I don't wed people unless I meet them at least once and the same applies to a blessing of a marriage. I think it's important for both parties. For me because I get to ask them a bit about who they are, how they got together and what it is that they look for in a church blessing. For them because getting married and having a blessing of a marriage can be pretty exciting and hopefully they'll find it reassuring that there is a familiar face in front of them albeit wearing an alb and standing in front of the altar on their wedding day.
What's more I think it important that they can also hear each other tell their story to a third party. In addition I think that there is always also a spiritual aspect to the meeting which may not be so much a part of the discussion - although sometimes it very much is - but is present in the encounter itself. Where two and three come togther in the name of our Lord there God will also be.
After meeting the couple we leave for Amsterdam airport and our flight will leave (if there are no delays) at 5.15 pm. We fly via Copenhagen so it is quite late in the evening that we'll actually get home. Incidentally, I'm travelling with the Chaplain of the Vocational Schools in Turku who is absolutely a marvelous companion to travel with. Our University Chaplain continues from Holland with his wife to France on their camper and we'll see a very tanned Chaplain in about five weeks time.
I myself will have four weeks of summer holiday starting on Monday. I'll be back July 16thish :). Until then with the words of an old celtic blessing:
May the road rise up
To meet you.
May the wind be always
At your back.
May the sun shine warm
upon your face.
May the rain fall soft
upon your field,
And until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
6 comments:
I require a three time meeting for pre-marital counsleing.
As far as a blessing of marriage, I have not done any of those, but think I would want ot meet at least one tiem with couple mainly to inquire their reason for the blessing.
I require 3 counseling sessions and a separate meeting to plan the ceremony.
I like that you have a polar bear on your blog.
For marriage prep, I meet between four and six times for counseling sessions. These are fun but challenging conversations.
To bless a marriage, once is all I need assuming someone else did pre-marital counseling.
Have a great four weeks off!
I also require three sessions, although I am pinch-hitting in a couple of weeks because the clergyperson has become dreadfully ill. There has only been time for one meeting. Thank goodness I felt, after meeting the couple, that performing the ceremony will be a good thing to do.
I weave the ceremony planning into the other sessions.
I too believe it is essential to meet folk before we marry them- at least twice, preferably as two others have said three times... there needs to be a personal touch.
erm Mia ... you can blog when you aren't in your office you know :)
missing you also in rl ...
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