It's a small world



My Cambridge friend Sarah F encouraged me to get together with Philbert Kalisa, an Anglican Priest from Rwanda who had recently been a guest in her home.

 Philbert has a ministry of reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis in his home land.  He is in Sarasota to visit  family members who live here.

 So he and I had lunch together today.  It was a delightful encounter.

 As we talked we found many connections.

 *  He did post ordination training at Trinity (Theological) College in Bristol U.K., my home City.

 * When in  Bristol he spearheaded outreach ministries at Christ Church, Clifton  -- the very parish which I attended in my early Anglican days.  Christ Church was where I was confirmed, and was the parish which set me on the path to ordination.

 He and I both remember the Revd. Paul Berg who was the Vicar of Christ Church when I was a Theological Student.  Philbert served at Christ Church after my time there, so our paths never crossed

 *  Philbert is well acquainted  with my friends and colleagues:- Bishops Ian Douglas  (Connecticut) and Mark Hollingsworth (Ohio), as well as with my good friend Steve Bonsey, Steve's wife Elisabeth Keller and their children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie. 

 Such a small and delightful Anglican world.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


 I'll be off to Atlanta early on Saturday 26th (my 74th Birthday) to spend some time with my friends Steve (Fitchburg 1976) and his partner Rick; and also with Susan (Pittsfield 1984) and her partner Lisa.

 It will be good to see them.

 I will fly back to Sarasota on Monday.

 Chris S a wonderful  dog and house sitter will take great care of my dog, but I am already wondering how I will be able to survive for 48 hours sans Zion!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not remember the words “ar
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were able to get together a few
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur
Read more