Saturday, September 23, 2006

I get the Absent Minded Pastor Award of the Week: Don't even try to fight me for it.

So ten minutes before last evening's wedding, the very small, still functioning portion of my brain reminds me,

"Uh, Pastor Rebel? This is the couple that wants to receive communion after their vows, remember?"

"Of course they are. I knew that!", my preoccupied, mostly nonfunctioning self replied.

"And did you also remember that two weeks ago when you and the Wedding Coordinator discussed this service you said that YOU would be sure the elements were prepared and ready to go?"

"Holy Shit."

I raced across the church lawn, robe flapping, berating myself in the harshest manner while simultaneously praying that there would be bread and grape juice in the church refrigerator. I must not have berated myself quite harshly enough, however, because when I opened the church refrigerator I found------CranRaspberry Juice and garlic bread.

Well, you work with what you've got.

The marriage is off to an interesting start.

15 comments:

Jody Harrington said...

And a good story for their future children! Love it.

Anonymous said...

Bread and juice of the fruit. Does it really matter in the long run? Can not Jesus be spiritually present (maybe not as sweet) in garlic bread and CranRaspberry Juice. The importance is not the physical, but the spiritual. The efficacy is in the Holy SPirit not the elements.

A question from a PCUSA minister . . . was communion served to the entire gathered body or just the couple?

Grace and Peace,

Lisa

Karen Sapio said...

Just the couple. Not very common in PCUSA weddings, but not out of order, I don't think. Our session did approve it ahead of time and there was an elder present.

Anonymous said...

Did you warn them up front or no?

APStraight said...

You win. Uncle. Way more dramatic than the moment I had today- locking myself out of the office 12 minutes before the wedding with the service and my robe inside (luckily father of bride is also chair of property committee).

Unknown said...

Too good. You win the Absent Minded Pastor award of the week. I give up.

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

I have laughed and laughed at reading this. Jesus answered your prayers! I am with QG...an excellent story to share!

Unknown said...

Oh ... I might just have this one.

The scene: Sunday morning, we have just finished communion.

As I am putting things back on the table, my communion assistant leans over to my and says in a whisper, "Pastor, you forgot the peace and the offering."

Oops.

So of course, I invited the congregation to share the peace, and we had the offertory then -- just before the end of the service.

kwpershey said...

oh, now this is a good one. ;-)

St. Casserole said...

I'm telling this one!

I would do just what you did. And, with a straight face as though garlic bread and raspberry grape juice was JUST THE THING for September Weddings...

Love it!

Anonymous said...

love this :)

you are the BEST !!!!!!!

Reverend Dona Quixote said...

Congrats on remembering it BEFORE the ceremony and not during ...

I locked myself out of my office once before a Holy Union and there was no one present with keys but me and everything I needed was in my office ... so I put my shoulder to the door and broke in, way too easily! After a great deal of teasing me, our property person fixed it so I couldn't do that again ... and my office is far more secure than it was before.

Anonymous said...

THAT IS RICH!!! Gave me quite a laugh!

The only wedding I know of where you need those little wedding-favor-mints-in-a-bag BEFORE the reception!

blessings-
deb

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Hee hee hee. They might not have noticed the raspberry grape juice, but I sure bet the garlic bread would be a surprise. Not to mention that it would sort of color the moment of "you may kiss the bride...etc."

Thanks for the laugh. :-D

Anonymous said...

That's pretty good. Makes me glad to be part of a church that would always have a good stash of communion wafers in the sacristy.