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Jen Bradbury
Jul 17 · 5 min read

On being done

Today, I'm linking up with Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Done.

Sobbing During The Faith Goodbye

My boss, Joe, walked me up to my office at the end of a long Sunday. It was a good...

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#youth pastor #Prayer #Community #toddlers #church #Jesus #faith formation #grief

Jen Bradbury
Apr 04 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (February, March 2017 Edition)

What I'm Reading:

Fiction:

Best chick lit: Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which reminded me a LOT of the musical If / Then. 

Book I'm still thinking about: I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

Best mystery: I See You by...

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#What I'm Into #books #parenting #toddlers #transitions #Lent #grief #Missions #Unleashing #student leadership #Youth Sunday

Jen Bradbury
Apr 03 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Rising Strong by Brene Brown

Filed in Recent Reads

Rising Strong

What the book's about: Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution. by Brene Brown is about what it takes to get back up after you fall.    

Why I read this book: I read Rising Strong for a discussion with my...

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#story #death #boundaries #grief #books

Jen Bradbury
Mar 01 · 5 min read

Burying the Alleluias

20170301 Bradbury Lamenting

“We’re going to bury the Alleluias on Sunday,” my colleague told me.

Although I’d grown up in a church where Lent was a thing, I’d spent the previous five years working at a non-denominational church that didn’t observe it.

Needless to say, when...

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#church #grief #Lent

Jen Bradbury
Feb 09 · 5 min read

7 ways to support your church during seasons of change

After 15 years in our congregation, my senior pastor is leaving to take a new call.

As far as transitions go, this is a healthy one. No underlying conflict is forcing anyone to go. And yet, transitions are always hard. I’m grieving and so are many...

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#transitions #grief #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Oct 20 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Broken Hallelujahs by Beth Allen Slevcove

Filed in Recent Reads

Broken Hallelujahs

What the book's about: Broken Hallelujahs is as, the subtitle says, about learning to grieve the big and small losses of life. It reads like a memoir and indeed, Beth shares vulnerably from her life. Yet, it's packed with theology and practical...

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#grace #Community #Prayer #grief #books

Jen Bradbury
May 27 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Colors of Goodbye by September Vaudrey

Filed in Recent Reads

What the book's about: Colors of Goodbye  is a beautiful memoir about the life and death of September Vaudrey's 19-year old daughter, Katie. Using flashbacks as well as Katie's art, it's a story about  grieving, choosing life after...

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#grief #Jesus #books

Jen Bradbury
Jan 11 · 5 min read

Review: Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

Filed in Book Review

Sarah Bessey is a writer's writer. Her words are beautiful; Her language, poetry. She's someone I read when I need inspiration. 

Out Of Sorts

Needless to say, my expectations about her second book, Out of Sorts, were incredibly high, so much so that I...

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#refugee #vocation #cross-cultural #church #grief #Jesus #books

Jen Bradbury
Oct 28 · 5 min read

10 Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry

On a recent call with Alan Roxburgh, author of Structured for Mission, I heard Al say two really compelling things. First, people are no longer hardwired to go to church like they once were. Second, given this changing culture, those of us who...

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#Jesus gap #church #grief #culture of welcome #youth ministry #books

Jen Bradbury
Sep 11 · 5 min read

What to say (and not say) when someone miscarries

Since my husband and I have been very public about our experience with miscarriage, we're often asked by people, “What should I say to someone who's had a miscarriage?” Based on our experience, here are 5 things we recommend you avoid saying and 7...

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#hope #Prayer #youth pastor #enough #miscarriage #grief

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Latest Posts

  • On being done
  • What I'm Into (February, March 2017 Edition)
  • Recent Reads: Rising Strong by Brene Brown
  • Burying the Alleluias
  • 7 ways to support your church during seasons of change
  • Recent Reads: Broken Hallelujahs by Beth Allen Slevcove
  • Recent Reads: Colors of Goodbye by September Vaudrey
  • Review: Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey
  • 10 Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry
  • What to say (and not say) when someone miscarries

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