Rev. Miles uses a feather to “brush away all that is dead and wasted. We are new, fresh as the smell of cedar” in the Green Corn Ceremony. (Photos by Phyllis McCabe)
Rev. Nick Miles (Tecumseh Red Cloud) and Rev. Judith Boggess (Grandmother Judith Laughing Owl) led a Native American Service of Thanksgiving at the Old Dutch Church in uptown Kingston on Sunday morning, November 19. Members of the Cloud Breaker Society and the Red Feather Singers participated in the event, along with Pastor Rob Sweeney, Rev. Liz Estes and Music Minister John Baratta.
Before the service, those attending were invited to participate in a ritual for spiritual blessing, known as a smudging ceremony, in the church’s courtyard. This Native American Service of Thanksgiving is adapted from the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band Green Corn Ceremony.
Following the ceremony was a gathering of participants and parishioners in Bethany Hall for luncheon and community.
Singing the hymn “For the Fruit of All Creation” along with the parishioners.Rev. Miles and Rev. Boggess at the table of the Green Corn Ceremony. This ceremony celebrates the beneficence of the Creator giving people the four-leggeds and the winged-ones, along with the sacred gifts of corn, beans and squash. It re-establishes the harmony of life and renews all life and relationships.Some of the items on the table of the Green Corn Ceremony, including water, strawberries, meat and bread.Rev. Judith Boggess distributes pieces of fry bread to attendants that was made by Tecumseh Red Cloud using almond milk.Rev, Liz Estes gives the homily.The Red Feather Singers perform a Delaware healing/blessing song.The Creator Song opens the service.Rev. Nick Miles Native signs as soloist Samantha Ferretti sings “The Our Father.”
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