I am officiating a wedding in Red Wing this Saturday. The bride is the daughter of one of my oldest friends. When my family moved to Madison, WI when I was in middle school, our house was just a few houses over from theirs. His parents and my parents became BFFS when my family dog used to run away regularly - always to their house, to visit their dog.

The dogs were onto something, because before too long our families were not only borrowing an egg or cups of sugar, but sharing Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves, and going on vacations together. Both of the children in that family moved to the Twin Cities years before William and I did, but once we were all in the same area again, the friendships were expanded to include everyone's spouses. And then the third generation of friendship was carried on when we all started having our own children. Now, all of these years later, I have the honor and privilege of officiating at the wedding of one of those "children". Such joy!

Saint Anne's will also bless Don Rudnik this Sunday, with his Celebration of Life and Burial. It will be a more solemn honor and privilege to officiate at that service. The hope of the resurrection is a much different type of joy; one that comes mixed with loss and grief for those who remain until it is our time. 

What a gift it is to be in community with one another. To share joys and share griefs, and to remind one another, as best we can, that the lines between the two are blurred in the eyes of God. My prayer for all of us this week is the capacity to embrace it all; the grace to make room for all of life’s joys and sorrows as best we can, understanding it is all an honor and a privilege.

Blessings,
Jennifer