16 Comments
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Dave's avatar

Hello Holly,

Just wanted to say that I am enjoying your newsletter. I know church disembodiment also and have a missionary past, (and future). I also crawl amongst the destruction of our system of government. Would have gone to the Wittes projection, the hunger and the Pepfar if I lived in DC. I've been to our Senator's office protest a couple weeks ago here in RI. Anyway, I like to read you cause within the Bulwark, Charlie, etc, resistance world of writers and commenters there's not that many of the Church/Never Tr*mp intersect. Took me awhile to find you along w Russell Moore, Labash, Wehner, and French.

Did you say that you did that Painting? Impressive. Very Nice. Will listen to the book discussion when I get a chance. Thanks, Dave.

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Holly Berkley Fletcher's avatar

I did paint it! Thank you

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Sy's avatar

That is so good!

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Rachel's avatar

Delon Trusk is still the Dogedent

🤣🤣🤣🤣 You're the best.

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Fran B.'s avatar

Holly....you are awesome. I don't know what else to say....except this, which popped into my head just now. It was in our Temple prayer book, and I never knew the origin. "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."

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Holly Berkley Fletcher's avatar

Thank you Fran, and the same to you.

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Trisha Sellers's avatar

Thank you for writing and sharing! I am grateful that Kristin Kobes DuMez encouraged her readers to follow you! The painting of Ida B Wells is fantastic! Please, please, consider getting copies made that people can purchase!

Keep up the good work!

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Dale Oak's avatar

For some reason, your descriptions of the protest and church activities you did this week seemed strangely familiar to me. Thank you for everything you do and for writing so eloquently about it all. 🙂

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Holly Berkley Fletcher's avatar

Funny you mention, there was a guy there that looked so much like you, but not enough for me to think it was you…lololol

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Julia Baker's avatar

I am a passionate follower of Christ and have been since I was young (that's a really long time ago). I used to think I was an evangelical but never used the label. I was an ignorant, uninvolved Republican for most of my adult life, but I left in 2015 - you know why. Jesus is the One who holds me firmly in place in this world, and I will do what I can to stand up for Him, His example, and His teachings. (I forgot to say that I was in Cameroun for 25 years as a missionary, teaching and loving on high school students, as I supported the work of Bible translation. My missionary friends are split in their political positions right now.)

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Cheryl May's avatar

Holly, you are an inspiration. May I suggest you also read Eliza’s first book? Part of it is based in Africa.

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Holly Berkley Fletcher's avatar

i’ll add it to my pile!

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Cindy's avatar

Protesting in the cold wind straight from Moscow, indeed.

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Todd Guerrero's avatar

Great pic - ashes to ashes

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Lori Z.'s avatar

Beautiful painting Holly. I really enjoyed this post. I think it's great you went to Ash Wednesday service and had that experience. It can be truly humbling. I know all the common themes about Lent but there have often been times that during Ash Wed service, in my little pea brain I am reminded that I belong to God and am marked as one of his own. It doesn't mean that others aren't, it's a reminder to me to hold myself to belonging to something larger than myself.

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Sy's avatar

I completely understand the desire to be around other people, doing things together to make ourselves known. And to help each other. After 9/11, the basilicas in the Twin Cities were packed to the gills. (I’m a lapsed Catholic.) Just hearing the familiar prayers and hymns was calming, being surrounded by others needing calming. I felt less anxious after one mass. I told my sister, “This shit works.” Lol.

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