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...
3 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...
6 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...
10 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...
13 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...
17 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...
20 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...
24 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...
27 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...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read