( Collective )

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PrefacE

Alabaster was born out of the notion that creatively gathering  - no matter the reason - often results in something keenly inspiring. Whether family, friend, or colleague, we believe that together is better than apart. Why? Because we were made to connect. Creatively and with distinct intention, we recognize in our deepest quietest soul center we exist to authentically + meaningfully engage with others. God is a God of relationship. He made you and me for this very purpose. 

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Prologue

“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

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We have had the privilege of rehabilitating over a dozen spaces, and while the design element is a passion for us, the driving force in our design is opening the door to those looking for the personal purposeful connection that brings a home to life. This truth was made extraordinarily clear several years ago while reading in John's Gospel…

( CONTEXT ) Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead (!!!) and was dining at Lazarus’s home with sisters Mary and Martha and friends. While they were together, Mary took a jar of alabaster - a jar filled with very expensive fragrant oils - broke the jar and in an intimate and lavish manner washed the feet of Jesus. This stunning act of costly service broke something wide open in our Founder, Colleen Locke, as she had never fully understood this deeply held desire she had to create beautiful space. The idea of a place being filled with the aroma of extravagant service became missional. 

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Introduction

After selling 1220, we have retreated a bit, prayerfully considering all sorts of options. New business venture or close that entrepreneurial chapter? Family focus? Write? Teach? Etc? After considerable prayer, musing + encouragement from others to stay on mission with Alabaster we have decided to create a home for the creative sojourner. Those who know the art and nuance of one another-ness will find this space inspires staying put. We believe you will want to linger, to read, listen and observe all the beautiful ways to discover deeper meaning and hope in a world that often moves at a pace unsustainable. So here, we will endeavor to create authentic engagement as we discover the WHY behind our HERE.

Chapter 01

( Create)

We were created to create. Simple as that. Every one of us has creativity ebbing and flowing in our souls, the question is: do we recognize it as such? Are we harnessing all that God has deposited, efforting to make real divine impact in our corners of the world? If not, why not? Maybe we do not see what that deposit is or maybe we do not see its value! Let’s take the time to deep dive into this truth and discover all sorts of ways people have found their giftings and have stepped out in faith efforting to inspire! In doing so, we see beautiful forms of connection that make lasting impact.

Chapter 01

Chapter 02

( Gather)

We are better together. Period. That ought to create relief + motivation to seek out the who the where and the why! We are living in an amazing time in history, a few years out of a global pandemic. How did that impact our innate inclination to gather? Has it clouded our capacity to see its value? Have we leaned too far into our own spaces that we are inadvertently distancing, while asking the question “WHY am I so lonely” - after all, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared loneliness as a public health crisis…this should cause us to pause. Our hope is that this space will provide stories of meaningful ways to gather, while also offering periodic times of face to face connection. 

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

( Steward)

We create and gather, efforting to ultimately steward all we have been given! How cool is this formula? We are participants in a beauty filled story that God invites us daily to embrace. Our voice - our narrative - matters and we truly believe living out that narrative is imperative. How? By giving sharing expressing all that gifted goodness specific to you, and how you were made. 

Chapter 03