Friends, I was writing about what is so frightening about socialism when our nation attacked another nation. And what became immediately clear is that I know nothing. Thus today we have an article from someone who knows the people of Venezuela. I am madly trying to catch up on the history, to understand the economics, to figure out things I was not taught in high school (and regretting my decision in college to avoid all things history.) This is what I know--all economic systems can breed...
about 20 hours ago • 3 min read
Friends, I hope you are feeling hopeful as we head into this new year. Reality calls for tempered hope, but hope nonetheless. My husband Ken and I were in bed by 10 last night. Today I have three different gatherings to play strategy games with friends. And some time to shop another friend's stash of batik's. While January 1 is the start, it is a slow start. A holiday start. Retail of course is always working. And plow drivers are clearing up the overnight slow. Technically I'm back to work...
5 days ago • 3 min read
Friends, I have six more days off work! I have appointments with friends to play games. I am cooking New Year's Eve dinner for 35 of my neighbors. And hopefully I'll get a chance to do some quilting. What are you doing to care for yourself? -Liz Introduction to Act! Be Church Now The new year brings us a chance to restart. I'm not much for resolutions, but I do want to think about how I am going to be in this coming year. Each of us have work to do and that work will not change significantly....
8 days ago • 3 min read
Friends, I celebrated Christmas as always with my niblings, siblings, and parents. We cook together on Christmas day, this year opting for a simpler charcuterie dinner. We got snow, played games together. I hope that your Christmas was equally peaceful and comfortable. Liz Slaughter of the Innocents Pieter Bruegel the Elder (~1527-1569) was a Flemish painter, popular in his time, and ever since. His painting The Massacre of the Innocents moves the Matthew Matthew 2:16-18 text to a wintery...
12 days ago • 3 min read
Friends, On this longest of nights we remember all those who are struggling this holiday season. We remember those we have lost, and those who hurt by failures of our humanity. Blue Christmas/Longest Night CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Remember those who have given you faith, and give thanks. People: We will prepare the way of Christ; leveling the hills and valleys of life. Leader: Hold one another in your hearts this day; praying love may overcome our burdens. People: We will weep with those who...
19 days ago • 2 min read
Good Friends, My Christmas shopping is done. My plan for Christmas dinner is made (my family is doing various charcuterie trays and I'm providing the veggies). I don't need a Christmas eve sermon, nor one for longest night, for the first time in a very long time. I'm loving attending worship at Advent without any planning responsibilities. But the season isn't as easy as I expected. Its end of the year things at work, and I have quilts to be be made an friends to visit. It's surprisingly...
22 days ago • 3 min read
On the Media: Book Bans | Democracy Forward | Friends, I spent the weekend sewing. It is my place of peace, but first I had to clean up all the "in progress" projects so that there was room for my sister to join me. I love many parts of the process, but perhaps none so much as pulling out fabrics and holding them up against each other to see if the "go". And looking at books of ideas for new quilt patterns, jacket patterns, a new way to make the neckline for a dress. And I can get all those...
26 days ago • 3 min read
When Did We See You? | The Poor People's Campaign Friends, Four people in line to sworn in as citizens in Boston today were pulled out of line and told they could not continue because of the countries they came from. People who came here legally, followed the steps for citizenship, and were approved. I wanted to write about this, but cannot find the words. Instead I have words on the Magnificat. -Liz Magnificat Advent, a season of waiting. I remember the shocking discovery, as I poured over...
29 days ago • 3 min read
Between Memory and Hope | World AIDS Day Chris Read, my high school friend, high school crush. In chorus, in the school musicals. He called me often, mostly because I was good at understanding the Chemistry homework. He was the first AIDS death in Vermont, where we lived. It was a secret in those days, in part because even those dying and their doctors didn't know exactly what was going on. And in part because we were afraid and let our fear keep us separate from each other. I lived in the DC...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read