Well, actually, it’s not Evensong, here in our more contemporary parish. But it’s our weekly 6.30pm Evening Service. And usually, the Vicar comes home at about 8pm and spends a little time with any still wakeful children (usually the Queen, sometimes the Joker). Then he and I and Happy gather around a plate of cheese and biscuits with maybe a glass of wine or port. We might pray and then we watch some TV comedy on DVD (currently Scrubs and Outnumbered). Sometimes we say Compline together before bed (an innovation since Happy, who’s far more Anglican than we are, has joined us).
A good relaxing way to finish off a very busy day. But last night Happy was out, and this is what the Vicar did when he got back:
The Vicar hard at work
Yesterday afternoon, some local kids were ‘enjoying’ themselves by throwing gravel from our front garden all over our street whilst we were in the house. They were throwing stones at my kids in the garden at one point but once I went to sit out there in the sunshine too, they desisted.
This is just a minor annoyance, but it’s this sort of stuff which wears down folk in our area who are already exhausted by daily life. The loud music played by a neighbour late at night, the kids banging the playground gate repeatedly or throwing stones, other kids smashing glass in people’s recycling boxes, cheek, rudeness, name-calling, lack of respect. Small things, but a massive headache when you live with them day after day.
We don’t know who the gravel culprits are exactly, but we have some very good ideas. Sadly, it’s mainly kids without much to do at home, or with a home situation they like to stay away from. Sunshine is lovely in many ways but it brings out the worst behaviour in youngsters who lack good boundaries and supervision.
This morning the Vicar preached from Colossians 3&4. The tragedy is that so many local children are embittered and discouraged (Colossians 3v21).
The Vicar's Wife 
I am really encouraged by your gracious attitude to these “youngsters”. Sounds like you are doing some great ministry in a hard area.
Hi Julie – welcome to the Vicarage. We do try to treat this young ones with grace, but it’s sometimes pretty difficult. I’ve come very close to losing it with them on some occasions. It’s a good place to be though – we don’t have any problems convincing people of the reality of sin, for starters!
When I worked in Wales we had an Archdeacon who would not allow certain trees to be planted in church yards due to ‘missile production’. He was slightly stumped when the Queen planted a forbidden tree! However, if your drive was not gravel the stones would not be there to be thrown. Just a thought
Hi NS. The same thought has occurred to me. I think we may investigate the missiles (there are also some in the churchyard) and work out how we can replace them with something less dangerous. It’s a pity, but it would probably be better not to lead these kids into temptation…
I am not suggesting the bloke with some tarmac left over from a job down the road – but have a word with the Dicoesan Office about the drive surface. They can only say no! It may also be an idea not to sweep the stones back onto the drive. Then you can say that they are not there.
Your description of the cumulative annoyances of this sort of behaviour is very apt – we also live with it all the time, and though we have a good relationship with most of the kids, it doesn’t stop it being draining.
We are called to be patient, and then we use it all up, and we start again. Thank goodness for grace.