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...
3 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...
9 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...
14 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...
17 days 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...
20 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, I've never been big on Lent, but now I've got a book and a podcast dealing with Lent. Apparently, people change. And that's the idea. That we do things that help others to find the motivation to change. Let's do it together. -Liz Ash Wednesday Prayer of Confession Forgive us, God, for the ways we have failed to serve the poor and failed to end poverty. Forgive us for the inequality of our community. We confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. Forgive us, God, for the times we look...
23 days ago • 2 min read
Check out my new Lenten Mediation Podcast When Did We See You? Three to five minutes a day from Ash Wednesday to Easter, contemplating the scriptures in my book When Did We See You? A Lenten Exploration of Poverty & Wealth. Three pre-lenten introductions start with Jesus' time in the wilderness. This podcast offers a pause. A moment to notice what we have and to see Christ among us. Lent is a time of reflection and we will be spending time considering, evaluating, praying about our ... STUFF....
26 days ago • 1 min read
Friends, The snow is gorgeous, the weather a bit warmer where I am. And yet I hear from students that the poorest people in Mississippi are still without power. St. Basil's in Haiti is trying to make education possible for young people. War continues, some that we've helped cause, and others where we are not assisting those suffering. There are people without the food, housing, and healthcare they need. Somehow we must find a way to see the beauty without ignoring the needs. Liz Taking Time...
27 days ago • 3 min read
Friends I was pretending to be Lindsey Vonn on the ski slopes the other day. Going fast (okay, compared to her, going slow!) and leaning into the turns. I love the videos where it seems her hands on are on the snow next to her. I'm not that flexible, so mine was not even similar to hers, but I had fun. And then she fell! My heart breaks with her to try so hard at something she is so good at, and to have the circumstances be what makes it impossible to proceed. I'm feeling this way all the...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read