Speak Boldly by Spencer LaJoye

In January 2019, Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher and I sat down together to dream about an album of Spirit-led, Scripturally-centered, inclusive, and progressive sacred music. As a self-proclaimed post-evangelical, Christian-speaking, ritual-loving, progressive queer person, I thought the project sounded perfect for me. What I didn’t know was that writing these songs would soften my edges. It would give me permission to grieve what religious institutions have muted in me, and to celebrate the life and sacred sound that is still to be found within myself and within these spiritual spaces and communities.

I’d like to thank Jenny Whitcher and all of Juniper Formation for inviting me into such a collaborative and transformational experience. I hope this collection of songs may inspire and heal you and those you bring into your relational fold - that it may be the soundtrack of your good ministry.

To Evergreen Christian Church: so many of these songs were written with your community in mind as I participated in your worship services last year. You inspired the form of this album with your brave spirit, hospitality, and our journey through the liturgical year.

To Whitney, my wife, for enduring the existential crises I had when writing these songs.

To anyone who listens: you are made of the good stuff. May these songs instill in you an empowered defiance. Be emboldened. Death does not have the final word.

Peace and love,
Jenny LaJoye
they/them/theirs

Tracklist

1.	Juniper Tree	3:46

2.	There is Only Home	3:26

3.	Behold; Take Heed	3:16

4.	Blessed Are	3:43

5.	I've Decided	4:35

6.	Divine Dust	4:40

7.	For Our Hunger	2:37

8.	Three Times	4:37

9.	Take My Life, and Let it Be	3:24

10.	Speak Boldly	5:06

Credits

released July 24, 2020

Songs written,* performed, recorded, and engineered** by Jenny LaJoye.
*“Take My Life, and Let it Be” is music in the public domain.
**There Is Only Home is engineered by Cole Naylor.
Artwork by Jesse Van Horne of Skullflower Design Studios

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