Another First!

I got up really early on a recent Friday Morning.
Yes, I meant to.

I had a wedding to perform on the beach at sunrise.
The couple wanted a quick ceremony at the very top of the weekend to move their relationship to the next level.
It would be just the three of us in the early morning twilight.
Amy and Tim found me on Thumbtack.com.
She and I had talked and pared down the wedding ceremony to the bare minimum length, with just enough mention of our Lord to make it clear this is a Christian ceremony.
A quick introduction.
I'd prompt each them to share their vows.
I'd ask the "I do" question of each of them.
I'd guide them through the exchange of rings.
Then I'd get to pronounce them Husband and Wife.

So, I got up early, really early.
Since I planned to come back after and go back to sleep.
I left my morning tea for later.
I put on my pants, shoes, shirt with the collar, and my cassock, and then my cross.
The smaller sliver and crystal cross.
I had hoped it would catch the light of the rising sun just right.

I got in my car and it was still fairly dark out.
There were no stars visible though.
By the time I got the the beach there was a general glow to the cloudy sky.
I hadn't planned on the effect of the classic marine layer we experience here.
The morning air was cool and crisp.

I saw my couple in the distance.
We met up, said a brief hello, and walked out onto the sand.
The ceremony was beautiful and poignant.
Their vows were heartfelt and touching.
Then I spoke that line and they were married.
(Well except for the paper work.)

We walked back off the beach toward there car to sign the license.
We had to pause for Amy to put her shoes back on.
Tim, lightheartedly cajoling her that the ceremony was quicker.

Back at their car I signed the license and it was official.
(Except it needed to be filled with the county.)

It was a beautiful reason to get up so early.
Being able to make the brides wish for a sunrise beach wedding come true was well worth getting up so early.

My only disappointment was that the change in the morning light was so subtle it went unnoticed.

A prayer.

For the Animists, Celtic pagans, and others who value the forest.

Prayer of the Woods
"I am the heat of your Hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on."
"I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat."
I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin."
"I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty."
Ye how pass by, listen to my prayer:
"Harm me not"

First Wedding Ceremony. WOW!

This past Saturday I performed my very first Wedding Ceremony.

What a amazing thrill!

It was for my long time friends Greg and Jeff.

They Share my love of Disney, and are also fans of Halloween.
Jeff started wearing kilts two years ago when I encouraged him to buy one.


They were constant advocates and protesters for Equal Marriage Rights and wanted their ceremony to be on the beautiful court house steps where they had so often protested for the cause.



Their desire was for a ceremony full of personal meaning and symbolism, maybe a little bit of spirituality, but not at all a religious event.

And to include their pit bull Leia.























Hearing that Jeff was concerned that important members of his chosen families might not be able to show up for the wedding, I took a chance and contacted a few directly to make sure they didn't miss the event. With that I ended up picking up one couple on my way to the location.

There was a point in the recent months of planing (or  more accurately waiting to plan) where I was concerned if this event would even happen. Greg had been quite ill and wasn't willing to plan or commit to an event he might have to miss. But once he felt better, they were able to plan the event with only a two week notice. I was able to craft most of the language of their ceremony the Tuesday before the ceremony. With a few quick discussions on Thursday and Friday I was able to script the language for their symbolic act of unity to be included, just in time for a ceremony Saturday afternoon.

Even on such short notice this event was really a touching affair.

My first photo in my cassock.

So today is Sunday, the eighth day since I was ordained by the Universal Life Church Monastery.
As part of my spiritual growth today I explored and meditated upon the meaning of religious symbols.


Like the ones above that are included on the website of my greater organization.
I was reminded how important symbols are in our human understanding of the universe in which we reside. And at the same time I was impressed with the variety and quantity of different beliefs in our world.