A Washington Family Weekend

I am in Washington, D.C., this weekend to attend the wedding of a niece, and share the joy of a family whose youngest generation is now doing things like getting married. Like many American families, we are scattered across the churchly plain. My parents and I are Orthodox. I have a brother whose family is Episcopalian (including the niece getting married). I have another brother who is Catholic. Sometimes our discussions are friendly, sometimes we fight like brothers.

But like most families we will look on the joy of a young woman and a young man and pray that their journey will be clear for them and the road to the Kingdom of God not too steep. Mostly we’ll pray that they ever keep to that road.

My earliest journeys to a Church were down a railroad track, holding the hand of an older brother, who led me to the nearby Baptist Church. The same brother later led me to Anglicanism (as a teenager).

I think of the many kindnesses he gave to me and pray that on this day, the good Lord will take his hand and lead him to where he would have him be and make his road one of peace. I ask that of all my family and ask that you kind friends, readers of this little blog, remember Allison and Preston on the day of their marriage.

Fr. Stephen

About Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fr. Stephen is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, Pastor Emeritus of St. Anne Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is also author of Everywhere Present and the Glory to God podcast series.

Posted

November 18, 2006

Orthodox Christianity

Comments

3 responses to “A Washington Family Weekend”

Roland

November 18, 2006

Fr. Stephen,

I was hoping to meet you at today’s wedding festivities and was not disappointed – except by the brevity of our conversation, interrupted by the official toasts! Your niece and her new husband are a special couple, and they will continue in the prayers of their fellow parishioners.
Alyssa

November 19, 2006

Hi Fr. Stephen,

So great to finally meet you and your family! I have to say that I was very impressed by Ali and Preston’s wedding ceremony. It made me think about all the conversation about a Particular God, and the elimination of the Holy once “everything” is deemed holy.

I guess I was struck by the beauty, solemnity, respect and even precision of the service, in contrast to the many 20 -30 minute generic wedding services I’ve been to in the past. Those services, in retrospect, now feel to me as if they may have been just any other day of the week. Sure, everyone was dressed up, but in the end, the services didn’t reflect the real importance of the day. Maybe it’s just me getting used to 2 hour Orthodox liturgies :), but that Anglican high mass made it seem as if every minute of that hour and a half service was important, and a significant start to their marriage. I appreciated that.

Just my $ .02.

Hope you had a safe drive back! Thanks again for letting me hang out with you and the fam last night.

Alyssa
Fatherstephen

November 20, 2006

Alyssa,

It was a pleasure meeting you and having you as “part of the family.” I’d like to hear more about the Touchstone group. How often do you meet how to the discussions run, etc., It sounds like an idea that could be of real use here in Tennessee, especially over at the University. May God bless you and your little ones very richly!

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