Saturday, December 19, 2009

A White Wedding


One Sunday a couple of months ago, we had a couple of visitors to our church. One was a very friendly young woman, full of vitality and joy in the Lord, the other a quiet and reserved young man with a warm smile and and sweet spirit. Our congregation is somewhat small, so visitors seldom go unnoticed. I went over to meet these two young folks (age about thirty), and was cheerfully greeted by Noelle expressing how thankful she was to be there. Then she proceeded to tell me that she and the young man were probably going to be coming to our church and that they hoped to be married there. I thought they had probably called our pastor that week prior, but he later informed me that he had never talked to them before. The following week he told us that these two folks wanted to be married and wanted to be baptized. They have been saved not too very long, had met each other after a fairly long search for a mate on both their parts, and God had used E-Harmony to bring them together. They wanted to do things in a godly way, not worldly, and wanted to be married quietly, simply, and quickly.


Well after some counseling sessions, it was decided that they would be married by our pastor and hopefully, he would soon baptize them. He talked them into having a wedding with just a few trimmings and a small reception. The bride decided to get a vintage dress from the fifties and the groom decided to have his dad as the best man. We ladies will serve the thirty or so folks who will be attending. We've been excited, especially those who have been helping them put this ceremony and reception together.

And today is the day. But there is a hitch: I am about to go to bed now (it's a little after midnight) and when dawn comes, our first major snowstorm should be just starting. The forecast calls for snow all day and at about the time of the wedding (3:00), it's supposed to be coming down heavily. I hope and pray that this little Christmas wedding can go forth as planned. I pray the best for this couple and covet your prayers as well. Since they have been among us, their commitment to Christ and His ways have been quite a blessing to behold. I hope they are okay with their white Christmas wedding! Seems rather appropriate for a bride named Noelle.

UPDATE: It is now evening and it has turned out to be one of the biggest snowstorms in this area in recent years. Who would have thought that our family would have ventured out on such a day? But we did, and the wedding was WONDERFUL! I wish I had had the presence of mind to ask them if I could post a picture on this blog, but I forgot and I don't like to do that without permission. It was the sweetest and most precious wedding ever. As I said, it was small and intimate and particularly Christ focused. As we sat watching the ceremony, with the church decorated for Christmas, it was so beautiful to look out the window at the snow falling behind the wreaths. Just lovely. The bride was beautiful, the grooms eyes sparkled with that look of the husband taking his long awaited wife, and the words of their vows which they had written were absolutely God glorifying. It was so refreshing to be there. Then, at the end of the reception, the groom's thank you speech was more than anything a presentation of the gospel to his family. Wow. Thank you, Lord, that we went; it was worth the aggravation.

And it's still snowing!

9 comments:

Debra said...

That is such a sweet story Maxine. How great it is that this couple wants to start their lives together in a way that is Godly. Hope all goes well or went well!

Hope you are staying warm and cozy my friend, Blessings.

LisaShaw said...

Praying with you for them...

Beautiful sharing.

Susan said...

Oh this story is wonderful and precious. Please let us know how the White Wedding turns out. Nothing takes God by surprise!!!
Susan

Vicki said...

Definitely praying with you for these precious two. What a blessing! Merry Christmas, dear friend. Hope you're safe and warm through the snowstorm! Would love to hear how the wedding goes...

Linda said...

I hope by now they are happily married and that all went well with the wedding. It is such a sweet story Maxine.

Brenda said...

How beautiful is that? I'm glad everyone was safe and warm during the storm.

Janet said...

Maxine,

Thank you for this beautiful story, and thank you especially for the update. I couldn't wait to hear what happened! I wish I could have been there. By the way, my middle name is Maxine. (I think we're from the same era!)

kris said...

Hi Maxine- What a great story! I wish I could have been there - except for all the snow. We get enough up here where I live :)
Thanks for sharing that.
Merry Christmas!

Maxine said...

Two days later I am still warmed in my heart having gone to this and I still see the two of them in my mind's eye. How I pray for this marriage in the time to come; it's so scary these days, but I feel that at least they got off to a good start. I hope they continue with our church for a season so we can watch over them a bit. They captured my heart and it seems they have of many of you.

Thanks for the visit, Janet. Come again and yes, I guess we are from the same era. :-)