Yesterday was quite a day.
I know somebody had to be doing some hard core praying because about 30 minutes before Stacy's ceremony was to start, the earlier Thunder, Lightning, and downpour quit and the skies remained blue until about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the service. Then the rain returned with a vengence.
Below is a copy of the ceremony as well as a bunch of the pictures from the affair.
Best wishes to Stacy and Chris. It was an honor to officiate at your ceremony!
The Wedding to End All Weddings
Let us Pray: (offer short welcoming prayer)
Who Gives this woman away today?
Guests may be seated.
The text for today's ceremony is found in Ecclesiastes Chapter 4, Verses 9- 12.
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. But two can stand back to back and conquer."
Did you hear those words?
Conquer.
Reach out.
Help and assist.
Standing back to back. Or watching each other's back.
Two people joined. They offer protection from the cold. Protection from a fall. Protection from attack.
In this day and age, these are not the words one normally associates with marriage.
I'd like to add a few more phrases. They come from other parts of today's celebration. They are words that Stacy and Chris choose especially for this day.
Cherish.
Loyalty.
Devotion.
Living to love.
I really like that last one.
Living to Love.
Now just in case some of you need a reason to start crying, grab those kleenix. I thought I'd tell the story of these families, and I'd even like to offer a very personal background, my take on the kind of family that stands before you. That sits among you. That is uniting today in this dream come true.
When Stacy asked me if I would ever consider marrying her, I thought she was kidding.
Actually I prayed she was kidding.
Well as I stand her before you today, obviously she was so not kidding. After spending six years in various religious colleges, this will probably be the only time I put any of that education to work in any sort of a formal way.
Stacy is my cousin, who up until three years ago I did not know. For many years I was not allowed to know most of my relatives on Stacy's side of the family. For reasons that I need to stress are unimportant now and that have nothing to do with Richard and Sue, or Stacy and Mike. When I finally met Stacy, and my Uncle Richard and Sue, and my cousin Mike, and Jay and numerous others who are here, at a funeral, I'd already buried most of the family that I knew that remained in Eastern Washington. I was on the verge of selling my place in Pend Oreille County because all the folks I knew were six feet under.
You are thinking to yourself, "uh Tim what does this have to do with a wedding? Uh hello, the reception is waiting...we are thirsty...duh".
Ah yes, the reception.
Let me offer the true reason for the reception. I'd like to suggest that family, and the unification of unrelated families, distant relatives, and strangers who become mingled friends and dogs and cats and kids who don't know each other very well, or not at all and yet who suddenly find themselves thrust into a new family, has everything to do with the two amazing people who are standing before you today.
Family is the biggest part of this celebration. Stacy and Chris, each come to this gathering with family.
Richard and Sue, Stacy's parents. Linda and Jeff, Chris parents. How proud you must be!
There is beautiful Madison who only just this year decided that I could even hang out with her, but only if I didn't touch her Hot Wheels.
There is smart Christopher, who is three and is always smiling, and who knows more colors than I do, and who two weeks ago caught his first fish with a Scooby Doo Fishing pole and it was a big one.
There are birds, and dogs, that will be part of this family. There are parents, and friends, and relatives, step this and step that and people you aren't even sure how they are connected. Oh my God Chris are there ever relatives. Let me tell you, you have no idea.
But aside from all these wonderful additions, the most important thing that is happening here today is the combining of dreams. The joining of heartbeats. The optimism of now, the hope of what can be. Both of you are signing up, for whatever comes. For whatever will be. The good. The bad. The ugly. The most simple and yet amazing connection that can only happen when the biggest safe place on the planet is sitting right next to you.
Stacy you are an incredible woman. I swear you are the only woman I know who ever wished to go to a NASCAR Race as part of your honeymoon.
On the serious side you have known heartbreak. You have known the challenges of being a single mother. You have been stung by disappointment and broken promises. Yet you have never quit dreaming, and even in the darkness, you've never quit shining. You never quit loving and fighting for the best in those who stood in your life.
Chris, you are a man who lives for Music.
My first memory of you is when you brought your guitar to the ranch and as Christopher fell asleep in your arms you played and the notes intertwined with the rustle of the breeze through the bull pines. Carried out over the cliff, your hypnotic chords floated above the river and awakened the night.
Your talent and dedication to all you touch is inspiring. You are the most gentle, understanding father. A man who has survived numerous challenges, who has also seen disappointment, heartbreak, and uncertainty. But you are also a man who never quit dreaming. A man who remains enormously loyal and who has abundant love in his heart. You also fight to bring out the best in those who are in your life.
Maddy and Christopher, you are the brightest lights shining among us. We can't help but smile because you are here. The two of you define God's grace and that we are gifted with blessings we never saw coming, but that once we have them, we can't imagine life any other way. Today you become brother and sister, which means not only will you share your toys, (Ahem joyfully!) but you will have a new person to stand in your corner, defending and loving you.
Family, friends, relatives, and even strangers, I urge you to support this family. Love them, embrace their dreams, stand beside them through the storms and celebrate the high places on their journey. Let this be the beginning of a union that echo's forward, from this day forth, spreading and making music wherever it travels.
Today represents a new dawn. It represents two dreams that become as one. It represents the fullness of tomorrow, the grace of second, third and fiftieth chances. It represents the joy of God, and gifts we can't even begin to measure.
Before Stacy and Chris exchange their vows, I'd like to offer a final word.
It comes from the New Testament Book of Phillippians. Chapter 4, verses 6-8.
Don't worry about anything; Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for what he has done. If you do this you will experience God's peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus...
...Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and the God of peace will be with you."
We have gathered here to witness the joining of two inspiring hearts. We celebrate the performing of this miraculous moment, this completion of faith in a faithless world. As these two join hands, we soar in the light of their commitment.
Chris will you receive Stacy as your wife? Will you pledge to her your love, faith, and tenderness, cherishing her with a husband's loyalty and devotion?
__________(I will)
Stacy will you receive Chris as your husband? Will you pledge to him your love, faith and tenderness, cherishing him with a wife's loyalty and devotion?
__________( I will)
Chris and Stacy, we stand aside as you join hands. Your family and your friends lift our hearts as you turn from the dusty trail of your journey toward the brilliant, shared horizon. Now saying these words to each other, you proclaim your undying love.
I Chris, take you Stacy to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health as long as we both shall live to love.
I Stacy, take you Chris, to be no other than yourself, in all the ways life may find us, tending you in sickness and rejoicing with you in health, as long as we both shall live to love.
Marriage is also for the children. For them it is or can be more than just witnessing. Here is an opportunity to embrace and be embraced by their new family.
Will you now give and receive a ring?
We will.
Wear this ring forever Stacy as a symbol of love and peace and of all that is unending.
Wear this ring forever Chris as a symbol of love and peace and of all that is unending.
Inasmuch as Chris and Stacy have declared their love and devotion to each other before their children, family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband and wife.
Now you will feel no rain for each of you will be sanctuary to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warm to the other. Now there is no isolation for you. Now there is no more loneliness. Now you are two, but there is only one life in front of you.
I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride.
Go now and enter into the days of your togetherness.
Today's news links...
Your's truly gets quoted...Schneider National Carriers begins recruiting gay trucking teams...
http://www.sovo.com/2005/6-10/view/actionalert/bigrig.cfm
March like you mean it...
http://www.washblade.com/2005/6-10/view/columns/time.cfm
The Mayor finds Jesus during Pride Week in Spokane...
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/jimwest/story.asp?ID=061105_changed
Various thoughts on the Spokane Mayor's Scandal...
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/jimwest/story.asp?ID=061005_outspokane
Women experience growing HIV infections rates in the U S...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002331382_womenhiv12.html
Concerts target AIDS...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/headlines/D8AM3L7G0.html
Funstuff...
http://www.beirutnights.com/
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