The wedding weekend is upon us, and what grace abounds! Of course, for months and months we've given thanks for Emily's choice of Sheldon. He is a sensational addition to the family, as is Nathan's wife, Renee. We're so blessed in those two!

This is what's called these days a "destination wedding." Nearly everybody who's attending the wedding is coming in from out of town. There are Patty's and my family coming in from South Carolina and Northern Virginia and Baltimore and Massachussetts. There are Emily and Sheldon's friends coming in from NYC, and Sheldon's family from Colorado and Pennsylvania. For a pastor, it's a real hard thing to decide who to invite from congregations we've served. Funds are limited, and we simply cannot afford to invite everyone who is important to us! So, we took our guidance from Emily. We have invited the small number of folks who she knows from St. Stephen in Williamsburg (because when we moved here, she was on her way out the door, beginning college). And, from the three congregations I served before moving here, Emily chose those who have been a continuing presence in her life over the years.

That made for a magical evening at our house last night. About 20 family members and friends arrived yesterday and last night, and we cooked out hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. Over the evening, the house filled with people from the various eras of our lives, many of whom had never met each other! Folks joined the gathering as they got into town, driving rental cars from various airports -- the last one got here at 9:30 PM. What multiple celebrations -- folks introducing themselves to each other, and, for Patty and me and the bride and the groom, hugs and joyous greetings of each one. (I was pleased to see that those who were just meeting each other fell into easy conversation together. There wasn't any awkwardness that I could see. As I said to one friend, "Well would you expect anything different? They're our friends and relatives, so of course they're all quality people!!)

This morning I'll lead the groomsmen down to the Men's Warehouse in Newport News, and we'll get our tuxes, and then I'll meet the plane of Emily and Sheldon's pastor, Elise Brown, coming in from NYC to officiate. I've told her, "We're simply going to include you as a member of the family over these next few days."

Grace upon grace. We are so richly blessed.