Hospitality
Feb. 1st, 2020 08:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreM was the second baby baptized in the church where I serve.. which makes him 60-something. He's a delightful man, intelligent, talented, fun, kind. Lifelong bachelor, but for 10 years he has spent much time with A and referred to her as his girlfriend. Last year M had a brief moment of aphasia, and loving friends urged him to see his doctor, and it was brain cancer. He had surgery, and came through it magnificently, but was told it's a type that always comes back. He and A went off to Europe for several months.
After returning, M started coming to church a bit more frequently than before; and then A began to come with him occasionally (most of us had not met her until then). Just before Christmas, our pastor began a sermon by asking us each to turn to our neighbor, look them in the eyes and say "Yes!" We learned 2 weeks ago that M turned to A and said "Will you marry me?" and she did say yes!
Then M got a chance to get into an experimental treatment beginning next week-- so they decided to get married first. We at church learned last Sunday that they would get married today, and were planning a very simple ceremony and coffee-and-cake reception.
My church struggles with hospitality, all too often offering it reluctantly and grudgingly, or not at all; but this whole story sparked something. Two women asked permission to expand on that reception, and nearly all the active members of the church jumped on board. So today M and A were married, in an absolutely full sanctuary, and had a full reception with a banquet of finger foods and lovely decorations. M and A were radiantly happy, and I'm daring to hope that the joy of the day might revive an understanding of the gift of hospitality.
On a side note, A's nephew played the organ today. He's a PhD in Organ Performance... and I don't think I suffered at all by comparison.
After returning, M started coming to church a bit more frequently than before; and then A began to come with him occasionally (most of us had not met her until then). Just before Christmas, our pastor began a sermon by asking us each to turn to our neighbor, look them in the eyes and say "Yes!" We learned 2 weeks ago that M turned to A and said "Will you marry me?" and she did say yes!
Then M got a chance to get into an experimental treatment beginning next week-- so they decided to get married first. We at church learned last Sunday that they would get married today, and were planning a very simple ceremony and coffee-and-cake reception.
My church struggles with hospitality, all too often offering it reluctantly and grudgingly, or not at all; but this whole story sparked something. Two women asked permission to expand on that reception, and nearly all the active members of the church jumped on board. So today M and A were married, in an absolutely full sanctuary, and had a full reception with a banquet of finger foods and lovely decorations. M and A were radiantly happy, and I'm daring to hope that the joy of the day might revive an understanding of the gift of hospitality.
On a side note, A's nephew played the organ today. He's a PhD in Organ Performance... and I don't think I suffered at all by comparison.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-02 01:36 am (UTC)And of course you didn't suffer by comparison. :D You are a staggeringly good organist and musician, and a great gift to the entire universe as well as the musical one.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-02 12:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-02-03 02:19 am (UTC)I hope the experimental treatment is effective and M and A have many happy years together.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-03 03:57 pm (UTC)