Hip Hop Trio Kneecap | Guidelines for Cross cultural dialogue | Friends, Easter leaves me full of hope. Each year I feel its the "real" start of the church year as we imagine the early church, and how we can be church in new ways. Having the opening processional for Easter worship be an adaptation of the opening Hadestown, with Christ the Lord is Risen today interwoven, really helped. Liz Creating and Easter Community Creating community requires finding a way to be with each other. In the...
about 6 hours ago • 4 min read
The Song Worthy | Learning from our Mistakes | Friends, I'm headed off to the New England Quilt Week in Hartford Connecticus with a friend. I hope to immerse myself in beauty while continuing to pray we will not escalate this war. Pray for peace. -Liz Thomas takes Risks After No Kings III I heard a lot of analysis arguing mostly that either protests don't work (despite the evidence they do) or that protests aren't enough (which no one claimed they were). Notice how I need to reassure you,...
3 days ago • 3 min read
U2's Easter song | What to do after the protest | Friends, I've provided my Easter sermon prep, even though I'm not preaching this Easter. I'll admit I'm really enjoying this life of attending, rather than leading worship. -Liz Christus Victorious Easter! The pastor's life is a strange one, always ahead of the season. We have not yet heard the holy week stories. Jesus is still preaching in the Temple and on the streets, there is not yet a plan for an arrest or a betrayal. And here we are...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Find an Indivisible Group | Research on the Effectiveness of protests | Friends, I'm on the train home from New York City after three days of future planning. Will we have a future? It feels odd but we must just keep at the ordinariness of life as we protest, speak out, take a stand. It's my last trip for a couple months. Hopefully I can get back into a good sleep routine. Liz I Have No King but Jesus. No Kings III is coming up Saturday March 28. I have no King but Jesus. It's interesting...
14 days ago • 3 min read
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...
17 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...
21 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...
24 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...
28 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...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read