Photograph by Mitchell Orr via Unsplash
Faith and love
November 20, 2024
Do you remember the last time you attended a wedding ceremony, and you watched the glow on the bride’s face as she enters transform the room? There is a collective “wow” as the guests stand and hearts flutter. Then, you see smiles jump from face to face. Remember that moment!
I recently had the privilege to live, witness, and be blessed by all these sentiments, but from a unique perspective. I co-officiated a couple’s wedding. The bride is my dear friend of over fifteen years, and I have known the groom for five years. The room was filled with family and friends who came from California, Florida, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Canada. Many professions were represented and sitting side by side, with no volcanic eruptions, as the bride and groom are active in justice causes and the police force. There were close to 250 guests and a handful were Black and Brown, including the two officiating clergywomen. That is correct. My colleague and I co-officiated a white couple’s wedding.
The couple had chosen a venue where Christian worship services had been celebrated decades ago. Many of the original panels, flooring, and pipes for the organ were visible and untouched. The venue, which now hosts diverse gatherings including weddings, kept an open floor plan, so that when the light shines through the stained-glass window, it sparkles on the wooden floor.
As officiating clergy, my vantage point was the balcony, where we could see the smiles on the guests’ faces as the bride entered the room. A spontaneous gesture of faith took over the groom, watching his beloved enter the room, as he joined his hands before his heart and beamed. Faith and love intertwined and fluttered in all our hearts.
When was the last time you attended a wedding service where cultures and languages were honored equally? When was the last time you attended a wedding service where all were invited to partake at Jesus’ communion table in two languages? My God reminds me that officiating such a blessed wedding is possible, even if we are surrounded by global racial polarization.
The familiar Scripture found in the letter of Paul to the people in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13 accompanied us that evening. What was captured by many who were witnesses to two people pledging their intentions before God, family, and friends, was LOVE. In a season where polarization and racial divide have been spoken of in more ways than we can count, two Black clergywomen were the ones co-officiating the ceremony of a white couple. Some might pause and think of all the professions gathered in the room, sitting side by side or inter-locking arms in peace to celebrate and be filled with joy because of love. Family and friends witnessed promises made in French and English. By God’s grace, the portion of the globe that was present, were present in and with peace. When was the last time you attended a wedding service where cultures and languages were honored equally?
When was the last time you attended a wedding service where all were invited to partake at Jesus’ communion table in two languages? What a Pentecost moment we lived!
The Scripture verses found in 1 Corinthians 13:5 “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking…” and in Ruth 1:16 “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” were embraced as my colleague and I officiated such a blessed moment.
God reminded me in subtle and tender ways, as I entered the room walking side by side with my colleague, that history was being made on that fall day. Faith, Peace, and Love would be lived for seven hours, while in many parts of the world chaos was the norm. God reminds us of what is seen and unseen as these blessed moments are lived cross-culturally. They cannot be denied, unseen, erased, forgotten, suspended, or unbelieved. My God, maker of heaven and earth who sent his only begotten son to live on this earth two thousand years ago, who died and conquered death, rose three days after his crucifixion and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, was so very present at that wedding. My God reminds me that officiating such a blessed wedding is possible, even if we are surrounded by global racial polarization. Some may call it a miracle. Others may choose not to believe. God’s image was seen, upheld, and affirmed; my humanity and compassionate heart and the Jesus in me was seen. We, who are of varying hues, are made in God’s image. Faith and love united in this beautiful moment.
An ordained minister with ABC-USA, Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil serves as a Ministry Coach and Women’s Group Retreat Facilitator with the Center for Career Development & Ministry. Fluent in English and French, she has had cross-cultural lived experiences in several countries in Africa, Europe and North America. Rev. Sandra is a published author of three devotionals, “Walk with Generosity,” “Beacons of Hope” and “Luces de Esperanza,” as well as co-author of a leader’s guide for leaders of short-term mission teams of volunteers, “Short-Term Mission Team Essentials – Together on The Journey.”
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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