Povey Prattle

Povey Prattle returns! Ben Morse and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving trip to New England. More about this next week. On the second leg of our return flight, from Atlanta to Sarasota, the cabin staff members were surly and unsmiling. Ben and I recalled the days of wonderful service in trains, planes and hotels. I imagined that Ben made a very odd request of our stewardess, and that this was her reply. “But of course Mr Morse, I will bring you a horse. You will ride down the aisle in incredible style. It will dance, it will leap, It will prance - even creep. We will do what we can. We’re the best - we’re AIR TRAN” Tomorrow (Nov 25th) I’ll blog two sermons, the one I preached and the one I left at home.

To Dad Thanksgiving 2003 Love Steve Thanksgiving with Mom My Personal “All Saints Day” I enjoyed speaking with you three weeks ago on Sunday, “All Saints Day”. I was glad to learn that both of us attended two different Church services (St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Pittsfield and Wellesley Hills Congregational) to hear our respective Ministers read Mom’s name, in recognition of hers and others’ deaths to honor their lives and understand the hope of eternal life. All Saints Day is normally about the “major league” saints like the Disciples who have helped shape our Christian Faith. But I truly believe the real saints in our lives are the “regular folks”, our loved ones, like “beacons of light” show us the way to love and grace everyday. These are the people that help us learn, work, love and shape our faith in our respecti ve paths to God. Saints, “major league or regular folk” have their faults but these faults pale in comparison to their “good works” of love. I know that Mom w...

Many have seen the “fish decals” on the boots (trunks) of cars. Here is what it is all about The use of the Ichthys symbol by early Christians appears to date from towards the end of the 1st century AD. Ichthus (the Greek word for fish) is an acronym, which is a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name. It compiles to "Jesus Christ God's Son is Saviour" or "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour". Iota is the first letter of Iesous Greek for Jesus. Chi is the first letter of Christos Greek for "anointed". Theta is the first letter of Theou genitive case of "God". Upsilon is the first letter of Huios Greek for Son. Sigma is the first letter of Soter Greek for Saviour. I see more than enough of them in SRQ, often placed the wrong way round. But I feel certain that more than half the population does not know what they represent. Fish feature a good bit in the Gospel stories, and some have posited that the Eucharis...

How could I have omitted other wonderful “afters”. Tinned peaches or apricots with evaporated milk were not bad. Jelly (Jello) and Custard were never a favourite of mine, even if the Jelly contained Mandarin oranges (from a tin [can]) I liked blancmange even less! (look it up on Google). It is pronounced blah monge. My best friend Jeff Davies was a great tease, and knowing how much I disliked this dessert, would call me “monger”. Trifle was a rare treat. Even now I sometimes make it for guests, but it takes quite a while. You’ve just “gotta” have sherry on those lady fingers. And fresh fruit (raspberries and strawberries) work better than the frozen type. Mum and my two older sisters would make the best Christmas Puddings, and Christmas Cake (sans Brandy) in mid-November. Americans call Christmas Pudding “Plum Pudding” and serve it with white sauce, but ours was always served with “Birds” Custard. We ate it with care, for who knew, there might be a silver thrup-knee bit hi...