Easter Sunday Worship was very different at Deer Park this year. A couple, both of whom grew up in the Deer Park faith community, also celebrated their wedding. They came to me last September and made the rather unusual request: “Can we have our wedding at Deer Park during the Easter Sunday service next year?” Almost without thinking, I enthusiastically responded with a “Yes!”

They happily left knowing that I had agreed to grant their request, but I started thinking about what I had agreed to do.  A wedding on Easter! The Easter crowd and the wedding crowd and the logistics of making this first and foremost an Easter celebration kept racing through my mind. Also in my mind was the anticipated joint worship with St. Andrew’s United Church that had not yet been approved for going forward. How would I sell this to another congregation, especially a congregation who didn’t know this couple and their love for and involvement in the church?

All these questions only made me more eager to figure it out. The practise in some places and in the early church was helpful.  Weddings often were celebrated when the community would gather for worship. They were not the stand alone event detached from the community that they have become today. Historical precedence was on my side. Also on my side was this – how in the world could I deny this request to young adults who have a vibrant faith and who love the church! That just would not make any sense at all to me; it’s not like we have young adults flocking to the church.

The service itself did not take form until a few months before the wedding on Easter. The theme was that we, people of faith in Jesus, are united with the Risen Christ. Christ is bridegroom and the church is the bride (this is New Testament language by the way which also is found in the Old Testament when writers would address the love of God for humanity). The processional of the Paschal or Christ Candle was first. The bridal processional followed reminding all worshippers that Christ is first and that in all of life we follow in the Way of Jesus. Then we all declared our intent to be in union with Christ and to follow the Way of Jesus. Worship continued as usual with singing, praying, passing of the peace, scripture lessons, and a sermon. After the sermon, the couple exchanged vows as a response to the Word. Prayers were offered and the offering was received and just as the bride and groom give rings as a token of their love and commitment, the congregations offered their gifts in the same spirit.

The message was based on the words that the angels and the Risen Christ spoke to those early believers – “Don’t Be Afraid.” Briefly, the community of followers should never be afraid to be vulnerable, caring, daring, loving, forgiving, and supportive. The spirit of the Risen One is with us. We are stronger together. We can face tough times. We are the Church – the resurrection community of new life!

It was a great Sunday with great energy and great love.