Posts by Greta Holt
Ten thoughts before I vote
We will vote. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash I feel quiet, waiting, don’t you? We have canvassed, displayed our yard signs—and our ‘We’re Glad You’re Our Neighbor’ signs—debated, gossiped, and ignored awful political ads. (All that money poured into overstated commercials that no one believes.) This week, an article shared widely on FB decried being…
Read More »Compromise, Resistance, or Both
As we careen toward November’s elections, we often worry about compromising vs resisting. Bombs are being sent, caravans are marching toward us, and folks are being killed in embassies. Candidates disrespect each other without restraint. Even though listening and compromising seem key to our progress forward, we cannot forget the 15th Century martyrs who resisted…
Read More »The politics of engagement, religious-style
A few months ago, my husband and I were visiting relatives in the Washington, D.C. area. We were able to read hard copies of the Washington Post. It is always a treat holding those big pages at breakfasts and ‘solving’ the problems of the world with good friends. (We get the online version only now,…
Read More »Mark Lilla’s The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics
I’m a social progressive, but yesterday for a split second, I considered becoming an unaffiliated voter. (I hear you clearly—in Ohio, it appears that unaffiliated voters can’t vote for candidates, only issues, in the primaries. Do correct me if I’m wrong, please.) My dear husband was out in far neighborhoods canvassing for a brand new liberal…
Read More »The Church and Politics
Photo by Garidy Sanders on Unsplash What is happening to our planet? Are we spinning hopelessly out of control? In these past few years, so many of us have considered politics our main concern: immigration, race, gender equality, the environment, poverty, and jobs. We have written letters, we have marched, and now we are canvassing…
Read More »Is Gratitude an Anabaptist thing, or did I mess up?
My church is studying gratitude, and I’m not comfortable. I’ve not been sure that gratitude is an Anabaptist thing. The early martyrs suffered for their beliefs. They refused to fight back physically because Jesus had not done so. Thus, torturers and interrogators had their way with them, but many Täufer and Täuferin remained loyal to a freer,…
Read More »Courage, humility, and reconciliation
Recently, the Anabaptist Collective‘s Facebook group asked members to share topics of interest. The issue that received the most support was ‘Discussions of classic Mennonite-Anabaptist values — which ones are critical and how well are we keeping them?’ As we look forward to a time of visioning, my church has been studying just that. Bulletin…
Read More »Courage, humility, and Ironman
Not that Ironman, a real one. The kind that swims, bikes, and runs to victory. We end our month of inspirational pieces and sermons by congregants with a guest post by my niece Gretchen Liechty Lynch. She is that Ironman. Years ago, she made a commitment to running that continues to this day. A music teacher,…
Read More »Courage, humility, and Sylvester & Tweety Bird
We continue this month’s celebration of inspirational pieces and sermons by congregants. The post below is by Scott Troyer, a Mennonite congregant and blogger at: The Divine Pull: Moving Toward Justice. Scott and his wife Allison, graduates of Bluffton University in Ohio, have generously given of their time and talents to the youth at…
Read More »Sacrifice or Fulfillment
We continue our month of inspirational pieces and sermons by congregants. Addie Liechty is my niece, and hers is the featured image—red and green leaves—of my blog. Addie’s blog is: https://addieswriting.wordpress.com. You can view her biography below. ____________ Reflection: told by Addie Liechty at First Mennonite Church, San Francisco, 1/19/2014 Photo by Joseph Barrientos on…
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