Povey Prattle

Back in my Chicopee days (1980-84) I agreed to offer prayer at a ceremony in which two women would pledge their love and fidelity to each other.  Some called these ceremonies "Holy Unions".   Then I chickened out (to my shame). I was afraid of my Bishop and his likely unfavourable reaction.   In Pittsfield  (1984 -2000) I offered prayer at two such "Holy Unions", one in the Chapel at St. Stephen's, and another in a Hotel Ballroom.  I was beginning to lose my fear of Bishops.   This was nn the basis that God "blessed" the relationships between Ruth and Naomi, and between David and Jonathan (without believing for a moment that those biblical tender friendships were in any way comparable to modern understandings of same sex relationships).   Those ceremonies had no legal force.  But the legalities began to change in  the U.S.A  particularly in Massachusetts back in 2004, when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial ...

Former New York City Mayor said this yesterday at a political gathering in Wisconsin. “I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America,” Mr. Giuliani said at the event. “He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up, through love of this country.”  (Quotation from the N.Y.Times) Of course Hizzoner was right in one aspect. He is quoted as having said " I know this is a horrible thing to say".  It is horrible. Was it a racist statement (as many have claimed)?   I simply do not know, for I do not know what is in the ex-Mayor's heart. But what did he mean by "He wasn't brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up"?   I ask: "Is there a standard "all-American" way in which children are brought up?  Or are there many ways in which children are brought up, and by which they become loyal, ...

For reasons which are lost in the mists of history, the congregation in which I hang my hat does not have an early morning Ash Wednesday service.  The morning service there is at 10:00 a.m. which for folks like I who arise at 4:30 a.m.,  is the middle of the day. So today I took myself to Sarasota's  Anglo-Catholic "The Church of the Redeemer"  for their 7:00 a.m . service.  Now there's a sensible time! I rarely attend "Redeemer" (a strong, growing, and thriving congregation) because that congregation will not allow the ministry of ordained women, a sine qua non for me.    ( More's the pity since Redeemer has solid preaching, seamless liturgy, and superb music).   With those reservations in mind, (and despite the all-male presence at the "Altar"), I was glad to be there this morning.   With about sixty others (at 7:00 a.m.!) I relaxed in a simple and unfussy Liturgy.  But I was "most glad" and grateful fo...

In middle English the word "shrive" meant "to confess one's sins, and to receive priestly absolution (and penances)  on the day before Ash Wednesday.   Hence that day became known as "Shrove Tuesday" i.e. the day on which one was "shriven".   The word survived the Protestant reformation in England, and although the "Romish" practices of auricular confession, absolution and penance were rightly  abandoned in favour of the gospel message of "free salvation" in the name and grace of Jesus Christ, the "Shrove Tuesday" tradition would not die.   It "hung in there" via the old tradition of using up eggs and oils for Lent in favour of the meatless days of Lent.   What do you do with eggs and oils?  You make pancakes! That tradition was so deeply rooted in English and Welsh (but not Scottish) consciousness that even in deeply protestant Churches  (such as the Plymouth Brethre...

The word conveys the sense of listless or sluggish, (according to the O.E.D.) I have been logey all day long, so much so that I wanted to re-schedule my date to share Holy Communion  lunch with St. Boniface Parishioner Carl H-K at the assisted living residence which is his home. I did not do re-schedule, , for who knows:  I may be even more logey tomorrow; then comes Ash Wednesday with its own freight, and on Thursday I am supposed/required to attend a Diocese of South West Florida events for clerics:  -  a communion service, followed by a bun fight (a.k.a. lunch). In the event Carl and I had a pleasant visit as we shared Communion, and the lunch was (as always) first class. The logey-ness has persisted. You know all about it: :  -  that feeling of tiredness around the eyes, with weary limbs, and a somewhat dizzy head. Miss Penne has kept me on my feet  (yes, we've had our usual five walks -  totaling three miles). Who could resist he...

A bit of sadness . I think that it was on Wednesday last that I decided to visit George M at "The Pines" Nursing Home and Rehab Centre here in SRQ. George (God bless him) was the son, grandson, and brother of  Ministers in the Episcopal Church. I met him first  (with his brother Bill) at the Episcopal Church on Longboat Key, (All Angels by the Sea"), and later at St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key. His brother Bill was a retired Minister, who died last year.  George himself has had a hard time in recent years.  First he had a leg amputation (because of a mean and nasty infection), and second because of some surgery on his spine ( surgery which did not go well). Hence he was at "The Pines" for rehab. That's why I visited him. Yesterday (14th Feb 2015) George ate his breakfast at The Pines, and then scooted out in his wheel-chair to sneak a smoke on a patio (where he and I had sneaked smoke last Tuesday). BUT , after this cigarette, Georg...