Povey Prattle

My friends Bill Byers and Patrick Cosgrove made a successful bid for an evening of fine dining with a host chef.  Their winning bid was destined to support a charity for needy children. The chef created the menu and provided and prepared the food free of charge as his way of supporting the charity (and getting some good publicity). Bill and Patrick decided that the dinner would be in honour of the 88th birthday of our mutual friend Ben  Morse.  I was fortunate enough to be invited. Here are some pics from the fabulous dinner -  which we enjoyed last evening 22nd June 2012.   "We" were nine gay men, plus Kay who is the favourite waitress of the men who eat each Thursday evening at the Hillview Grill. Kay, Gordon, John. Front Row: Greg, Ben, Bill, Bob. Back row: Patrick, John, Kay, Gordon, Chris. Same cast of characters, avec moi Chef Blake Menu Salmon cake with Lobster Salad Beef tenderloin etc Dessert

Dean Taylor, Interim Rector. Andi Taylor, Associate Rector. Old Priest who needs a haircut Old Priest and Andi Taylor These two photo's by Elisabeth Hamilton Meyer

The Revd. Andrea (Andi) Taylor is the Associate Rector at St. Boniface Church, Siseta Key FL. Yesterday was her 45th birthday. Andi’s husband Jonathan is in New Mexico with their younger son Jacob (on a Boy Scout hiking trip), whilst their older son Noah is studying Arabic in north Georgia. So Andi created an instant family.  Last evening nine of us joined her on a “sunset cruise” on Sarasota Bay.  A grand time was had by all! Here are some of the photo’s. Andi in her glory. Bonnie Doell in background Ralph McGimpsey Retired Priest Associate Our lovely Ringling Bridge "Mansion" on Bird Key Kay McGimpsey leader of Boniface Eco-Stewardship Group, and volunteer at Resurrection House Andi again, Henry Rhodes in background Going down.. Almost gone Final glory More pics tomorrow.

My colleague, the Revd. Roger Alling preached at Mt. Calvary Episcopal Church, Camp Hill PA on June 10th. His sermon was about the call of Saul to be the first King of Ancient Israel (On June 17th I preached at All Angels Church, Longboat Key, FL  about the call of David to be the second King of Ancient Israel. Our sermons had interesting parallels.) Roger made this good and worthy observation.  He said: “I know that it is inappropriate to talk about religion and politics in the pulpit.  However I also know that it is essential that we talk about religion and human governance .  How do modern states relate or fail to relate to the truths and values we hold dear as a result of our religion and our faith “ I am grateful for Roger’s distinction between preaching “politics” , and preaching about human governance. It is a valuable and important distinction. (Do be in touch with me if you would like to read Roger’s sermon in its entirety)

Sermon for 17th June 2012.  The Revd. J. Michael Povey at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, Longboat Key, FL I Samuel 15:34 -17:48 1976 marked the bi-centennial of this great nation.  It was an election year.  It was the year in which I moved here from the United Kingdom. I used to have a little joke with myself on general election years. “Here we go again”, I would think, “looking for yet another George Washington”. We’ve never had one!  He was one of a kind. Indeed if “we the people” were asked to name our greatest Presidents, Washington would top most lists. He became President almost by acclamation, such was his un-alloyed stature.   (See Note 1)  But he also became President because of the brilliant work of the Constitutional Convention.  Even now it is hard for us to understand how the members of that Convention, coming as they did from thirteen disparate colonies could mould a document which created a nation. (See Note 2) ...