Joyful, Joyful we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee,
praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
- Henry van Dyke, “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” ELW 836
As you have likely heard by now, I am getting married at the beginning of September. My fiancé, Sarah Friesen-Carper, is the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte, Michigan, where she has served since 2007. We met at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago during her senior year and my “Lutheran Year,” the extra year of seminary I was required to do because I had earned my degree at a non-Lutheran school. She laughs easily, cares deeply and doesn’t put up with too much of my foolishness. I am blessed to have her in my life.
Our wedding will take place in her parents’ backyard in Valparaiso, Indiana. It amuses me that the two pastors are to be married in the backyard rather than in a church building, but we are still having full church with a baptismal font, processional cross, hymns and communion. Our Bishop John D. Schleicher has graciously agreed to preside over the marriage parts of the gathering. Preaching and presiding at communion will be Sarah’s mentor from LSTC, John H. Tietjen Professor of Pastoral Ministry: Worship and Church Music, Emeritus Rev. Mark P. Bangert. We are very excited for the presence and participation of each of these church leaders in our ceremony.
We are also excited for the music at our wedding. Sarah’s father Dennis Friesen-Carper is composing a setting of Song of Solomon 8:6-7 for the service featuring choir, solo mezzo-soprano, and viola. Some of you may know of him from the Glory to God of ELW Holy Communion Setting Eight that we frequently sing on Sunday mornings. Sarah’s brother Paul is setting Psalm 98 for us to sing as a congregation as we have begun to do now on Sundays.
