The version used is KJV
NOTE: Due to privacy, specific names have been left out of this.
Greetings in the name of our Saviour and Master, Jesus Christ.
I want to thank the new couple, for inviting us to the wedding and for the entire church body for welcoming us and making us feel part of your families. I am writing this letter to document our impression of the wedding as well as a testimony to the world, in what a marriage ceremony should be.
As we partook of the event, albiet coming a bit late (we arrived after the devotional), we were humbled and overjoyed through both the ceremony and the reception. In short, it was like heaven on earth, in how the institution of marriage was meant to be. I also wanted to pen this letter, to capture our feelings and emotions as we departed from the reception unwillingly, as we had to be back to care for the animals.
Ceremony
Having the bride and her bridegroom sit side by side, on simple chairs and the specific sermon message, prayer, songs, directed to them, was beautiful. The simplicity of the dresses of the bride and the women and girls, as well as the simple attire of the groom and the men, amplified the point that the focus was on God and His institution of marriage and not on the adornments or the skin showing flowing gowns or expensive tuxedos. When many modern day weddings have themes of the bride and grooms favorite character, movie or myth, the theme here was that of the Will of God.
The wedding hall was filled with families of simple or plain folks, that were dressed modestly but crisply. From the older generation to the younger generation, they all were dressed in simple solid colors, and all sisters has head covering, from a bonnet to kerchief to snood, with the exception of my bride wearing a traditional head wrap. There was joy yet solemnity during the ceremony. The aisles were filled with children of all ages as the growing families made most of the attendees. They came from as far as Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio and few from Belieze.
There were elderly folks who were grand parent generation of the bride and groom, as well, who rejoiced in meeting their kinsmen and grand or great grand children.
The songs were aptly chosen by a talented singer and brother and it cemented the message and the tone of the overall ceremony. All of the events and happenings pointed to our Messiah and His finished work, and glorified God. The overall program and cadence was documented in a booklet, with songs being printed. Not sure, if it was the hall we were in or the setting, but the songs sung, were more sweeter and provided the glimpse of what it will be when we will be singing Our God's glory in person in heaven. The ending songs were the blessings we gave to the new couple. I thoroughly appreciated the timbre of sound and the choral singing.
The bride's father also, one of the preacher, his message was very touching/moving but also scriptural, which laid the foundations for the bride and groom to build their new lives together. The centrality of it all being basing on God's Word and for His glory pointed back to God's intent for the institution of marriage. I have documented the notes separately from this epistle. [[teaching-marriage-wayne]]
The passing of the headship from himself to the groom of his daughter was the most touching moment of the entire day. The headship order being in place and the roles being set before them through God's Word, the bride and groom were ready for the finality that lay in front of them.
The consummation of the ceremony was also simple yet elegant, when the bishop asked for the bride and groom to reconfirm their commitments, their purity and hearts desires, it was better than the cheesy vows that happens in most worldly marriages. There was no you may kiss the bride or any such fanfare on showing physical expression of love, but you could still feel the finality of the decision and commitment that our brother and sister made to each other as a small but yet important step to thier life long commitment.
The younger preacher's summary and admonitions for the couple was also apt and edifying.
After few more praising songs lead by the music leader, we all celebrated God for bringing the brother and sister in union together to demonstrate how Christ loves His bride, the church.
The ushers then called out rows of families to depart, as the bride and groom, with their parents accepted personal blessings, wishes and congratulatory messages.
It was great to see my brother beaming with joy as he had found a good thing in this sister, to be his wife. Blessings, greetings and wishes to you my brother.
It was raining cats and dogs, so most of the sisters and children were waiting under the canopy, while us men-folk ran to get the vehicles. I picked up my bride and we drove over to the reception. The rain was slowly letting down as we pulled up to the other venue where the reception was held.
Reception
We were ushered in to the reception, which was held in a gymnasium of another large church. The entire local congregation had worked tirelessly to setup the tables, arrangements, cook the food, bring all necessary items and have the veneue ready for the oncoming guests. There was good mix of immediate families, kin-folks of the bride and groom as well as friends. We were recent friends, so felt a little out of place on the order of things, but there was no set seating, which made it interesting as we just mingled with family, close friends and kin-folks. We felt right at home rubbing elbows with an elder from another community who was a wood worker and contractors to a flourishing store owner in another community to the bishop of a nearby community. They were with their families and we visited with all of them, talking food, our background, how we know the bride and groom, past connections and events. Right behind us were our good friends with their children, who would ocassionally touch my back and say hello or smile. Waiting for food went fast as we caught up with our neighboring guests and before long the ushers were sending us in order to get food. The food and the setting was simple and done well. Chicken in BBQ sauce, corn, salad and potatoes. The food was home cooked and sumptuous. Soon after finishing it, 2 youth (a related brother and sister from the same family) were in charge of coffee, desserts, water/tea and general reflling. They tag teamed beautifully in getting us whatever we needed. The cake with the icecream and coffee was delicious and I would have started with that and filled up on it, if they had allowed it.
The conversations drifted from business, talking about Jesus, God's glory to recent trips, challenges with growing old and general day-trip ideas. We exchanged numbers with few of them and all our neighboring guests invited us to visit their place - store, community, church and home.
There was a short devotional, words from the groom and the fathers of the bride and the groom and then wrapped up with 2 more songs. The songs were different due to the differing venue and folks being full after eating, but nonetheless, they edified God and praising Him for another day and a joyous celebration for the union that is God ordained.
We unwillingly, had to bid good bye to all and missed visiting with a lot of folks due to time and getting back home to tend the animals.
Summary
This is how weddings should be conducted - simple, God centered, emphasis not on the bride or the groom, but to glorify God with the emphasis on His Word. The entire community came together to make the wedding a success. Although, the bride and the groom planned and worked hard, the entire community pulled together from the youth to the middle aged to the elderly. The bride and the groom had been courting for months, with instructions from the church elders, as well as they themselves working out the specifics in a time-honored workbook, called Keepsakes, but were further instructed in intimacy, relations and ways of the marriage leading upto the ceremony. The constant emphasis on the Word of God, purity, headship order, scriptures, time management, responsibilities and family, will set the bride and groom on the right footing to have a flourishing marriage under God's guidance.
If my great grandparents in India had found Jesus and followed the scriptures, the weddings of old would have been like this and they would have enjoyed this ceremony as much we did. The entire day was reflective of how I have heard old Indian weddings would happen over 3 days of family, fun and spirituality - albiet in idolatory.
Word to my Anabaptist youth
Looking at this wedding from a new true follower of our Messiah, here is my prayer for you. I dont want you to take any of what you saw and witnessed (wedding ceremony and celebration) for granted. This is a rehearsal for what the ultimate marriage supper of the Lamb will be like, with brothers and sisters in Lord Christ Jesus. Since you have been preserved by your parents and the church family from the world, know that the world does weddings so differently that is diametrically opposite to what we witnessed on Friday. Guest selection is based on affordability or fear of Covid or who they think will give gifts or a myriad of other factors. The money spent on catering for a 4 hour event is astronomical. For what we witnessed Friday, to feed the 300+ folks who were there would have been north of $25K. The attire of the bride itself is a testament to how Hollywood has corrupted the minds and conscience of women, since they were young girls or toddlers. The wedding is all about the bride. The wedding gowns take elaborate planning and shopping that there are elaborate TV shows about them. The wedding rings and ring selection is also elaborate that there are guilt driven TV and radio ads with warning for men to get the largest diamon rings so they can stay off the dog house. All said and done, in todays dollar value, a typical wedding with under 50 guests with right venue, right dress, right music and right catering is north of $50K. Its more a pageant and a show than what we witnessed, which is to the glory of God. The world plans endlessly for a few hour wedding day and not on the life together that follows. I am not going to talk about the purity and the preservation of our young men and women, in how I witnessed the bride and groom. The whole subject of purity dictates its own letter or book.
The joy that was in the guests and the overall ambiance was truly marvelous.
Know that, never take what you have as a family, church leadership, brethren and community for granted, as the world is finally waking up to these truths and trying to want it. But without Jesus and our Heavenly Father being in the center it will be hard for the world to achieve what you have today. Prepare yourself for that holy day of union with your spouse, that God has blessed you with, and partake in the simple ceremony that we witnessed, rejoicing in the Lord and not wish for anything else but what the traditions have been setup to conduct the wedding ceremony.
Word to my Christian and unbelieving friends
I pray to the Most High, that every one of you, be it Catholic, Orthodox, Messianic, Protestant, Evangelical or some one on the fence, get an opportunity to witness what my bride and I got to witness of a typical Anabaptist wedding ceremony. The purity, sanctity and the simplicity of the entire day was all planned to point to Jesus and God's glory. When you see some of the simple folk, you might discard them for being traditionalist or prudes, but know that you have fallen into self-aggrandizement pit with your traditions being dictated by the world or the latest fashion trend or your rebellion from the world to go against it, which is still worldly. If you hold to the value that marriage is an important institution, even if you dont believe in God, you must partake and witness one of these weddings.
If you are truly a follower of Jesus or claim to be one, and you are single, I suggest you find an anabaptist community to learn more about how weddings are done, so you can see the depth of the true calling.
Praise and glory to the Most High God, our Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen