Povey Prattle

I have a lot to say about .. . the Gulf of Mexico Oil Volcano; the lies of Fox news; the failure to close Guantanamo; the endless and futile wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the stupidity of the Church of England; the anachronism known as the Roman Catholic Church; the arrogance of the American Episcopal Church; the disrespect and hateful treatment of females in the Catholic Church,in  the Evangelical movement,in the ranks  of the United States military, and in the religion of Islam. Why does power always diminish woman? I have so much to say about these matters that I will say nothing.  "Mums the word from me."

Not that I am sentimental (!) but I have two items which I purchased in Oberstdorf some 40 years ago. They are a cross with the “Chi-Rho” symbol; and an ash tray which has within it an “edelweiss”. From our base in Oberstdorf we took two trips. The first was across the Bodensee (Lake Constance) into Switzerland and Austria. The second took us to Oberammergau and to (mad) King Ludwig of Bavaria’s fairytale castle at Linderhof. 40 years on ..... I am grateful for these memories. I will always have a soft spot for Oberstdorf.

On Tuesday 6 th July 2010 I had lunch with my Rector (Ted Copland).  He and his wife Judy Copland had just returned from their holiday in Leipzig. There they had enjoyed good times with their son and his (German) wife, together with their grandchildren. This reminded me of my very first holiday outside of England. It was in 1970 or 1971.  I had left the Plymouth Brethren to worship with the people of God at Christ Church Clifton (Bristol) - a congregation of the Church of England. At Christ Church I soon became a leader in a group for older teenagers known as CYFA – the Church Youth Fellowship Association.  The national CYFA group planned a trip to Germany, and I signed on. We gathered in London and travelled by train and ferry to Belgium.  From there we took a train through Cologne and up the Rhine Valley.  I was entranced. Leaving the Rhine Valley we took other trains, through Ulm, and to our destination in the Bavarian Alps, a small town called Oberstdorf...

I like Stilton Cheese, and there is not a damn thing you can do about it.

When I sit down to read, my pets take their place on the sofa. Maybe I should read aloud to them from Dr. Doolittle

I preached at 8:00 and 9:30 this morning at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. My sermon is posted below.  It "preached" better than it reads. I had a splendid Independence Day lunch with St. Boniface Church parishioners Jack and Donna Chrisman, together with Muriel Quinn.   ( Jack is an exquisite cook, and the company was lovely.  Muriel is English and catches my under stated humour very easily!) This evening saw me at a fine 4th July pot-luck picnic for members of All Angels by the Sea . Just enough religion, and more than enough good food! ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Sermon for 4 th July 2010 The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church, Sarasota FL Luke 10:1-20 “The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go”.   Those seventy were to be heralds of the mission of God, assuring people that...