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...
2 days ago • 3 min read
Non-profit fundraising | Book: Gratitude Friends, I am not feeling thankful right now. I'm annoyed at the system, and at myself. I turn 65 in January and so need to choose my medicare plan. But I managed to wait until everyone is changing plans to do the research. No one is answering their phones, the chat function is not helpful, the sales people trying to sell me their plans seem to have forgotten me. I'm in a funk. But hopefully in funk with a beautiful Tuesday snow day. -Liz Alternative...
5 days ago • 3 min read
The Power of the Purse | Grateful to be Old Friends, I hope you have had a lovely Thanksgiving feast. Or a simple, delicious meal. I am with some of my family, and many good friends this holiday weekend. I spent wonderful time with my nephew before he went elsewhere for the actual feast day, and then time with my brother and niece. We play strategy games together (Wingspan, Agricola, Hardback, Scrabble, Tiny Towns) and this year we played "Liz Loses". I didn't even come in second place! It...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Sojourner's Magazine | World AIDS Day | Friends, I hope you have people to be with for Thanksgiving. If you do not, I hope you have peace. I'm with my parents, brother, and with our chosen family Laurie and Scott. For us the cooking is as much the holiday as the eating. I make homemade cranberry sauce. And the games! Fictionary is our favorite party game. The person with the dictionary finds a word no one knows. Everyone writes a definition, and the dictionary-holder writes a true, but...
12 days ago • 4 min read
5 Things I Worried About | Non-Violent Protest Training | Friends, I'm "done" traveling for awhile. You know, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas when I'll be in Vermont. Going home doesn't really feel like travel. In the meantime, my eight year old neighbor is coming over to play Splendor, a strategy game with me. He can win if I give him three plays before I take my first move. I feel like that tells me something about the world, but I'm not sure what. -Liz What Are We Afraid Of? #2 There...
16 days ago • 4 min read
US Catholic Bishops Speak Out | Song: Maybe Stars Today's post is from the Southern New England Conference UCC Starting with Scripture Blog. I wrote it several weeks ago and had forgotten all about it! I'm safely home and recovered from travels, spending a lot of time getting caught up on things set aside. And this weekend I'll be quilting with a seminary friend. Take time to catch up. Take time to be with those you love, and to do what you love doing. -Liz Imagining the Peaceable Kingdom I...
23 days ago • 3 min read
We Shall Not Be Moved | Hire Pastor Liz as a Consultant | Friends, I just spent an amazing weekend at the Iowa Episcopal Diocesan Convention! What a joy. I got to talk about how small churches can be engaged in the local community. About Asset Based Community Development and Community Organizing. And then about how we are called to love enemies as the Keynote address. The whole weekend explored the ways we are "Together in Christ". It is lucky it was such a delight because I got caught in the...
26 days ago • 4 min read
No Kings protest's Idolatry | Broken Down In America Friends, My next book has been sent for printing! When Did We See You? A Reflection on Poverty & Wealth will be available January 1 and is good for a private or congregational lenten study. It asks us to really consider what we have, and whether our stuff keeps us closer to God or further from God. I hope you'll considering ordering a copy! -Liz Where do politics belong in church? The question is not only which political discussions can we...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Democracy is a faith issue | Redistricting is a faith issue Friends, Dad is in good shape and mom and I made good progress on a puzzle and spent Saturday at a craft show. Art restores my soul. Interesting that out of one hundred vendors, about five were authors peddling their books. I bought three! The rules change over time. For this show the artist themself must staff the booth, but the art is not juried. And writing is considered an art. Both of those seem like good changes to the rules of...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read