FEBRUARY 2025

Dear Kind and Gentle People,

Oh, My Soul! Petah’s excursion abroad was refreshing and restorative. London highlights included the glorious sound of evensong at St. Paul’s and St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with Paris adventures that included lighting candles at Notre Dame and La Madeleine. Yours truly arrived home to frozen pipes due to little snow cover and seasonal temperatures. Yes, January has been frightfully frigid with several nights at minus 1 -- BEFORE wind chill -- (that’s about minus 28 Celsius) at “The Mill.” Gee, “I wish I had a giant helicopter to lift my home and move to the tropics” was a quote I heard yesterday when someone popped by while I was fulfilling some duties at the Newfield Community Church. The sanctuary is unheated during the week and was about 20 degrees inside. I was happy to respond that February was approaching and, whatever the outcome of Groundhog Day on February 2nd, spring is on the horizon. 

Over the course of the next hour this conservative leaning person chatted about an at-risk parishioner, whom he had shared Christmas dinner with, and is quite fearful of our present time. He asked me a direct question. “What are we going to do?” The direct response was this: I had chatted with Pastor Phyllis in December and we agreed that this church would do what is correct in the sight of our Creator! Whatever the risk. Whatever the cost. Case closed! 

Each day upon awakening you have a choice to follow the Light of Jesus the Christ and honor the Creator. Do implore the Divine to open the doors of the cosmos and bequeath the most benevolent blessings of the day upon you. In thankfulness, discernment and wisdom, do employ your position of privilege and power and be a blessing for others.  Let there be mercy!

As Always,

Gobs of Blessings and Heaps of Happiness.

Petah

Rev. Dr. Peter Stickney

Twins Paul and Peter on the Thames-January 2024