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Covered dish weddings By KNOX HERNDON
I have been wanting to write this article for some time. It just might fly in the face of all who have ever paid for an expensive wedding or into the face of those planning one. My intent here is not to harm but to help. Hopefully it will liberate you and bring some semblance of common sense and order to some senseless ideas we have about this one-time event. One of the funniest and best movies I have seen in a long time is "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." As I have stated before, I go on a weekly Friday night date with my wife. We go to the $1 movie in Fayetteville with the $7 popcorn. I must be doing something right because Feb. 14 we celebrated our 27th year anniversary. Anyone know of a $1 movie and $1 popcorn? Now I realize, as seen in this great movie, that weddings are wonderful cultural and family events. No one in America loves family and these events more than I. I further certainly realize and promote this spiritual event in the lives of two individuals who are pledging before God, a congregation, and a host of friends and family, to spend their lives together. After having said and believing all that, I do also strongly feel that this event has gotten totally out of hand and often can and does cripple a family financially for a long time to come. The finest minister, father, and lover of people I have ever known was my father. He had been a minister as long as I knew him. He possessed a lot of wisdom and would say things that, at the time, seemed disconnected or irrelevant. One of those statements was, "Son, the larger the wedding, the quicker they come apart." The first time I heard him say this I thought to myself, "Why would someone make such a crass, and unkind statement?" After being a minister for over 30 years, I came to realize he was right. I wonder how many fathers and mothers out there would be shaking their heads in agreement on that statement. Many middle income Americans are crippling themselves financially for a two-hour show and $7 worth of photos. No wedding in America should be over $500. and no funeral should either, but that is another article. I hear weekly how working people plunk out untold thousands of dollars to insure their daughter has the "very best wedding possible." Sadly, Dad's statement is often brought home to roost. I have a proposal that makes a lot of sense to me and worked at my own wedding. Dee and I came from very generous families and I'm sure that had we attempted to "hook their guilt," we could have had an expensive, showy two-hour wedding. Dee and I chose not to do something that foolish. Instead, we got with people in our church who seriously loved us and wanted to be a part of the wedding. The women all got together and brought their very best desert and food dishes as a love offering to us. I had another friend who did photography on the side who offered pictures as his gift to us. Dee had her sister's beautiful wedding dress with a newly purchased veil to match. I was in the ROTC program at Georgia State University and all my Pershing Rifle fraternity brothers were there with the historical "saber arch." It was, in my opinion, a beautiful wedding with a lot of personal involvement from those who loved us and wanted to contribute. The reception was in my mother's home with more love and more personal involvement. It was a little crowded but with the moving of some furniture around and setting up some tables, it all worked out fine. I was the student pastor of a beautiful little country church, Alvaton First Baptist in Meriwether County. To further show this "love involvement" theme, the church ladies all got together and hand made Dee and me a quilt with the "wedding ring" motif. We still have that quilt on our bed at home. If my memory doesn't fail me, the whole wedding was around $500. I realize times are different and thing cost more but if anything is done creatively and well, it must start with our thinking and the planning phase. Throw away all those wedding magazines and use one of the greatest gifts God has given you your head. Covered dish weddings forever! Believe me, after the confetti and rice are swept up and your Visa and Master card bill comes in, you'll be glad you did. Love, your pastor. The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com. The church's new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.
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