Wedding scriptures

25 years!

Arise, my darling,
My beautiful one, and come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, my darling;
My beautiful one, come with me.
(Song of Solomon 2:10-13)

Wedding program cover, calligraphy and background art by Michael Barfield

The reading of scriptures in our wedding 25 years ago, together with the special music, comprised one harmonious voice expressing the joy of marriage as creation’s dance in the morning of that very special summer solstice in 1986.

Just before the bridal procession, groomsman Allen Noel read the following verse from Solomon 6:10:

“Who is this that comes like the dawn,
Fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
Majestic as the stars in procession?”

The answer, of course, is Candace!

After nature had a chance to chime in with the song of a blackbird and Morning has Broken, Rhonda Barfield and Sharon Tait Burch alternated reading the following scriptures (watch):

Reading of Scriptures from Kerry Magruder on Vimeo.
(Watch entire wedding.)

Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:1–3)

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their music goes out into all the earth, like the sun to the ends of the world. For the sun comes forth from his pavilion like a bridegroom rejoicing to run his course. (Psalm 19:1–5)

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. (Proverbs 4:18)

Let us know the Lord, let us press on to know the Lord. For his coming forth is as certain as the dawn. And he will come to us like the rain that waters the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

May they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength. (Judges 5:31)

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” (Psalms 108:1–2)

My soul praises the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
holy is His Name.
(Luke 1: 46-49)

[Additional scriptures were read as part of the main ceremony.]

Diagram of summer solstice

Explanation of summer solstice

(Winter Solstice)

25 years!