On December 16th, 2016, the fourth Sunday of Advent we lived an exceptional divine service of Advent namely with a wedding! Our sister Mercy and our brother Johann got their wedding blessings. Our Rector served with a word of John 12, verse 13: “Hosanna! Blessed is the one that comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!” He explained how this “other king” also rules, not with human force though, his style of leading is “guiding and giving advice with love”. He “administers the law”, but he bestows grace upon us. He “legislates”, but he gives grace freely. He enacts laws and guidelines but all of the them are under the highest law, which is love. He cares about his people, not only here on earth but beyond the time span of this life.
After the celebration of Holy Communion we experienced the wedding held in English, but translated into German at the altar and simultaneously into Spanish. Our Evangelist had pleaded for a special word for the bridal couple from our heavenly father. He opened the Holy Bible twice and received the same word of Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” He continued explaining the difference he had found between the German and the English translation; in the English it says “the secret place” but which is not a secret to Mercy and Johann as they have experienced the help of our heavenly father many times.
After the Divine Service Mercy and Johann invited the whole congregation to some tapas and drinks and nearly all the congregation members stayed to celebrate this wonderful day together with them.