"The Wedding Song"

This past Saturday evening I officiated my 150th wedding.

At the bride’s request, I did something I hadn't done at the previous 149: performed a song. The song was "The Wedding Song", by Noel Paul Stookey.

(The video posted below is from the Thursday before the wedding, when I sang the song at Munger during our Thursday evening service as a way to practice.)

The bride helped us start Munger 11 years ago and the groom was a widower from our church with 3 boys. Their wedding was an occasion I had been praying for literally for years.

God is so good.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.

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Kristi & Jason's Private Pandemic Parade!

Because of the quarantine, Kristi & Jason had a very different wedding day than they’d planned. They cancelled all their invitations and their reservations; they asked me if I’d be willing to officiate a private wedding ceremony for them at Munger. Of course I said yes. The total congregation today at the wedding consisted of me, the bride, the groom, the photographer, and a floppy-haired urchin I enlisted as my altarboy/assistant, who ended up filming with an iPhone from the balcony.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds walked out the front steps of the church only to be surprised by a parade put on by their loved ones!  The stream of vehicles kept circling and honking and generally making a ruckus. None of us expected it, and it was such a delight!

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Jason and Kristi, may all your days be filled with such unexpected joy, and may God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace. Amen.

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P.S. Here’s a picture of the humble officiant with his floppy-haired urchin/altarboy/assistant.

Texas Hill Country Wedding

I traveled down to my favorite part of Texas on Saturday: that part of the Hill Country that stretches from Burnet down through Utopia. I was officiating a wedding for some good friends of mine at their family’s ranch in Burnet.

The wedding was on a hilltop that was only accessible via a rocky path; the view made the remote location worth it.

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With my great friend Cleve, proud father of the groom.

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As I drove away from the ranch, the moon was rising behind me…

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While the sun was setting in front of me.

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A great day.