I am in the process of preparing for some up-coming weddings this weekend and next. I like weddings, they are fun, but stressful all at the same time. Weddings I think are the comic relief every pastor needs to help him make it through another week, month or year at any given church.
I have performed many weddings over the years and there are a few that really stand out in my mind because of the uniqueness of them. I'd like to tell you about the ones that I remember the most.
I'll never forget the first wedding I ever performed... I was so nervous...I wanted to do everything perfect...anyway I went through the whole ceremony, got the ring part right and the pronouncement, dismissed the couple when half way down the aisle the groom turned around and said, "You didn't let me Kiss her..." So they turned around came back to the front of the church, and I said with a very very red face, "You may now kiss your Bride". He dipped her, everyone was ready with their flashes and for the second time I pronounced them Husband and Wife and sent them on their way... glad that one was over.
Many couples, Brides that is, tend to want the fairy tale outdoors wedding. I don't think the guy really cares where the ceremony takes place as long as it happens, for the most part the guy just wants to do whatever it is he has to do and then get on with what he thinks is the best thing in life. Don't ask me what that is please.
Personally I try to counsel clear of outdoor weddings if there is anything that can go wrong it tends to go wrong at these outdoor ceremonies. You can have clear blue skies all morning and 15 minutes before the cermony is to start rain pours from the heavens. Sound systems tend NOT to work outdoors, wind is a nasty thing for microphones...nothing worst than asking a guy, "do you so promise?", with a howling sound in the background. If it doesn't rain, the heat can cause a bridal party to flop over like dying tulips in seconds. If you survive drowning in the rain or being fried in the sun, don't worry the wasp are merciless!
Brides to be...if you are going to have an outdoor wedding and the forecast is calling for 30 degrees would you be a little considerate of the guys and not force them into a black wool suit? I learned something helpful at one such wedding last July -that the inside pockets of a Tux can have a purpose at an outdoor 30 degree wedding - just fill them with those small icepacks and you'll be the coolest guy at the wedding.
The next wedding that I'll never forget was the one where the ceremony was booked at the Chalet at the top of a ski hill. I thought this will definitely be fun... the plan was to have the ceremony on the deck which would have the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the background simply stunning... A 4x4 was booked to bring the bride and the other females via the service road up to the top of the mountain. The rest of us would take the chair-lift. So here I am, on the chairlift, in a suit with the marriage register enjoying the breath-taking view. When without warning, the chair came to a swinging halt...my worst fears were about to be realized as I looked towards the top of the mountain, thick black clouds had gathered, any other time I would have thoroughly enjoyed a good thunder and lightening storm, but NOT while on an open chairlift, in a suit half way up the side of a mountain holding a Marriage Register! One may not be able to see wind with the naked eye, but one can certainly feel wind, especially in an, did I mention - open chairlift half way up the side of a mountain in a suit...20 minutes later looking like I had just come through the rinse cycle I found my way to the Chalet where 30 other people were wondering if the minister remembered what day it was.
The ceremony had been planned for the deck of the Chalet, I was most relieved when someone made a wise decision to have it inside the Chalet instead. The room wasn't set up, some guys quickly moved chairs and cleared a spot big enough for the Bridal Party to stand in a semi-circle. The Brides-maids found a center aisle, but the biggest surprise was yet to come...just before the Bride was due to grace us with her presence a Golden Retriever with a pink bow attached to its head carrying a ring pillow in its mouth rounded the corner and bee-lined for where I was standing, she came and stood next to me...no questions asked I never moved. When the Bride was in place the dog lay down at her feet for the rest of the ceremony. I hope no one heard my sigh of relief once I realized the rings on the pillow were fake...anyway,
it turned out to be a very meaningful wedding after all...one I shall treasure forever...
That's all for now...next time I will tell you about the most unique wedding dress I have ever seen....until next time...
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Life On a Crag ...enjoying the Church
It's late...but I just had a memory flash... don't you love it when those things happens, all of a sudden you find yourself taken back to a place somewhere in your past...I don't know if that is a good thing or not...
Anyway, my mind just went back to my earliest recollection of Church...I had a memory of those Mother's and Father's Day programs in Sunday school... man those were big times at church. Every family member would not miss the program for the world...the sanctuary would be packed. I must have been three or four the first time I was given some poem to memorize and recite. I still feel sorry for the poor kid who drew a blank, talk about being embarassed or what.
Anyway the audiance was kind, it didn't matter if you forgot the words and had to have the teacher mouth every sentence to you... the audiance still applauded you on as if you had just recited all 66 books from memory... I think heaven is going to be like that - the host will be cheering us onward regardless how many times we forget our lines...
Seeing we have just come through Mother's Day and Father's Day is just around the corner...how many of you remember when everyone - regardless of age wore a red carnation if their parent was alive and a white one if their parent was deceased? A couple of years ago on Mother's Day I wore a red rose, the questions were unbelieable...some thought I was going for the Trudeau look...until I explained why the Preacher was sporting a red rose in his lapel. This year many at my church came with a flower pinned on and I expect the same will happen on Father's Day... I'll be wearing a white rose - just a rose, no greenery, just a single, simple white rose.
Sunday school, for those who still remember what that was, happened from 3pm-4pm....depending on the teacher it could be a short or a very, very long hour. Don't ask me why our church leaders chose Sunday afternoon for Sunday school - but it seemed to work very well, then again, if one don't know anything different than one will just keep doing it until something changes...maybe...
I always found it interesting that Sunday afternoon was the only time we didn't all go to church as a family...I mean we never missed being at all the other times the church door was open...nevertheless us kids always got dropped off and Dad and Mom seemed always in a rush to get back home...I tried questioning about that once...did you hear what I said....ONCE...
The church I grew up in was always called a "gun-barrel" church... as a kid I always thought it had something to do with the way the devil got shot each week...it wasn't until later years that I learned that it was in reference to the style of the building... long and narrow...it certainly was a long way from the back to the front of the church. Our church had three very long sections of pews...one unique thing about that church was husbands and wives did NOT sit together during the services.
No I am not lying...all the women sat on one side and all the men sat on the other side and the kids, teens, young adults sat in the middle...and God forbid if you talked in church or got into a fit a laughing and couldn't stop- the women would all glare at you from the right side, and the men would lower their eye brows - believe me some of those men had eyebrows that could be used to make wigs, would scowl at you from the left side...
'nough memories for tonight... stayed tuned I have lots more to say...
Anyway, my mind just went back to my earliest recollection of Church...I had a memory of those Mother's and Father's Day programs in Sunday school... man those were big times at church. Every family member would not miss the program for the world...the sanctuary would be packed. I must have been three or four the first time I was given some poem to memorize and recite. I still feel sorry for the poor kid who drew a blank, talk about being embarassed or what.
Anyway the audiance was kind, it didn't matter if you forgot the words and had to have the teacher mouth every sentence to you... the audiance still applauded you on as if you had just recited all 66 books from memory... I think heaven is going to be like that - the host will be cheering us onward regardless how many times we forget our lines...
Seeing we have just come through Mother's Day and Father's Day is just around the corner...how many of you remember when everyone - regardless of age wore a red carnation if their parent was alive and a white one if their parent was deceased? A couple of years ago on Mother's Day I wore a red rose, the questions were unbelieable...some thought I was going for the Trudeau look...until I explained why the Preacher was sporting a red rose in his lapel. This year many at my church came with a flower pinned on and I expect the same will happen on Father's Day... I'll be wearing a white rose - just a rose, no greenery, just a single, simple white rose.
Sunday school, for those who still remember what that was, happened from 3pm-4pm....depending on the teacher it could be a short or a very, very long hour. Don't ask me why our church leaders chose Sunday afternoon for Sunday school - but it seemed to work very well, then again, if one don't know anything different than one will just keep doing it until something changes...maybe...
I always found it interesting that Sunday afternoon was the only time we didn't all go to church as a family...I mean we never missed being at all the other times the church door was open...nevertheless us kids always got dropped off and Dad and Mom seemed always in a rush to get back home...I tried questioning about that once...did you hear what I said....ONCE...
The church I grew up in was always called a "gun-barrel" church... as a kid I always thought it had something to do with the way the devil got shot each week...it wasn't until later years that I learned that it was in reference to the style of the building... long and narrow...it certainly was a long way from the back to the front of the church. Our church had three very long sections of pews...one unique thing about that church was husbands and wives did NOT sit together during the services.
No I am not lying...all the women sat on one side and all the men sat on the other side and the kids, teens, young adults sat in the middle...and God forbid if you talked in church or got into a fit a laughing and couldn't stop- the women would all glare at you from the right side, and the men would lower their eye brows - believe me some of those men had eyebrows that could be used to make wigs, would scowl at you from the left side...
'nough memories for tonight... stayed tuned I have lots more to say...
Friday, May 23, 2008
Life on a Crag
Hi all
This is my first blog, it seems that anyone who is someone is blogging these days. Thus thinking myself to be someone here I am blogging.
For those who are wondering why I named my blog "Life On A Crag" I will tell you. I grew up on the Eastern Coast of Canada, yes I have a unique Canadian accent. As a kid, we had a black and white TV, with those lighted tubes in the back, and a funny looking brown flat wire that went from the back of the TV up between the crack in the ceiling near the chimney and disappeared into the attic somewhere connecting us to the Wonderful World of Disney and beyond.
I know this will be foreign to some, but we got a lot of exercise watching TV...how? Will we had to get up and walk across the room to change the channel - all two of them. Sometimes just when you were really comfortable on the couch you would have to get up a few times and jiggle the channel button to get it on just the right cog, or reach behind and jiggle that flat brown wire for the best reception...especially if it was snowing outside or the wind was blowing or if it was raining or if a bird was sitting on the wires somewhere in other parts of Canada...
Anyway, sometimes on Saturday's I would watch "National Geographic"...not by choice, simply because it was the only thing on and given the other channel at certain times would have all these geese flapping their wings at sickening speeds... There was one eposide of National Geographic that totally intrigued me...when they would show the birds (Puffins) on or near Baffin Island. It always amazed me how much "life" existed amongst these rocky cliffs (Crags). It still intrigues me that these birds can build their nests, lay eggs, hatch and be totally safe and comfortable on a Crag.
I find myself baffled (no pun intended) that a Crag can be so dangerous and yet so safe all at the same time. Why is it safe for these Puffins and their families?Maybe because they have learned how to adapt to their surroundings, they have learned how to make these otherwise dangerous clifts serve them and their purposes. Then again, maybe they haven't learned anything...maybe they are just doing what God ordained for them to be doing and anywhere that God places someone He is more than able to sustain them in that place.
I have always liked writing, one day the thought crossed my mind about writing a book. I thought, every good book should have a good title, while praying about this, in my mind I could see Puffins standing on the edge of clifts...thus the title of my would be book or now my blog - "Life On A Crag...enjoying the Church"
That is what I want to do with this blog...write about what life on a crag or in a church is sometimes like. Write about my experiences growing up in church...and how church is sometimes unsafe and safe all at the same time...just like on the edge Baffin Island where the Puffins happily carry on life year after year.
Here's my credentials... I am forth generation Pentecostal, I come from a long line of Church workers on both sides of my family. My Dad was the type of congregation member who was always there, if the church door was open to the public my Dad made sure we, as a complete family, were there. We did not have the option of staying home, if there was a service at the church the Pastor could bank on the Browns being there. My Dad would make sure that we arrived early and left late..now as a Pastor not much has changed in that area...why is it that when I am not on lock-up duty I still tend to be the last person to leave the building??? Anyway, as time goes on...I hope to write things that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to lift your hands in awe of a wonderful Jesus who has helped me thoroughly enjoy "Life on A Crag"
I look forward to some interaction with those who might be interested to read my blog on a regular basis, thus I encourage your feed back but I am not into nasty criticism, constructive but not nasty...
ps... through this blog may the Lord spur you on to new things in Him! I firmly believe that if Jesus can do this in me He can do it in you also...because you are NOT chopped liver!
This is my first blog, it seems that anyone who is someone is blogging these days. Thus thinking myself to be someone here I am blogging.
For those who are wondering why I named my blog "Life On A Crag" I will tell you. I grew up on the Eastern Coast of Canada, yes I have a unique Canadian accent. As a kid, we had a black and white TV, with those lighted tubes in the back, and a funny looking brown flat wire that went from the back of the TV up between the crack in the ceiling near the chimney and disappeared into the attic somewhere connecting us to the Wonderful World of Disney and beyond.
I know this will be foreign to some, but we got a lot of exercise watching TV...how? Will we had to get up and walk across the room to change the channel - all two of them. Sometimes just when you were really comfortable on the couch you would have to get up a few times and jiggle the channel button to get it on just the right cog, or reach behind and jiggle that flat brown wire for the best reception...especially if it was snowing outside or the wind was blowing or if it was raining or if a bird was sitting on the wires somewhere in other parts of Canada...
Anyway, sometimes on Saturday's I would watch "National Geographic"...not by choice, simply because it was the only thing on and given the other channel at certain times would have all these geese flapping their wings at sickening speeds... There was one eposide of National Geographic that totally intrigued me...when they would show the birds (Puffins) on or near Baffin Island. It always amazed me how much "life" existed amongst these rocky cliffs (Crags). It still intrigues me that these birds can build their nests, lay eggs, hatch and be totally safe and comfortable on a Crag.
I find myself baffled (no pun intended) that a Crag can be so dangerous and yet so safe all at the same time. Why is it safe for these Puffins and their families?Maybe because they have learned how to adapt to their surroundings, they have learned how to make these otherwise dangerous clifts serve them and their purposes. Then again, maybe they haven't learned anything...maybe they are just doing what God ordained for them to be doing and anywhere that God places someone He is more than able to sustain them in that place.
I have always liked writing, one day the thought crossed my mind about writing a book. I thought, every good book should have a good title, while praying about this, in my mind I could see Puffins standing on the edge of clifts...thus the title of my would be book or now my blog - "Life On A Crag...enjoying the Church"
That is what I want to do with this blog...write about what life on a crag or in a church is sometimes like. Write about my experiences growing up in church...and how church is sometimes unsafe and safe all at the same time...just like on the edge Baffin Island where the Puffins happily carry on life year after year.
Here's my credentials... I am forth generation Pentecostal, I come from a long line of Church workers on both sides of my family. My Dad was the type of congregation member who was always there, if the church door was open to the public my Dad made sure we, as a complete family, were there. We did not have the option of staying home, if there was a service at the church the Pastor could bank on the Browns being there. My Dad would make sure that we arrived early and left late..now as a Pastor not much has changed in that area...why is it that when I am not on lock-up duty I still tend to be the last person to leave the building??? Anyway, as time goes on...I hope to write things that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to lift your hands in awe of a wonderful Jesus who has helped me thoroughly enjoy "Life on A Crag"
I look forward to some interaction with those who might be interested to read my blog on a regular basis, thus I encourage your feed back but I am not into nasty criticism, constructive but not nasty...
ps... through this blog may the Lord spur you on to new things in Him! I firmly believe that if Jesus can do this in me He can do it in you also...because you are NOT chopped liver!
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