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One Hundred Seventy-nine
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Wedding Joy!
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Sending Gabe to find Lee and task him with making sure that Jack got to William and Elizabeth upon arrival, Nathan hugged Zach who told him "I'll meet you inside, Brother. This will be a special celebration!"
Nathan entered the outside door to the small room off of the front of the sanctuary to wait. Although it had a window, it was too high to see any outside activity, even for a tall man like Nathan! Ellwood and Joseph soon entered, both dressed in formal black robes, sporting full length black velvet panels in front.
"It is almost time, Nathan! How are you feeling? I hope you had a relaxing day because the festivities are about to begin!" Joseph commented, chuckling.
Glancing from one pastor to the other, Nathan responded, "It started relaxed, but had an unexpected turn with a five-year-old's tantrum. Did you ever have to deal with those?"
Joseph chuckled, "Doesn't every parent? What was the cause and how did you resolve it?"
Nathan explained, adding, "It took all four of us Mounties tag-teaming to keep Jack calm so I could get him bathed and dressed, all while getting dressed ourselves!"
Ellwood immediately placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder, "I think we need to pray. I would normally do this anyway, but it is more imperative today!"
Nathan leaned against the desk and allowed his shoulders to relax for the first time in hours. Ellwood felt the release and motioned Nathan to turn so the pastor could gently massage the Groom's shoulders while he prayed.
"Father God,
You know what has transpired today and how well it sounds as though Nathan handled it. Please keep young Jack calm and obedient for the remainder of this important day? It sounds like all the groom's men stepped in to help and I pray even more friends will support this young lad with all the changes facing him. Thank you for giving him a great Dad in Nathan, and give Nathan wisdom as he now raises a boy.
Yet, right now I ask you to calm Nathan's heart and prepare him for the vows he will be making and for the day ahead. May he know Your support and blessing today and may he be to Elizabeth all that a loving husband should be on this, their first day as a married couple.
Their relationship is so special, as evidenced by last night's ceremony, that we ask you to bind them together, ever stronger, every day, in deepening love. Thank you for their faith and their faithfulness. Go with them, before, behind, and beside, and give them great joy.
I, we all, ask this in Your great Name,
Amen."
"Now, breathe deeply, Nathan."
Johanna Blake knocked and quietly opened the door as the men exchanged hugs with Nathan. "Let me report that your Bride is just arriving and your Son is in good hands with Lee. They are waiting on the steps to be ready to enter the church and Jack is enjoying the Mounties standing at attention with their lances beside them. These are a lot of new experiences for a little boy! Now the men will march in together to meet you in front and the mothers will be seated. Follow Ellwood's instructions, please?" Johanna patted the back of Nathan's dress serge, straightening a non-existent wrinkle, questioning, "Oh, do you need handkerchiefs? I have some extras!"
"All set, Johanna, but thank you!" He waved as she slipped out of the room.
"I should have checked before now but, Zach has the wedding rings, right?" Ellwood inquired.
Nathan grinned, "He does."
"Alright then. Joseph, you and I will follow Nathan."
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The organ quieted and the congregation followed suit as they observed three handsome Mounties enter the sanctuary and march to the front to meet the handsome groom.
Nathan nodded to his brother who, once in position, placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder.
Suddenly it was time and the organist began to play the hymn, "The King of Love my Shepherd Is."
Nathan turned to watch his mother being escorted down the aisle by Wes Murphy and followed by his father. Discreetly, Ruth blew an air kiss to her son and, with a nod and glistening eyes, Nathan silently prayed for control as the ceremony was only beginning.
Grace followed, escorted by Jon Samuels. As she slipped into her place of honor on the aisle sear of the front row, Grace searched Nathan's face and smiled, unable to contain her joy. How she loved this precious Son-to-be. Taking her seat, she glanced at Aunt Agatha seated a few places from her and rejoiced that the woman's expression was one of approval. It was a relief that freed Grace to now concentrate on the celebration before them.
As Grace awaited the change in music she took in the linen-draped communion table that held brass candlesticks and a floral arrangement containing Elizabeth's favorite creamy and white blossoms interspersed with sprigs of dark berries and trailing ivy. Grace only had time to note the hanging flowers and ivy tied with creamy satin ribbon on each of the front pews, before she would stand and thereby signal the guests to stand as well. When the organist transitioned to play "Now Thank We All Our God" Grace rose and caught the beaming faces of Ruth Grant and Carol Collins seated right behind the Groom's parents.
All eyes turned to the back of the church where the doors opened to reveal Rosemary looking stunning with her blonde tresses gathered into a low chignon. As she drew closer, those in the front could hear a stage whisper from a proud little boy, "That's Mommy!"
Julie followed, smiling at her soon-to-be-brother-in-law before she found the face she longed to see seated behind her mother. Bradley Marshall made her heart skip a beat and provided the reason for a lovely peach blush!
Nathan's attention was drawn to the next young beauty who began to walk forward and he quickly inhaled as he watched admiringly, thinking, 'Is this the little girl who liked to climb trees and thread worms on her own fishing hooks?' Her smile brightened as she caught sight of her father, and their loving gazes were noticed by all.
Upon arrival to the front, she couldn't resist the urge to step towards her dad and hug him. As he returned the hug, he closed his eyes and answered his own question, 'This is my Allie-girl!'
As Allie moved to her place on the Bride's side, suddenly Nathan took in the vision of his Bride as Elizabeth stood just inside the door, one arm holding her father's and the other holding Jack's hand. With these two significant men in her life escorting her down the aisle, Elizabeth locked eyes with her Nathan, now the most important man in her life and her lifetime love.
With shining and love-filled eyes, Nathan smiled, taking in her beauty from her feet, that he recalled washing last evening, to the top of her head, before they rested unwaveringly on her beautiful face. "Lisbeth…" He knew not if he thought or whispered her name, but he was very aware of how close she stood.
It was only when Jack whispered, 'Hi Daddy, did I do okay?' that Nathan broke his gaze from her and smiled at the little boy.
Reaching to tousle Jack's hair, Nathan bent and whispered, "You did. Now remember to stay quiet, right?"
As Jack nodded, Reverend Ellwood Huntley's voice broke into the silence, "Dear ones, We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of this man, Nathan Thomas Grant, to this woman, Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton, in Holy Matrimony. Please join me in prayer?"
"Father God,
We thank You for family and friends gathered here this day and for these special dear ones, Elizabeth and Nathan, standing before us.
Lord Jesus, we know you value marriage, performing Your first miracle celebrating a wedding feast. We honor this great mystery, this mystery of marriage, a man and a woman leaving their pasts behind to become one, pledging their love and their lives to one another.
Holy Spirit, we thank you for prompting their hearts, for leading them, and gifting them to each other, and for sealing this family with your grace.
We pray Your blessing on our words this afternoon, for Your glory and honor.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen."
Ellwood asked the question, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
William squeezed his daughter's hand, leaned in to kiss her cheek, and spoke for all to hear, "Her Mother and I do, and…"
William nodded at Jack who voiced, "And I do too!"
Her countenance glowing, Elizabeth bent to kiss the top of her son's head and whispered, "I love you, Sweet Boy. Now you go and sit with Grandmommy and Grandaddy."
As Nathan extended his hand, Jack placed his mother's hand in his Daddy's and turned to sit between his Thatcher grandparents.
Nathan took both of his Bride's hands in his as Ellwood invited the guests to join in singing the hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God." Having committed the words to memory, the couple held each other's gaze, lost in the blueness, as they sang one of their favorite hymns together.
"Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. Amen." (*102)
Joseph invited the guests to be seated and requested they listen as he read from the Scriptures.
"From the Gospel of Matthew, chapter nineteen:
'But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the twain shall be one flesh… wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.'" (*103)
"And from Ecclesiastes chapter four:
'Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up… And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.'" (*104)
The Pastors nodded to each other, then Ellwood spoke, "Our third Scripture will be sung by fellow choir members at Nathan's request. As they join us, let me share something special. Nathan called me to discuss this possibility and I heartily agreed. Much to my surprise I received a call from Elizabeth the following week, asking if there was any way someone from the choir could sing this Scripture as a surprise for Nathan! This is how in tune, pardon the pun, how in tune this couple is to each other! Be blessed by the choral version of I Corinthians, chapter thirteen."
Nathan and Elizabeth were beaming at each other as Josiah Blake, his son, Jared, Ardis Ross, and Jane Samuels gathered near the piano, where Rachel Bell began to play an introduction.
"Love is kind and suffers long; Love is meek and thinks no wrong;
Love than death itself more strong; Therefore give us love.
Prophecy will fade away, Melting in the light of day'
Love will always with us stay' Therefore give us love.
Faith will vanish into sight; Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heav'n will shine more bright; Therefore give us love.
Faith and hope and love we see, Joining hand in hand, agree;
But the greatest of the three, And the best, is love. Amen." (*105)
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(*102) Nun Danket, "Now Thank We All Our God," Martin Rinkart, 1636, Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1858, Public Domain
(*103) The Gospel of Matthew 19: 4-6, King James Version, Public Domain
(*104) Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, King James Version, Public Domain
(*105) "Love is Kind and Suffers Long," by Christopher Wordsworth, 1807 – 1885, Public Domain
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Please see "Wedding Joy Continues" for part 2.…