Povey Prattle

Of course it is more properly called "Holy Week". But as I look back on my years in parish ministry (thank God for them) I know that for me it often became fuss-pot week, or compulsive obsessive disorder week. I got so caught up in the minutiae of planning, and the desire to enable "perfect liturgies" that I most likely became a pain in the soul for parish office staff, musicians, singers, lay ministers etc. I also know that I often took up an unnecessary "non-negotiable" stance, so that it would all be done "my way". Now, from the pew-side of the congregation I wonder why a made such a fuss.  It all seems to be so much less important than I once thought it to me. It's not that I am in favour of sloppiness or poor planning. But I make two observations. 1.  Let's not have Liturgy for the sake of Liturgy.  Our Holy Week observances are for the sake of God,  for the sake of God's people, and as a witness to the deep grace o...

Gratuitous photo' to get your attention!  My reformed diet is not because I am a virtuous person.  It's because I truly need to take care of my health. Those who have known me for a while know that I have a less than sensible relationship with my weight and BMI. I balloon up to about 189 lbs,  suffer the consequences of hypertension, and then "get smart" again until I am down to about 166 lbs. Then I get lazy and careless, and the upward spiral starts all over again. 'T'aint good. In common with many other retirees I sometimes eat simply to "fill the time". When that eating includes large amount of cheese (my particular weakness), and salty snacks -  well then it's just a matter of months before I am back where I started. (I truly understand why many people with diabetes find it very difficult to stay on diet. Nagging them does not help). Coffee is another one of my weaknesses. It's not been unusual for me to drink five 8 ...

(1)  I read "somewhere" in recent days that it is a good thing to start one's day with a glass of warm or hot water suffused with freshly squeezed lemon juice. I have no idea why this is recommended. But of course I do  this. It's all part of my "reformed diet" which I adopted after a recent and miserable intestinal tract infection, and then an unrelated spike in my blood pressure to high and dangerous levels. My good and faithful Physician recommended the use of foods and beverages with probiotic qualities  even as I took the anti-biotic medicines to deal with the infection. Thus I have been drinking Bigelow's Lemon and Ginger Tea (with probiotics) and using Kefir brand "Low Fat Cultured Milk" (with probiotics) with my morning Cereal. BUT  an article in the week's Sarasota Herald-Tribune Health Supplement asserted that probiotics have no useful effect.   Deary, deary me! NOT TO WORRY  Dr.Kristen Paulus.  I'll hang ...

In the Florida Primary Election. (Note to readers outside the USA.  The Primary or Caucus system is confusing even to well informed USA voters! )  Save to say that in FLORIDA  we vote according to whether we are registered as Republican or Democratic Party voters.  We vote in the primary of the party of our preference. Voters who are registered as "Independents"  do not get to vote in the Florida Primaries. I do not know whether or not there are also Florida  Primary elections for those who are registered to vote as members of minority partys such as the "Greens" or the  "Constitution Party". SOME STATES have "Open Primaries" in which voters can vote for the candidate of their preference, regardless of party affiliation. Nonetheless I voted today.  I went to my local Polling Station and made my choice via an optical reader voting machine. MANY OF MY FRIENDS v...

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160312/NEWS/160319877/2066/NEWS?Title=St-Boniface-sends-meals-to-the-world