Dear Engaged Couple- Yesterday I performed my first true interfaith service! Oh, I have officiated at Jewish/ Christian services and one glorious Muslim/Christian service. I have officiated at services in which the bride and groom ascribed to that vague sounding but nevertheless real category, “Spiritual but not religious.” But yesterday! The bride was raised Jewish and her husband is a man of all faiths. He believes in God and in love, and in loving each other. Can’t disagree with that! As you know if you read many of my blogs, I am a Presbyterian Pastor. Some of the couple’s wedding guests were also Christian. So, in advance of the service the couple and I had some rather long, but creative meetings as we attempted to weave together all these different religious strands into one interfaith whole. I believe it actually worked!
The couple had invited just a few family and friends to the service and the reception following. I would say that this lent to the intimacy of the gathering. We held the service on their friend’s back deck (it is July). The wedding party comprised a flower girl (the bride’s niece), and a ring bearer (the bride’s dog, led by the bride’s nephew).
The groom and I followed by the ring bearer, flower girl and bride walked out onto the deck where family and guests were already seated. After greeting everyone and talking a little about the bride and groom, and the interfaith aspect of the service, I asked the gathering to “meditate and revel on the goodness that has brought the couple to this moment.” I struck a meditation bowl and we meditated for several minutes. I struck the bowl again to denote the end of our mediation, and we continued with the service.
The couple honored the bride’s tradition by sharing a glass of wine. I blessed the wine first by reciting the Hebrew prayer which begins, “Baruch atah, Adonai, elohaynu (Blessed are you O God)….” I studied ancient Hebrew in seminary. Believe it or not, it has proved to be very handy!
The reading the couple chose was written by Paramahansa Yogananda. It is a lovely, well known piece, which begins, “Love comes first.”
I spoke briefly about the piece, and tried to tie its message to what I know to be true about the couple. Then the couple exchanged traditional vows, and gave and received rings. The service concluded with the breaking of the wine glass after which family and friends wished the bride and groom a hearty “Mazel Tov!”
This may be a one-of-a-kind interfaith service, but maybe not. I am working with a couple at present, who say they want to use meditation as a part of their service….We’ll see.
Happy wedding planning!
Your Wedding Preacher for Hire
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