Message
(Song of Solomon 2:10-13)
I wonder whether some of
us here may have wondered why they would like to be married now, after 20 years
together? It’s like the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” - but
just because something isn’t broken, doesn’t mean you can’t take something good
and make it even better.
Last Wednesday, while I was sitting at my kitchen table writing this message for Denny and Laura, I turned my face from the computer screen and looked outside. It was a rainy day, and the rain was really coming down, soaking the land, making puddles and little streams everywhere. The trees, the grass and the moss were a vivid green. The light gray cloud was moving swiftly. The simple, modest old houses were adding a few more tints of red and yellow and blue to the scene. It was a joy to see it all, a simple joy. It reminded me of the daily blessings and beauty we often take for granted in our lives, which may have their own rain-soaked times but are still glorious and hopeful, steeped in love and dear memories kept and shared between those who love each other. Today is special to us all, as we celebrate two things: Denny and Laura’s holy union in the covenant of marriage and their loving, daily, ordinary and extraordinary relationship. We celebrate the humble and awesome blessings they have shared through the past 20 years, with their beloved family and their community. Denny and Laura’s wedding is today, but their gift of love has been with us for a long time.
God the Creator is the
Great Love, the being who sent each atom into motion, who designed us to have hearts
that feel and love and beat away within our chests – the same heartbeat which a
pair of gazelles would also feel in themselves when they run for love and
freedom together. In today’s reading, the Song of Songs, a gazelle calls
to another; “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is
past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of
singing has come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The
fig tree and the vine and the flowers give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my
fair one, and come away.”
Dear Denny and Laura,
God gives a blessing to you in this sacred moment because your hearts beat as
one and you rise for one another in love. Love is where we find our truest
inspiration and our truest rest; it is a miraculous power which always pulls us
onward towards a greater hope.
Dear children and family
of Denny and Laura, may you continue to be blessed by Denny and Laura as their
relationship grows in commitment, faithfulness, and love. May you be bound
together as one blessed family by God’s promise and blessings given to you
today and in the future. And Happy Birthday, _N_. Next year, on this day, June 1, you will know how much your parents love you and all your brothers and
sisters, when all of you together as a family celebrate your parent’s first
wedding anniversary. I am sure that Riley, Lucas, and the coming new nephew
will add more joy to you; Thank God for the big, blessed family you have!
Dear friends, God’s love
is never separated from us either in the rain or in the sunshine - we are
blessed under all circumstances. God’s glorious light beams and enlightens us
with wisdom and strength, today and forever, for Denny and Laura and all of you
as family and friends. Amen.
Benediction
Go forth in the love of
God;
Knowing that God is with
you.
And the blessing of God,
Creator, Christ, and
Spirit,
Be with you, and remain
with you always.
May
the God of rain and roses, and of every creation
on
this blessed earth and land
bless
this day and your lives
with
wonder, joy, love and beauty. Amen.
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