Povey Prattle

Ron and Charlotte Thompson are new friends. I met them two years ago, and they are “good news”. I always enjoy being with them. They live in a neat neighbourhood known as “Gulf Gate”. The exceptional thing about this area is what we call “Gulf Gate Village”. This includes just three streets, with a multitude of local businesses. The village is within walking distance of Ron and Charlotte’s home. It is truly a neighbourhood shopping area. Just about every shopping need can be met. The single story shops are user friendly, with no towering malls or plazas. And there are no “chain-stores” here. There are only locally owned businesses. Our Cities depend on neighbourhoods such as this for their welfare, “community sense”, and prosperity. I am glad that Sarasota has an area such as Gulf Gate Village. I hope that the photo’s will give you a clue as to the nature of this local shopping area.

Betsy and I puttered around again today. I tried hard not to be task focussed (as is my wont), but instead to be a gracious host. So we had a lazy morning, and then joined "the crew" (my SRQ friends) for bowling at 1:00 p.m. Then Betsy and I wandered around the Sarasota Marina area in lovely warm weather. This evening I cooked dinner (rib eye steak and stir fried vegetables, with "store bought" cherry pie for dessert). Ben and David joined us as guests. In between all this Betsey and I practised the ancient religious ritual of "the adoration of the cats"! I'll blog simply again tomorrow, then on Sunday I'll have great news to share.

I had planned an extensive blog tonight, with the photo’s I took a couple of days ago. But life intervened! The prayer service at Res. House this morning was lovely. There were 8 of us, all men, for a simple service in the little Chapel. I get moved to tears every week at this service. My homeless friends pray for everything in the world but themselves. And there are almost always more men than women . (Did you see that in Church recently?!). Chapel ended, I hoved over to Tampa Airport to meet my dear Betsy, who is here, from Pittsfield, for the third year in a row. She is the daughter of my former colleague, the Revd. Cortland R. Pusey and his wife Betty Pusey (both now passed from this life). It’s always a joy to be with Betsy. We got back home for lunch (nibbling on good cheese and a few peanuts). Then, en-route to choir practice at All Angels on Longboat Key (*) , I left Betsy at Lido Beach where she walked for an hour in perfect weather. (*) All Angels is a lovely parish ...

The article which follows is taddled from the Internet. These are my words. It means very little, as this new and alleged "Province" is no more than a figment of the imagination of its "head" the egomaniacal and power hungry Bob Duncan. Those of us who are not "Duncanites" will continue to serve the poor. We will continue to welcome gay and lesbian Christians - and ask God's blessing on their relationships. We will never cease in our gratitude and loving debt for our sisters who are Deacons, Priests, and Bishops in the Episcopal Church. jmp ------------------------------------------------------------------ This is the article. Conservatives form rival group to Episcopal Church Wed Dec 3, 5:17 PM EST Theological conservatives upset by liberal views of U.S. Episcopalians and Canadian Anglicans formed a rival North American province Wednesday, in a long-developing rift over the Bible that erupted when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay...

I was at the Dentists' today. The person who treated me talked about my "opposing" (upper and lower) teeth. I said that I prefered to think of them as "cooperating" teeth. I had to sit still and mute for 7 minutes (as a new impression for my upper partial was being taken). It occured to me that my friends would love to see me mute for 7 minutes! I am a talker. Off this topic I attach a "funny". Think of it as "Jesus skidadles before his Father finds out about the Speedboat incident". (Click on the pic to get the whole story) And so it goes..........

This 1 I assisted at St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist today, reading the Gospel and ministering the Chalice at Communion. It felt good. St. B’s is a large and progressive parish, and I have a high respect for the Rector, Ted Copeland. This is now my “home” You can read about St. Bi’s at http://www.boniface.cc/ ... and if you click on the December newsletter you will read about my role there. This 2 The following, taken from an internet news source might help us understand that Islam is not monolithic whatever the western press may say. Huda Ezra Ibrahim Nunu, one of just 37 Jewish people living in Bahrain, has been selected as that country's Ambassador to the United States. This 3 There is an old tree at the back of my house which bears avocados. Five of them dropped to the ground in today’s rainstorm. I harvested them; and then gave three away, keeping two for myself. That 1 We’ve had a local chain of 27 Convenience stores in this neck of the wo...