King Of Kings

Yesterday our church was full. About 200 people witnessed Laurence and Andrea making their marriage vows to each other. For months family and friends had been preparing dresses and suits, flowers and cakes for the big day. The service had been carefully put together – readings, prayers, promises… And we sung this for our opening song:

In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets

To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

On a day belonged to Laurence and Andrea, we started by focusing on Jesus, his birth, life, death and resurrection, a story about light and darkness, the super-natural and the natural, the ordinary and the extra-ordinary, God and man. This was an unashamedly Christian wedding where the prayers for the couple were offered in faith and promises were made before God.

To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died.

Laurence and Andrea haven’t had a straightforward life up to this point. Both have been through tough times, dark times. Caring family and friends have suffered and come through with them. Their deep faith in a gracious, faithful God has sustained them and brought them to yesterday where love, joy, stability and hope were in abundance.

And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored

Our scripture reading was from Isaiah: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness. and streams in the wasteland.’ Minister-Lou spoke about new beginnings, that it’s not that the past doesn’t matter, but it doesn’t define us; love wins, grace heals, a new start is possible.

And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

So this morning I’m musing on friends who’ve turned their lives around, my life with its messy bits, imperfections and inadequacies, and a God who brings restoration, reconciliation and freedom

Praise the Father, Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings