JULY 2025

Dear Kind and Gentle People,

Oh, My Soul! Our Pride worship service at the Newfield Community Church was truly a prophetic act of resistance. Thank you to all of my UCCMA friends who invoked the power of our Creator and covered this event in prayer! During pride month, many of us offered intentional daily prayers for our LGBTQ+ individuals who are the targets of homophobia and transphobia. Let us boldly continue!

Here at “The Mill” we are in full haying season. Traditionally, nature needs to bequeath three dry days to make hay.  Father made hay with a one-blade cutter with his horse “Poor Old Nellie Gray,” who could get quite balky with cutting four-foot Timothy. No machines to turn the hay or put into bales, only a lonely pitch fork! Believe me, it’s quite something to make a load of hay with a pitch fork! Thank goodness I will not be getting blisters from the pitch fork any time soon! 

On Friday July 4th, the Mill House will ring with the celebration of Independence Day. Mr. Moose is decked out in his patriotic chapeau. The revolutionary war ancestral sword and fife will be displayed and the youngest present will have the honor of putting a fresh coat of Vaseline on the fife before it is put away for another year. Miss Cocoa, the 12-rank pipe organ, will make her debut with the E. Power Biggs arrangement of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and the Steinway and Chickering dueling grand pianos will accompany 40 guests with a patriotic sing-a-long ending with the Wilhousky arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” This will be followed by traditional time-honored victuals including Rhubarb Pie, Baked Beans and general offerings of “Bread and Go With It.” YUM!

As we approach our 249th Independence Day, let us revisit the real meaning of patriotism. Not America-first-ism, but being servants of one another—and the flip side of seeing to other people’s freedom, not just our own, so that no one is forced into servitude. I hope you will seek the Divine Mystery and offer a prayer to guide us in upholding a vision of a nation where everyone is included, especially our neighbors who are not like us. Let us remember Jesus’ reaction to the disciples’ tribalism as a good corrective to the nationalism that masquerades as patriotism. May we use our freedom not for ourselves, but to sow seeds of compassion and justice, nurturing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and the world.

As Always,

Gobs of Blessings and Heaps of Happiness,

Your Chaplain,

Petah

PHOTOS

Petah on the Yanmar for first cutting— Nee Nee Carpenter

The Mill for Independence Day—Jason Harris

Mr. Moose in his patriotic chapeau—Petah

Link to Battle Hymn of the Republic