Povey Prattle

Here is the letter I sent about my "second retirement".  It was published in the St. Boniface Church, Sarasota, FL newslette r Dear friends at St. Boniface, After fifty two years of preaching (yes I   began when I was sixteen years old!) I  have advised Bishop Dabney Smith of my   intention to retire from all public ministry   at St. Boniface, and in the other parishes   where I have served as a "supply priest". I love the Lord and my faith is deep and  sweet, but after all these years I  find  the task of sermon preparation and   preaching to be more of a burden than a  joy. It has been a joy and pleasure to serve   at St. Boniface from the pulpit and at the  altar, and I thank you for this privilege. I look forward to sharing with you in the   worship and service of God, but from the  pews rather than up-front. Yours sincerely in the Lord Jesus, Michael Povey.   "To every thin...

Some years ago I wrote about a couple of Hutterite women who work in a local supermarket, and retain their traditional dress.  This is anomalous since Hutterite people live in “colonies”, and there is no such colony in this neck of the woods. I had a brief conversation with the older of the two women (it turns out that they are aunt and niece).  She was more than a wee bit surprised that I knew of Jacob Hutter. In common with other Hutterites she is very reserved; therefore I have not pressed her for more of her story. Last week whilst I was browsing at Sarasota’s Fruitville Library I glimpsed a title, which then caught my attention. The book is “I am Hutterite”, by Mary-Ann Kirkby (Thomas Nelson 2010). It is a delightfully nuanced memoir about growing up in Hutterite Colonies in Canada: - (New Rosedale and Fairholme, in Manitoba). Mary-Ann’s parents made the fateful decision to leave the colony and with it everything that was familiar, lovely, and tender. They were...

My good nephew Nick and his fabulous wife Lesley (“Lel”) were in Glasgow, Scotland today to do some Christmas shopping. Lord alone knows why they travelled the 371 miles from our home City of Bristol, England to get stuff in Glasgow which was probably readily available at home. Not to worry – “Lel” posted on her Facebook page that she was in line at the station (rail?) to get a “Bacon Sarny”. This, being interpreted for Americans, means a “Bacon Sandwich”. “A bacon sandwich?”  : -  “who could wish for anything more!” Not I.! The power of suggestion is often irresistible! Thus, inspired by Lel, I bought some bacon this morning with the intention of having a bacon (plus lettuce and tomato) sandwich for my supper today. “Fate” intervened, via my friends Ron and Charlotte Thompson. They hosted a magnificent birthday lunch for our mutual friend Bob Lewis. We ate: 1.  Fabulous nibbles (including Charlotte’s homemade salmon spread). 2 Deliciously spic...

Grant, the artist who created the wonderful painting I posted yesterday is not a Kindergartner. He is in first grade. These distinctions are mightily important to six year olds. Here again is his terrific painting.  (Yes indeed this artist is six years old). Way to go Grant!  ( and his fabulous parents Peter and Ashley, and his younger brother Dalton)

Here is a painting By Grant Burroughs at his first ever art lesson at Lakewood Ranch. FL. Here is the artist -  Grant Burroughs - who is in kindergarten. This is a drawing which Grant made for me a couple of years ago.  I know him, his brother, and his parents from Church.  I framed Grant's drawing and it rests on my hall table. Do you not think that Grant's new picture is simply stunning?

My good pal Ben and I took ourselves to Sarasota’s  “Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall” for a concert by the Sarasota Orchestra this afternoon (Dec 2nd 2012) at 2:30 p.m. The Sarasota Orchestra is “as good as they come”.  In fact they are “better than they come” in the smaller American cities such as Sarasota. Maybe they are as good as the “big name” orchestras! The first offering today was Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony (No. 41 in C Major. K 551).  This is Mozart at his very best, and the orchestra played the symphony with wondrous skill, which enabled great beauty. Mozart would have been proud. After the intermission we heard “The Planets” by Gustav Holst. I’ve known “The Planets” since I was 12 or 13 years old and in High School.  (Perhaps it was even earlier since my beloved father loved to listen to classical music on the B.B.C.). But my enjoyment of “The Planets” has ever been on the radio, or via recordings. Now all these years later I enjoyed it live fo...