Code Switch on Joy as Resistance | Herod's Entry into Jerusalem | Hello Friends, Book group in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, Preaching in Sutton, MA, and next to New York City for an Episcopal Divinity School Staff meeting. I'm really looking forward to Palm Sunday as a day I have no responsibilities! But first, No Kings III on March 28. I hope to see you there. -Liz Tactical Frivolity and Palm Sunday I love roller coasters. I'm also prone to motion sickness. I learned that if you tighten your...
3 days ago • 3 min read
Red Letter Christians | No Kings | Friends, Just about a year ago I wrote about the pivot point for our churches. I am now reading all sorts of articles and hearing podcasts that are certain that right now is the pivot point. I expect that is wishful thinking. I expect this boat won't turn fast. At the same time, maybe every point is a place that each of us, and groups of us, can make a pivot. In any case, I hope you will be at a No Kings Protest on March 28. -Liz Pivot Point Is your church...
7 days ago • 3 min read
History of human compassion | Song about heaven | Friends, Well I came home from Los Angeles with a cold. Struggled through laryngitis to preach, twice, to an amazing congregation that is making a difference in their town. Now to try to get enough rest to be ready for the last two book events this lent--one in Vermont and one in Massachusetts. -Liz Can This Nation Survive? Can this nation survive? Come back to life? We believe in resurrection, does that include the nation? When Ezekiel sees...
10 days ago • 3 min read
Lenten Meditations | Song: Every Grain of Sand Friends, I'm off to Los Angeles to share my book with congregations there. It should be 80s there, and snowing at home. It's hard to decide whether it is time to put away my skis. But I'm certainly enjoying my weekends of warm weather! -Liz Feed People Metaphorically I find the eucharist, communion, the Lord's Table, the bread and the juice, whatever we call call it, I find it the most moving part of our worship. The smell, the taste, the...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, Fifty degrees in Massachusetts today. But that's okay--it will be snowing this weekend. I move between eager for more skiing, and eager to see flowers and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I spent 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale and that was definitely enjoyable. -Liz Sleeper, awake! Have you awakened yet? Are you woke? Ephesian 5:14b Therefore it says, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." It’s hard to say when “woke” became part of our vocabulary. In...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, I gave up my car (one of two in my family) for the first Gulf War. It felt like we were killing people for oil, and I didn't want my car contributing to the need for oil. I walked to work, and struggled with how to explain to the people who gave me a ride what was going on. It felt so small an action. And it felt so necessary to do something and I didn't know what else to do. -Liz Just War Doctrine The earliest Christians did not join the military. Reasoning included the commandment...
24 days ago • 4 min read
Friends, I have the best family. I'm away visiting them. It is good. -Liz Be Performative. Please. I'm hearing a fear of being performative in my circles and I want try and get at what that means for actions as Christians, and as churches. The word performative once meant words that perform. You say the thing, and it becomes the reality. Naming a child, baptism, the words of institution, the declaration of marriage, the words of a will. They are said, and now the thing becomes true. God is...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Friends, We had a little blizzard! It gave me time to do some quilting, do some writing, and to get some rest. Ken did the shoveling so I haven't been out in yet. I head out tomorrow to Vermont for skiing, games, and visiting with family. -Liz Baptized by Water and Spirit In John 3:1017 Nicodemus is presented as one of the group those people--the ones who oppose Jesus' ministry. He seems to be sneaking out of that group to join Jesus and seems confident Jesus is of God. It is the miracles...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Friends, Welcome to Lent. I seem to be giving up free time for Lent, but that wasn't the plan. Hopefully I'll get caught up soon! -Liz Introduction to Act! Be Church Now Did you know that in 1947 the US Supreme Court found segregation on interstate buses to be illegal? 1947!! Bayard Rustin followed up that decision by gather white and black men to travel the south together, waiting to be arrested. And they were arrested. Bayard Rustin went on to organize the 1963 March On Washington for Jobs...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read