Povey Prattle

The Church of the Good Shepherd in (West) Fitchburg, MA will hold its final service on Sunday May 30th 2010. After that its’ folks will be folded into Christ Church on Main St. in Fitchburg. There is a sad inevitability about this. Many changes in demographics and in life styles have led to the decline of what had once been a lively blue-collar/working class congregation. I salute and affirm the decision of the leadership at CGS to fold their tent in West Fitchburg, and move a few miles to be part of a larger congregation. Earlier today I had a lovely ‘phone conversation with the Priest at CGS – the Revd. Karen Campbell. I told her that I rejoiced in her leadership, and that I was grateful for the faith and courage which has led to this new chapter in the life of a small congregation. I was Deacon-in-Charge, then Priest-in-Charge, and then Rector at CGS between 1976 and 1980. Here are my memories of three liturgies there . 11th July 1976 This was my first Sunday as CGS as ...

A neighbour named Betty ( not the  next door neighbour who curses me out with regular abandon) , brought me four Camellia blossoms (from her shrub), to mark my birthday. see  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia I am saving them in a shallow dish and will use them as a table centre piece on 29th May when three of my pals will come to my home for lunch.

Call it intuition, psychic connection, sixth sense, coincidence, the Holy Spirit - or none of these. Nonetheless as I walked with my dog Penne yesterday morning (May 26th) for reasons I do not understand  I began to think about Michael C. Michael is a cool young man who grew up at St. Stephen’s Parish, Pittsfield, MA . His path has not always been easy, but he has used life’s vicissitudes to his advantage – thus becoming a thoughtful husband and father. Yesterday, as I walked, I remembered, (who knows why?) that Michael is a either an Army Reservist, or a member of the National Guard. I wondered if he could be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Later in the day Michael C. asked if I would accept him as a “Skype” telephone connection. I agreed with alacrity, and asked (who knows why?) if he was about to be deployed. He got back to me within minutes.    Here is his news.  On June 1st he will enter a month of training. By early July he will be shipped t...

Every year I try to celebrate my birthday with great gusto.  I did so again this year. I am very grateful for all your greetings via Facebook, e-cards, e-mails, ‘phone calls, and old fashioned birthday cards.  I am so grateful for so very many greetings. When you are 16 years old it is hard to imagine being 66 years old. When you get to be 66 years old you are filled with gratitude for all the intervening years, and would never wish to turn the clock back. I started my day with the prayer service which I facilitate at Resurrection House – Sarasota’s day shelter for homeless people.   I told the nine folks at the service that it was my birthday, and that our theme was “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed”. Experience has shown me that the most destitute are often the most grateful.  So that theme was fruitful as we prayed together. A retired Priest, the Revd. Jack Chrisman and his wife Donna treated me to lunch at Captains Brian’s, a...

I’ve lived in Florida for almost 4 years. I still find it hard to believe that I moved here, for at heart I am an indoors person. Yet I am now living in an outdoors place, with an (almost) year round outdoor climate. My fine dog Penne takes me out of doors at least five times a day. She loves to walk so I follow her lead, and walk with her, even if the temperature is 94F.' As we walk I sweat a lot, but these daily walks totalling 5-6 miles, have helped me to lose more that 40 lbs in weight since January 2010. I walk in a pleasant area. It is not one of those awful “gated communities”, but it is an area with little traffic, two ponds, and many good shade trees. As I  adjusted to this more “out-of-doors” life, I did two things . 1. I bought a gas grill on which to cook the manifest vegetables which nurture my body. 2. I “skinny-dipped” in the very private swimming pool at the home of my friend Ben. You are welcome to eat from my grill. You may not watch when  I...

Last Saturday my blog began with these words: “ I have ten nephews. They are all good guys.”  My dear friend Paula J. in Cincinnati OH suggested that these could be the opening words of a novel. Another friend, Sally C. in North Redington Beach, FL ventured that the words were suggestive of a limerick. So I tried this:  (n.b.  the last word is pronounced reh-fuse not ree-fuse.) "There once was a priest with ten nephews Who oft thought that he was a fine muse. When he scribbled a ditty Those lads voiced no pity But said: “trash, and rubbish, and refuse” Dear Jane D in Greenfield, MA was much more creative.   Here is what she penned: "Father Michael was Uncle to ten, All hearty and healthy young men. He loved them to pieces, But what about nieces? All roosters, and never a hen?" Jane is the winner!

Sermon for 23rd May 2010 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. Boniface Church, Siesta Key, FL Acts 2: 1-21; Romans 8: 14-17; John 14: 8-17 Do you remember what happened on January 10th this year? You’ll probably say yes if that day was your birthday or your anniversary, or if on that day you fell in love. I suppose that I am the only person who remembers that I preached here that morning!  The sermon was all about the Holy Spirit – giving the big picture of the Spirit: the Spirit as wind which blows down old barriers; and as fire which burns up old prejudices.  You will of course also remember that when Wes Wasdyke preached here just a few weeks ago, he too spoke of the Spirit, and he directed us to “hold on to our hats, for the Spirit is blowing. Once again today we encounter that windy and fiery Spirit, the Spirit who drives the disciples out of the house and into the stree t.  That is the big picture Spirit , the One who energises us to join in with...