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Jen Bradbury
May 07 · 5 min read

Church homes

In every church I’ve ever been on staff at, we've inevitably wrestled with the question, “Who belongs?”

Oh, we never say it like that.

Instead, we raise questions like, “Who is active here? Who worships here? Or who gives an offering here?”

We...

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#church #discipleship #worship #Jesus #hospitality #Youth Sunday #graduating seniors #confirmation #parents

Jen Bradbury
Sep 26 · 5 min read

A chance to preach

Marcy Preaching

On Sunday, I watched one of my former students, Marcy, preach in my congregation – the congregation where she grew up.  She stood at the pulpit, full of grace, and gave a beautiful message on Exodus 16:2-15.

Among other things, what...

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#apologetics #Youth Sunday #scripture #youth ministry

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
Mar 17 · 5 min read

How a youth group ministered to its congregation

When a senior pastor leaves a congregation, it's always hard.

When that pastor has been there a long time and is beloved, it's even harder.

Such a departure feels like a death. It leaves people grieving and questioning everything they once knew...

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#youth ministry #transitions #church #Youth Sunday #worship #music #hope #Prayer #scripture

Jen Bradbury
Apr 06 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (March, 2016 Edition)

What I'm Reading:

Fiction:

I read a lot during the month of March, finishing six fiction books. 

Best mystery: She's Not There by Joy Fielding. I've been a fan of Joy Fielding for years. This was a well-written, engaging read about a...

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#Jesus gap #Youth Sunday #What I'm Into #Jesus #books

Jen Bradbury
Mar 04 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (February, 2016 Edition)

What I'm Reading:

Fiction:

I read a LOT during February, completing six fiction books. Among them, my favorites were:   

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. I don't know how I missed this when it came out in 2010. It was SO good -...

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#Jesus gap #Youth Sunday #What I'm Into #books

Jen Bradbury
May 05 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (April, 2015 Edition)

Reading: 

Fiction:

I read three fiction books during April: Joy Fielding's Someone is Watching - a good mystery; Katherine Center's Get Lucky - a purely fun piece of chick lit, perfect for someone like me who's currently pregnant; And my...

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#Youth Sunday #pregnancy #TV #movies #books

Jen Bradbury
Apr 04 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (March, 2015 Edition)

It's been a busy month. To say that I'm exhausted is an understatement. There's a time I would have been proud of this. Not anymore. Here's hoping for a slower April! 

Reading: 

Due to the busyness of this month, my reading took a hit....

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#books #TV #Missions #pregnancy #Youth Sunday #Leaders #refugee #conferences #The Youth Cartel #Jesus gap #worship #Prayer #confirmation

Jen Bradbury
Mar 12 · 5 min read

In defense of Youth Sunday

Youth Sunday Readings

When I first interviewed for my current position, I remember asking the pastors, “How are youth involved in worship?”

Their answer to this question was important to me because I was coming from a non-denominational setting wherein we had a...

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#youth ministry #Youth Sunday #worship #faith formation #Jesus #Missions #graduating seniors #scripture #church #evangelism

Jen Bradbury
Feb 27 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (February, 2015 Edition)

February Snow

It's been a long, COLD, snowy February in the Chicago area, making me extremely thankful I purchased a winter maternity coat. 

Reading: 

Cold, snowy nights have been perfect for curling up with a book by the fire. This month, here are...

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#Youth Sunday #pregnancy #TV #music #books

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Latest Posts

  • Church homes
  • A chance to preach
  • What I'm Into (February, March 2017 Edition)
  • How a youth group ministered to its congregation
  • What I'm Into (March, 2016 Edition)
  • What I'm Into (February, 2016 Edition)
  • What I'm Into (April, 2015 Edition)
  • What I'm Into (March, 2015 Edition)
  • In defense of Youth Sunday
  • What I'm Into (February, 2015 Edition)

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