Povey Prattle

I wish to become a grumpy old coot. This is one of my first steps in that direction. Why do broadcasters think it important to use many words in convoluted sentences,( if indeed they are sentences)? I heard the following on the radio this morning. When speaking about Labor Day and picnics, the broadcaster suggested that families and friends might gather around a pool. And then she said, "if it's not the case that you do have a pool you coul d go to the beach" "If it's not the case that you do have a pool?!"

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead, Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now: put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood. For nothing now can ever come to any good.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock S'io credessi che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza pi scosse. Ma per ci che giammai di questo fondo non torn vivo alcun, s'i'odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo. Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherised upon a table; Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: Streets that follow like a tedious argument Of insidious intent To lead you to an overwhelming question. Oh, do not ask, "What is it?" Let us go and make our visit. In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo. The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, Licked its tongue into the corners...

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Sermon for August 26th 2007 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. Hilary’s, Fort Myers, FL Isaiah 58:9-14; Psalm 103; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10:17 Thank you for welcoming me into your community this morning. Until just over a year ago I was Rector at St. James’s, Cambridge in Massachusetts. Now I am retired and enjoying life in Sarasota. Some of us met about 10 years ago when we explored whether or not I might be your Rector. It was in our wisdom and that of the Holy Spirit that we decided otherwise. Instead Fr. Bob came here, and I am so grateful for his grace and generosity of spirit which moved him to invite me here today. I try to be of the KISS variety of preachers. KISS as many of you know, stands for Keep It Simple...... Saints! “ Let us give thanks, by which we offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.” So wrote the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. “Acceptable worship”. That implies that there is unacceptable worship. So I start by assertin...

Sermon for July 29th 2007 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. David’s, Englewood, FL. Genesis 18:20-31; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13 When I was with you last Sunday I preached, for the first time in more than a year. During this week I have realised that I have many sermons stored up in my mind. So today I will be making two major points. They may in fact turn out to be two sermons, so if they do not hang together, they will most certainly hang separately! The account of Abraham and the Lord from Genesis has the Lord highly ticked off, and Abraham at his most bold. The dialogue is in the language of the bazaar. It is the bargaining of the near eastern world. It’s the “real world” not the so-called “holy world”. Bear that in mind for a bit later, and bear it in mind as you read the stuff from then Gospel which has to do with prayer. The sense of the verbs is “ask, ask, ask”, “search, search, search”, “knock, knock, knock”. I believe that Jesus is taking ...

Sermon for July 22nd 2007 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. David’s, Englewood, FL Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Thank you for your invitation to be with you today. I am Michael Povey, and just over a year ago I retired from my ministry as Rector at St. James’s, Cambridge, MA. I live in Sarasota. On my first Sunday in retirement I attended one of the parishes in Sarasota. As I approached the main door, I saw the usher, a smart and very well dressed gentleman. He was deep in conversation, and as I approached, without turning to look at me, he held out his hand which was holding the bulletin. He spoke not a word. A few Sundays ago I attended a different parish in the County. There the welcome was more than effusive. A pleasant woman grabbed my arm saying, “come with me, the Rector tells us that you MUST sign the guest book”. But when I went to take a seat, another woman said “that place is reserved for my husband”. I am talking about welcom...