Wedding Priestess

I had the honor of officiating a wedding for my brother Michael on the last day of September this year, just a few weeks ago.  It was a joyous occasion--

 

There is much to be said about the ritual itself, the mystery, the precious ways that my brother and new sister-in-law expressed their love for each other. There is a video of the day still in production, but for now here is my written script-

"Welcome everyone. __Clemetine__________ and _____Michael______ have chosen you, those special and important to them, to witness and celebrate the beginning of their life together. Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today. Through their time together, they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together as husband and wife.”." Clem and Michael ask that through your participation in this ceremony today that you play an active role in their lives together, that you too are actively participating in this holy union. 

"To all present I say: We are gathered here, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! "True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on in the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding."

TO ALL- PLEASE BE SEATED.

John Goodman Poem

Band Song

Chloe Poem

Andrea rises

Homily!

Through their time together, Clem and Mike have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together as husband and wife.”

In this sacred place we are gathered here to support Clementine and Michael in their commitment with each other. Strong and grounded. Flowing and reaching to the sky.  These two become one today. They are people of true substance grounded and finding beauty in the path that they have chosen and are now choosing together. Look around us,  see the examples we have to live by here? The strength of the stones that have built the house behind you. Stones that came out of the earth—the field and the rivers.  Strong and grounded. This creek here is flowing and abundant, teaching us how to be as changing yet constant. Clem and Michael your love is flowing and abundant.

The clouds, our dreams, our childlike imagination of seeing life as new. With fresh eyes.

This tree behind me is a symbol deep to the love that Clem and Mike share with each other, and what you their community of family of friends commit to.

Holy Matrimony-  is a sacrament, the word sacrament means mystery. Throughout the world marriage is a sacrament, a mystery, a visible form of grace, a gift that is beyond anything that have done or even could do to deserve it. In the Christian faith there are seven of these such sacraments.

What you are doing is making yourselves one. One like this tree that stands behind, it is one, and it is many, it is made of the intricate systems of roots and leaves, pieces of bark,  and the strong branches. It is one tree, yet it is made of many parts, perfect and holy as it was made to be. Holy means to be oneself. To be fully yourselves who you were meant to be to feel, be pure, and present to each other . Do not ask what the world needs most, ask what inspires you . That is what the world needs most, people that are inspired.

Clem and Michael your love is beautiful, and everyone of us here is here to love you and support you. We all love your love. Like a Tree that cover over us and bring us shade.

You’ve traveled the world to find each other, and with each other now, you will travel the world, and find home with each other. You are loyal people. Two of the most loyal people I know to your friends and your family, and on this day our families become one too.

"__Clem_________ and ___Michael_________, remember to treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Take responsibility for making the other feel safe, and give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at some time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not just the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can survive the times when clouds drift across the face of the sun in your lives, remembering that, just because you may lose sight of it for a moment, does not mean the sun has gone away. And, if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight."

Apache Blessing:
"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth."

Henry’s grandmother pear tree.

Out on the old homestead where I grew up, my grandmother, who died before I was born, planted 3 Asian pear trees on the edge of the garden. Now 80 years later, they are 60' tall having grown in benign neglect most of those years. The city forced my mother to sell her land(and the trees on it) through the Green Acres Condemnation Process 40 years ago. Today I can still pick those pears off the ground and share them with my children and grandchildren(your great-great grandchildren).

Remember to be like this tree

Bear fruit and multiply.
Turn over a new leaf.
It's OK to be a little nutty.

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.   May God be with you and bless you; May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward.   May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home And may the hand of a friend always be near.   May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.

 

Clementine and Michael please come forward to profess your love and commitment together before all of us in the sharing of your vowels.

VOWELS

 

Tree—Michael and Clementine today are symbolizing their growing love and commitment together with the planting of a Linden Tree.

Clementine and Michael have chosen together on this day to plant a Linden tree—native to both Pennsylvania and France as a symbol of their everlasting love and the hope in which they now stand as young and growing. Linden tree are strong and grow up to 170’ tall .

 In Europe, linden trees are known to have reached ages measured in centuries, if not longer. One, is estimated to be 2,000 years old.[1]

During the Viking era, it was often used for constructing shields.

Ease of working and good acoustic properties also make it popular for electric guitar and bass bodies and wind instruments

Tilia is sometimes used as a material for drum shells, both to enhance their sound and their aesthetics

Usually, the double-flowered species are used to make perfumes.

 

Michael—as the tree marks its age is rings growing outward from the center so these these ring too will grow more precious with time.

Minister: "The ring is the symbol of the commitment which binds these two together. There are two rings because there are two people, each to make a contribution to the life of the other, and to their new life together. Let us pray: Bless, the giving of these rings, that they who wear them may abide together in your peace and grow in one another's eyes."
"Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today."

 

(Clem please place the ring on Michael’s finger)

Do you ____Michael________, take _Clem_________ to be your (wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

I do

(Michael place ring on Clem’s finger)

Do you ____Clem________, take _Michael_________ to be your (/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part?"

I do

 

 

As you give and receive these rings remember the promises that you both have made.

Now that Clementine and Michael have given themselves to each other by solemn vowels. May you remain together in perfect love and peace forever more. Those who the divine has joined together, let no one divide. And remember Clementine and Mike to be like the tree STAND TALL AND PROUD. GO OUT ON A LIMB. REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS.

 

"By the power vested in me by the State of ____PA_____, I now pronounce you husband and wife. (Traditional)_______,"You may kiss your bride."

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you for the first time Michael and Clemetine Ferich!!