Bill Hybels talks about those moments that cause him to feel, 'This is Church!'. For me, this last week has been full of them -
A joyful wedding on Saturday
Listening to and praying with a grieving family
A funeral service in which we celebrated a life and the hope of the Gospel
Holy Communion with some of our more senior members in the autumnal beauty of Strathblane
In between all that there has been time to do other important stuff like preparing a sermon for Sunday, a pile of administration stuff, a visit my mum and dad, a walk around a loch and visiting ( way too many) diy stores and carpet warehouses.
The rectory remains somewhat chaotic, though the central heating is now wonderful and the shower room will hopefully be completed tomorrow. We're a wee bit scunnered by it all, but there are still two rooms to get sorted out, so we must endure a while longer. In other domestic news, we finally succumbed and bought a dishwasher this week. We had one that died ten years ago, and didn't replace it. What were we thinking? Probably us trying to save the planet or somesuch. Having the machine has made a huge difference already and cut down how much work the rectory adults have to do. Now we only have to train everyone who lives here to put their dirty plates in it rather than simply leaving them all over the place!
The next few days will be R & R with the family, before our little darlings return to school on Monday. On Sunday night after Deeper we've got tickets to see Elbow. Now that's a pleasant way to spend an evening.
Cool, glad things are interesting and not too busy. Although I don't know the music of Elbow and British Sea Power; it can't be a good thing that the vicar is more musically trendy than me! Also struck me today that there are students at Uni who were just BORN the year Achtung Baby was released. Oy gevalt.
Posted by: (ready, willing and able) ryan | 16 October 2008 at 08:47 PM
Is "scunnered" an affliction that only strikes north of the border,is it able to be mentioned in polite circles, would you go out and get scunnered or does it only happen in the privacy of your own home or, indeed, does that home have to be a rectory. As a mere, non clerical, sassenach I am intrigued.
Posted by: Tooth fairy | 16 October 2008 at 10:23 PM
For a good translation of "scunnered" see http://www.stooryduster.co.uk/Pages/scunner.htm.
Apparently, in Yorkshire, a "scunner" is an urban youth usually associated with trouble or petty crime.
I believe it is not an affliction confined to rectories!
Posted by: GadgetVicar | 16 October 2008 at 10:38 PM