Wedding Memories

Believe it or not, I’m still recovering (such is the residual affects of Gillian Barre) from a week of preparation and a wonderful two days of celebration of the marriage between my daughter, Diana and my new son-in-law, Tim. Instead of an extensive discussion, I share with you some of the parts of the ceremony.

The first is a poem that was read as a tribute and in memory of Tim’s mother, Alma Jean Rambo and his aunt, Ann Marie Charles.
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Not enough hours in the day, we often say
we watch as the business of life allows time to slip away.
​Before we know days turn to months and months into years,
Time is mapped with laughter and cheers,
the long road sometimes landmarked with sadness and tears.
Elders pass and children grow,
has it been that long we ask, where does the time go?
Not every chance to gather is taken.
"We'll see them next time" we say and hope we're not mistaken.
A chance like now comes once in a lifetime it seems,
when the bright light of family is nurtured and beams, 
there will be laughter and time to reminisce
we will know they in presence and spirit did not miss.

Following is the scripture read at the worship, just as it is read at so many weddings. Keep in mind that this passage uses agape in it’s original Greek language that we translate to love. There are other words in that language that we translate to love. Agape is the Greek word for God’s love. A married couple is best when they strive to follow the way of God’s love, even though it is humanly impossible to follow it completely.

1Corinthians 12:31-13:13 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way.  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.   If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Near the end of the ceremony all participated in singing the refrain of the song, “You’ve Got A Friend” Below are the lyrics.

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When you're down and troubled,
And you need some love and care,
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night.

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
And I'll be there, yes I will.

Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them,
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, yeah, to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend

You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend?
Ain't it good to know?
Ain't it good to know?
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend?

Oh yeah, now
Oh, you've got a friend
Yeah, baby
You've got a friend
Oh yeah...
​You've got a friend

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