Weddings

Many clergy resonate with the statement "I'd rather do a funeral than a wedding any day."

I've only done a few weddings and my last one was a doosey. The bride at this wedding was more concerned about the flowers, the dresses, how everything looked. She wanted me to rush through the ceremony so that the horse and buggy that she came in on could stay on the street during the ceremony (my town has a twenty minute limit on horse and buggy parking). That wedding was all show and no substance. I have no idea if the couple is together but it was the fairy tale wedding that the bride wanted.

Today I am presiding over a wedding that I am just thrilled and honored to be a part of. The bride and groom are in their forties, first time marriage for both. They grew up in our church and have been members of our church all along. They wanted to do the wedding at our church because spirituality is very important to them and the spiritual aspects of the wedding take precedence over the ephemeral parts of the wedding.

The rehearsal yesterday was fun! There was lots of laughter and joy. The groom teared up as we practiced the vows and I almost cried I was so touched. This is a wedding that I cannot wait to participate in. This morning I am nervous because I really want the wedding to be special for this couple and I don't want to flub up during the ceremony. I know it's God that will be joining them in marriage but I am the channel. God help me to be eloquent today.

Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings are a bit of a conundrum for me. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I don't preach every Sunday because I am an associate pastor, so I only preach once a month, however I am committed to participating in every worship service because I need to be visible for the sake of my specialized ministry.

I don't know why I get so anxious sometimes. I've been leading worship for many years through my internships and my former home church. Each Sunday feels like I am new to this worship leadership thing for the first time. In some ways I am because now I am ordained. It feels as if I crossed some invisible line when I had my colleagues lay hands on me and I was told that I am now ordained. In the Catholic tradition it is believed that ordination is a stain that is put upon your soul and this stain can never be washed away...unlike the stain of original sin which is washed away by the waters of baptism.

Being a clergy person feels odd sometimes. Whenever someone calls me Rev. _________, I still look over my shoulder to see if they are speaking to someone behind me, then I realize, oh my title is Rev. I wonder if new doctors ever go through this.

Anyway, I'm need to go off and get ready for Sunday Service and pray to the Holy Spirit that I remember that whatever I do this morning it is all to the glory of God.