September 3, 2006: Our Sunday Morning Wedding
Happy anniversary Megan!
Two years ago today, we wed at First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee during Sunday morning worship. I could get all romantic-like and wax eloquently about how it was the best decision I’ve ever made or how I’m only deeper in love with Megan today, but, that’s not blog-propriate. Instead, I’m using our anniversary to blog on our wedding service itself since it seems to have done the job so far, was a bit unusual, and comes highly recommended by us both.
I can’t remember when we first thought of it (in our household, Megan’s in charge of remembering things) but we’d certainly had considered being married during Sunday morning worship for a long time. In fact, just a few hours after Megan proposed to me, we found ourselves flipping through a hymnal looking for appropriate hymns for worship.
For us – and I’m just going to write all these comments from a very personal point of view and I’m not saying everyone should do what we did or think as I think – anyways, for us, having our wedding during Sunday morning worship just made sense. Neither of us likes drawing attention to ourselves, so the idea of a traditional wedding put us off. We both hold worship in high regard, and we didn’t want our wedding to be confused as a gathering around the bride and groom, rather than a gathering around the Word to worship the Triune God. We both had strong relationships with the congregation, and the pastor and session proved fully supportive. A sunday morning wedding is not for everybody, but it may be for some. Here’s what ours looked like.
Worship (Not Quite) as Usual:
Though we wanted to be very clear that what people were participating in that Sunday morning was a worship service first and foremost, we did go some effort to make the worship particularly festive. A few examples.
The Procession: The Bible led the procession, followed by the choir, followed by Megan and me and our parents. We entered singing a hymn, with the congregation of course. Fred Pratt Green’s “God is Here…and we your people meet to offer praise and prayer.”
The Liturgy: Megan is Lutheran, I’m Presbyterian. Considering the many Lutherans from out of town attending worship, the congregation, early in the summer, began singing and learning the Lutheran liturgy. As the church changes service music fairly regularly, I doubt anyone outside the choir realized the liturgy was “Lutheran.” So when we all gathered on September 3, almost everybody knew the tune. (And of course, we had a brass ensemble and timpani help lead us in our joyful noise.)
The Vows: We used slightly altered more inclusive vows from the PC(USA) Book of Worship. We didn’t practice them. There was no rehearsal the night before. Everything still went smoothly. Sometimes rehearsals are more trouble than they’re worth. Immediately following the vows, the congregation rejoiced by singing a Celtic Alleluia unaccompanied in a round.
Communion: Call me traditional, but I agree with Calvin: the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated every Lord’s Day. I also think communion is a fantastic way for a congregation with many guests to celebrate their unity in Christ. The session granted our request to celebrate the eucharist that morning. They also allowed Megan and me to serve. So our first act as a married couple was serving the community from Christ’s table. Talk about a good start!
Choir: Friends from St. Olaf College, Luther Seminary, and Luther College swelled the numbers of the church choir. They, of course, helped lead the liturgy and hymns, but they also sang two anthems, one of which is by former St. Olaf Choir director, F. Melius Christianssen, “Praise to the Lord Almighty.” (For audio, try listening to the St. Olaf Christmas Festival Combined Choir version from a few years back here; it may work.)
Postlude: Postgame, our amazing organist led us out of worship with the raucous Egil Hovland arrangement of “Now Thank We All Our God.” Megan and I greeted our fellow worshipers at the entrance to the courtyard where the congregation gathered for a reception following worship.
Reflections:
Now I’m totally biased, but I really think the church would do well to welcome and seek out more weddings to take place during Sunday worship. This frames weddings as they should be framed–God’s people gathering before God to make promises to God and one another. Without the grounding in worship and the word, because of the wedding industry and social expectations, it’s very difficult for people attending weddings to think of them primarily as worship events not praise-the-couple events. Without intentional planning, it’s also difficult to make the wedding a participatory event–as worship should be–rather than an event which guests simply attend.
As the mainline church reconsiders its foundations in our money and prestigue-driven 21st century culture, we are called to reassert a Christian understanding of marriage. As the emergent church thinks creatively about how God is moving outside traditional models of church, we can seek ways to rescue Christian marriage from the snares of the fashion and hospitality industry.
So to couples and pastors out there, I heartily recommend marriage in the context of Sunday worship. Two years out, my only regret is that we couldn’t find a way to get a baptism in there as well. Happy Anniversary Megan!
Many thanks to Taylor Guthrie, our dear friend and photographer.
Any help out there?
Sure, sometimes I’ll play along in a conversation pretending I know more about a certain topic than I really do. It’s just polite. For instance, if a conversation is humming and a name is dropped, “you know, like _____,” sometimes it’s just best to smile and nod and not break up the lilt of the discussion if you generally get the idea. Well, Megan and I are road-tripping it next week, and to commune with the great outdoors (and save money) we’ll be camping at a few spots along the way.
Now I really like the idea of camping. I love nature. Cooking simply is fun. Chatting round a campfire is heavenly. But I’m not a huge fan of bugs, or dirt, or getting soaked while sleeping. Add in the fact that neither Megan nor I have camped for, say, 15 years, and we may have some fun stories. [My previous camping experiences include getting soaked in a tropical storm, having more sand join me in the tent than out while camping on a windy beach, and getting mauled by a rabid teething bear in heat (ok, I made one of those up.)]
So I’d love to hear any advice from more seasoned campers out there. I haven’t done big internet research, so I’d even enjoy being alerted to some camping websites.
Quite sensibly, I thought, I just set up our tent in the living room for practice. Get this: I didn’t even need the instructions! (Well, I also couldn’t find them until it was already up so I didn’t have much choice.)
We got it from Target as a wedding gift–or from friends from Target–and this will be its first trip. It ended up being much bigger than I expected but that’s great, I guess. I fit in it length and width-wise, which is handy for a 6’3”er. It also has a “shoe pocket” to hold dirty shoes in limbo between the tent door and inside floor which I’m totally cool with. (The Scouts always say cleanliness is a virtue.)
Location, Location, Location
Our first night we’ll be camping after picking a friend up in VA, so we’re thinking somewhere in Eastern KY. Greenbo Lake State Park looks like a good option, but I’m up for suggestions. ($14 for site sounds pretty spiffy, but should we pay the extra cash for a non primative site so we have power??)
Looks like we’ll also need to stay in eastern or central SD for a night. Ideas?
We may camp some in North Dakota with or about Megan’s family, but then we’re off to Aspen, Colorado to see my brother. Does anybody know of any good sites in Aspen–I know there’s millions, but a personal recommendation is always best? Should we go public or private? Better to stay a ways out of Aspen or stay close in?
Gear
Then there’s the exciting possibilities of buying gadgetry. We’re thinking about this stove/grill from
REI. Bueno?
And we’ll need another camping chair…
And mats for sleeping…
And perhaps a lantern if we’re thinking big…
Ok, so I’m off to buy a new atlas and batteries for our flashlights and a plastic ice freeze dealio thingy for the cooler. Please don’t hesitate to offer advice–I can build a campfire, but not without the help of several handfulls of pine needles and a generous supply of matches. I’m sure the trip will bring many laughs, but I think I’d best not just smile and nod in preparation.
A big first
Wow. Big day. Yesterday I spend many hours buying health and car insurance. Today, Megan and I bought our first car.
Well, “first” because it’s the first car we bought while married, and we decided together, and we sold both our previous cars before leaving for Scotland as we’re committed to being a one car family (for as long as possible, at least).
So meet ________, a 2009 Subaru Forester. It’s a pretty rare breed actually: manual transmission (because we like to actually drive when we drive), PZEV (super clean engine), all weather package (heated seats, mirrors), and some fun adds like a bike rack, spoiler, and Sirius radio.
Though we both swithered over whether to buy new or used, we bit the bullet for the Forester because it fit so much of what we wanted.
We haven’t named her/him yet, which is a must. My first car, a 1989 Nissan pickup is named Annabelle. Megan’s first love, Chester, is an even older Ford Ranger. So we’ve floated a few named for the Forester, but I’m insistent that it not be we that name the Forester, but the Forester who communicates her/his name to us.
Of course I’d still up for hearing what names these pictures bring to mind. Frank the Forester? How about Iona? Fergus?
Holiday to Skye
The Scottish word “holiday” means what Americans think of as “vacation.” Well, have your pick, but we’re taking one for four days to the Isle of Skye with my cousins.
The trip should be pretty great for many reasons. First, it will be the first time all six cousins and significant others have gathered together–sorry, Ian, we’ll miss you bro. Second, Skye is a pretty amazing place. Third, I’m not working and will have no email or landline till Wednesday.
For you really nosy–I mean interested–people, here’s where we’re staying.
Our wee house is up in the northwest of Skye here:
And here’s our wee house:
The forecast isn’t great, but the company can’t be any better. I’ll post photos on our return, and hopefully have a fun story to share. Skye boats dinosaur footprints, breathtaking scenery, a cool castle, sometimes cruel weather, and highland cows galore.
A bittersweet homecoming
It feels strange to post the obituary, but it also seems appropriate. My Grandfather died on the 22nd. I’m heading back home from the 31st to the 8th, much of which time will be spent bonding with the fam on the drive to and from Lake Charles (I just hope Ian will shower.) It will be good to be with family, attend the service, and remember Grandaddy. He really was a remarkable guy. More reflections later, perhaps.
Obituary for H. Richard Copeland
The Rev. Dr. H. Richard Copeland died December 22, 2007, at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 86. A minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Dr. Copeland was pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Charles, LA, from 1964 to 1984.
“Dick” Copeland was born in Ferris, TX, and reared in Mexia. He was enrolled at Texas A&M College when the United States entered World War II. He enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor and served four years in the Army Air Corps. He was discharged as a First Lieutenant. He held degrees from Texas Tech College (B.A), Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (B. D., M.Th.), and Rhodes College (D.D.). He was pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Brownsville, TX, from 1951-1955, and of Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX, from 1955 to 1964.
Dr. Copeland was married for 32 years to Betty Lou Loveless, who died in 1976. The couple had three children: Brant S. Copeland, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee, FL, Leslie Copeland Taylor, an attorney in Houston, TX, and Brenda Copeland Thompson, an English teacher in Lake Charles, LA, who died in 1977. He was married for 25 years to Shirley Slack Martin of Lake Charles, who died in 2003.
Active in church and local affairs, Dr. Copeland served on the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church, U. S., and as the Convener and first Moderator of the Synod of the Sun. He was a commissioner to four General Assemblies (national meetings). Dr. Copeland’s example of faithful preaching and attentive pastoral care inspired fourteen women and men to enter the Gospel ministry during his pastorates.
Dr. Copeland is survived by his sister, Ellen Stead of Richardson, TX, daughter Leslie Copeland Taylor of Houston, TX, son Brant S. Copeland, of Tallahassee, FL, and grandsons Darrell, Eric, and Carl Taylor, and Adam and Ian Copeland, as well as members of his second family: son Robin Martin of Lake Charles and daughters Anne Mann and Nancy Key.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1801 Second Avenue, Lake Charles, LA, 70601,at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 4. Pastor Fred Seay will preside. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Betty Copeland Student Aid Fund at the church.
Thanksgiving Scottish Style
Unlike 95% of Americans, we didn’t eat turkey on Thursday. In Scotland, you see, Thursday was like any other day–though the great weather did allow for a beautiful game of golf. Instead, Megan and I hosted a Thanksgiving party Friday night.
(for more pictures, click on the turkey…yes it’s a turkey )
My only Thanksgiving away from the states was in Hong Kong while I was on The Global Semester. There, the 26 students and two professors dined on turkey, but also several Chinese takes on the holiday–I seem to remember plenty of shrimp and noodles. No Chinese variety this time, though we did run into several difficulties along the way: no cornbread mix for a corn casserole, canned pumpkin was difficult to find, converting grams to cups is tricky. The final menu included turkey–which, though it was my first attempt at cooking one ended up perfectly edible–green bean casserole, vegetarian stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and corn followed by pumpkin bars, pumpkin cookies, apple crumble, and delicious pecan pie brought by Margaret.
We even instituted some American traditions like eating bread with the meal rather than before, not heating the plates before serving, and serving coffee and tea with dessert rather than after.
It’s been interesting to explain Thanksgiving to Scots. Despite some of its historical murkiness, in mainstream practice these days it’s a holiday all about food, family, fellowship, and football. Well, we hosted family who enjoyed fellowship with new friends, ate plenty of food, and even chatted about football (England’s glorious loss last Wednesday). I think we can chalk the night up as a success.
Fife Tour
I recently traveled in and around Dundee to visit my cousin Katie and see the sights.
The pictures in this set include:
- Dunnattor Castle, a 12th century castle on a narrow spit. At one time it held Scotland’s crown jewels.
- The small fishing villages of Crail and Anstruther the latter which features the 2006-2007 best fish and chip shop of Scotland.
- St. Andrews
- Falkirk Wheel , a contemporary boat mover thingy that looked extra cool at night.
I didn’t take the camera to the ultra-hip Dundee Contemporary Arts Center where we enjoyed a lovely supper with Katie and Sam, managing not to get kicked out by the cool-looking bouncers.
If you click on the picture above, you’ll be taken to the flickr page of that individual photo. To see the set itself click here.
Connect Online
