"For where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20

What a wonderful text for reflection on summer memories; a time when we often travel and gather with distant loved ones and feel the presence of God in our midst.

This summer I attended the wedding of the daughter of neighbors of my parents. My parents are now long gone, but the friendship has remained. When the bride was little she regretted that she had no surviving grandmothers and selected my mother as her "Grammy." This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship between our two families which met the needs both of young children and elderly folks who sometimes needed help from neighbors sooner than their own children could arrive in town.

The wedding was "green." Set in a park where the groom roamed in his youth and which is adjacent to his grandparents' blueberry patch, it was decorated with brilliant zinnias grown by the couple. Of course all eating equipment was biodegradable, the food vegetarian. It was a large event and at least half of the guests helped with picking up, setting up and returning all the physical necessaries for a wedding. The caterers were friends, as were the band members, and it was obvious that the celebrants were also.

The wedding ceremony was deeply moving. The homily was delivered by the groom's grandfather Howard Newbury and covered all aspects of a long-lasting marriage, such as the nature of love, the need for self development, mutual trust, plans for raising children, financial planning, and for acknowledging the presence of God in you life, as well as conscious effort to express your love to your partner. I close with a few of Grandfather Howard's gems which I will strive to emulate in my own marriage and friendships:

Cultivate your relationship and pull out the weeds that come between you.
Be understanding when you do not understand.
Love one another when you do not like each other's ways.
Talk positive about your spouse and encourage each other.

Dear God,
Thank you for your love which we glimpse in our family relationships and friendships. Help us emulate your unconditional love. Amen

PS: The photo shows the Wedding Banner, displayed during wedding ceremonies at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. The banner was created by the members of the APLC Altar Guild, led by Helen Gunkel, long time member of our church.

Contributed by Susan
Published Sunday September 14, 2008
Week 42 of Liturgical Year A
Sunday Gospel reading: Lectionary 24 (Proper 19)
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost