Paul & Lydia

Just a couple blocks away from the vineyard, in a historic one-room schoolhouse in the township, Lydia and her bridesmaids along with her mom and best friend all attended to one another. The room was quiet, but the energy and anticipation was heavy. And then, as the minutes ticked by leading up to her first look with her dad, the rain drops began to fall.

Northern Michigan had enjoyed two weeks of beautiful sunny skies. It was so warm, they had even built massive canopies to shade the vineyard for the ceremony. But there’s a proverb that goes, “It is a good time to pray when it rains, for God is in a generous mood.” And God was feeling very generous on this day.

Reluctantly, they pushed the ceremony back an hour, so that they could still have the outdoor wedding they had planned on without getting all their guests drenched. And we all prayed.

It worked. The rain stopped as Lydia began to walk down the aisle. Under the chuppah, among the vines heavy with grape clusters, Paul and Lydia were finally married. Their amazing 2-hour Anglican service included original memorized vows, a beautiful sermon, worship upon worship, the Holy Communion, an unending stream of smiles, tears of joy - and then Lydia took a seat at the piano for a surprise performance of a hymn that she had composed especially for this day, for her groom. It was incredible.

Evening set in and a cool breeze blew off the lake as the sun went down. Hundreds of guests were socially distanced across the hillside, with yard games and picnic blankets everywhere. After dinner, served COVID-style in individually wrapped boxes, their closest friends and family members gave their toasts and blessings. Every one of them was a testimony to Lydia’s joy and incredible attentiveness; and to Paul’s sense of adventure and child-like wonder. Individually, and now together, they are two of the most loving and welcoming people. They see the good and the potential in every person. The night ended in a whirlwind of blessings and sparklers, and now we wait in anticipation of all those rich blessings coming to harvest in their marriage.