed to calm our fear-based reactions and build the mental muscles that can help us respond effectively and meaningfully to our experiences. We’ve tested the program with a few individuals and are doing our first group test now with the six-week program that includes group coaching and more. Our evaluation focuses on developing theological connections to the program and the potential for use with congregations as part of the Spiritual Well, Juniper Formation’s ministry co-creating spiritual health and integrated well-being within the Church and community.
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Finally, we are working to redevelop our website to become a place where faithful community is fostered, collaboration is supported, and formation opportunities are easily accessible.
On behalf of the Juniper Formation Leadership Team & In Gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher, Ph.D. (she/her)
Minister of Prophetic Formation
Jenny@juniperformation.org
Call/Text: 720-580-2274
We invite you to make an offering today. An offering is a way we share with one another in support of the whole, and as a loving act of co-creating a new way of being together and with God as we prophetically reimagine the Church.
In addition to online giving, you may write a check out to “Juniper Formation,” and mail it to Juniper Formation, PO Box 19541, Denver, CO 80219.
Juniper Formation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit church with the IRS, and your donations are tax deductible.
For all of the ways you give your spirit, heart, gifts, talents, and resources, we thank you.
