We have four weddings we are celebrating this Spring. I hope there will be no funerals. It is a priviledge in retirement that past congregational members and their sons and daughters want you to be the Celebrant for such a special occassion in a young person's life.
The first wedding is this weekend. The bride is 27. She was seven years old when I became Rector of St. Francis where her family was active. I was the celebrant at her older sister's wedding and now will be at hers. This is the second time Allison has made me feel old. The first time was when she got big enough that she decided she was "too big" to come forward for the children's homily.
It was one of my joys each week to sit on the Altar steps with the children gathered around me. When I came to St. Francis as Rector in 1986, it was a congregation mostly made up of families with teenagers and retired persons. So, there were only a few children under 12 to come forward regularly for the children's Homily. The population of young children increased rapidly in the last decade I was Rector, But, whenever Allison or any child considered herself or himself too old to come forward, it made me feel older.
Even though she is certainly old enough to make this major commitment, I still remember her as a little girl; and, it makes me feel my age that she is taking this step. But, I'm happy for you and pleased that she wanted me to be involved in this important step in her life.
There are three more weddings to come ... two more with young persons grew up in my parish when I was Rector and a fourth for a young man who grew up in my husband's congregation when he was Rector.
It will be nostalgic and emotional for me to return to my former parish. I spent 14 years as Rector before I had to resign for medical reasons. I still grieve. But, it will also be a joy to go back to what was my spiritual home for 14 years and to see people I love.
Isn't it nice when there's balance in the beginnings and endings? Enjoy your celebrations! ellie
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