Povey Prattle

No blog entries until at least Oct 7 th 2010, cos I am off on an adventure.     In the meantime I reflect on many blessings! Ron and Lee, (with Lee’s 92 year old mother Myrtle):   My dog Penne will stay with them whilst I am away.   They think that she is “an angel”, and Penne is very used to being with them, and she is therefore very comfortable. David: who will drive me to the airport when I leave, and meet me there when I return. He will also stay in my home whilst I am away, and take care of the cats Ada and Adelaide. David is a “cat person” and my cats know it.    Ben: who will make us dinner at his home on my return day. (I’d hate to have to cook that evening!) Chris and Trish: whose invitation to Ecuador has made this trip possible. This wonderful and fearful world:   in which an Englishman who became an American, will now travel to Ecuador.   My Dad could not have comprehended such a thing. My family members and friends: who are ...

About five years ago I was having lunch with a young couple who were members of St. James's in Cambridge, MA,    He, Chris, and she, Trish were a joy and delight. Chris was about to qualify as a Psychologist.    I don't know what made me say it, but I remarked "Chris, I think that you should be a Priest  not a Psychologist". That got both of them thinking very deeply.   In due course Chris decided to enter the "Discernment Process" for “would be Priests” in the Diocese of Massachusetts.  Then "out of the blue” Chris was invited to work part time for the Latin American Council of Churches in Quito, Ecuador, and part time for the Episcopal Church in Ecuador. Chris and Trish are fluent in Spanish, and had previously worked in South America, so they were delighted to make the move.  In due course the  Diocese of Central Ecuador [part of the Episcopal Church] took on Chris’s "discernment proces s". The end result i...

Sermon for 26 th September 2010.   The Revd. J. Michael Povey at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Englewood, FL Luke 16:19-31   19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are i...