This weekend a very significant wedding will take place at our tiny local church. Every wedding is significant to the happy couple of course but this is the first wedding to take place in this seventy-year-old church. So their Marriage certificate is Entry number 1, Book 1. (There are 2 churches in the Parish and everyone else has opted for the bigger venue)
History is also in the making because I'm actually writing the marriage certificate and will be officiating at the wedding - in a Parish that traditionally does not recognise the Priesthood of women. I'm very grateful for the gentle and gracious parish Priest who is allowing me to do this as well as being kind and welcoming to the happy couple.
Both the Bride and Groom are divorced and she has brought up two children alone. The fact that they are warm, funny, sincere human beings is a testimony to her parenting. In the midst of this she has also found time to complete a degree and have a successful career as well as serving our local community in the role of Magistrate. She is an amazing woman and I'm proud to be her friend and honoured to be playing this role.
The Bride's father is Polish so she'll walk in to the Polish national anthem and walk out with her Scottish husband to the sound of the Bagpipes. But before that a group of our friends will sing the final Blessing using the beautiful John Rutter music. Waterproof mascara a must!
So whatever you are doing at 3pm on Saturday then do wing up a prayer for us all before you pray for your football team...
I'll keep you posted.
