In last week’s blog, Jimmy Z and the Turkeys, I invited the readers to share similar embarrassing true stories, and called out Barry Maberry in particular. He responded with one of his many funny stories from his life as a pastor. Here is but one of them.
Skip, here it is. Ready for your blue pencil. Barry.
a WEDDING remembered -
It was 40 yrs. ago that I conducted a WEDDING. Now, after 40+ yrs. as a Pastor, I’ve conducted a lot of weddings, as you have.
But this was a WEDDING.
The WEDDING took place in the Ft. Myer Chapel in northern Va. The chapel was beautifully decorated with flowers from the groom's family, who are in the floral business.
The WEDDING guests were not only arrayed in their "Sunday go to church" finery, but many attendees wore evening gowns and tuxedos.
The co-celebrant of the WEDDING was the Archbishop of Quebec, who had married the bride's parents twenty five years earlier. The bridal couple left the chapel for the reception in a horse drawn carriage.
So you get the picture. In every way, this was truly a WEDDING.
In the climactic part of the wedding ceremony, I ,as the Pastor of the groom, had the unique privilege of enabling the bridal couple to share their marriage vows with each other.
And as they knelt there in all that solemnity, I looked at this beautiful couple and said, "Michael, will you please state your vows to Cynthia?" The bride's name was Beverly.
There was an audible gasp from the WEDDING celebrants at the wrong name. However, I didn't realize what I had done until I was changing out of my clerical garb and my devoted wife of many years kindly said to me "you turkey...do you know what you've done". i was chagrined and the bride was not too happy.
As years passed, I saw the happy couple(now divorced, by the way) on several occasions and we
enjoyed a good laugh over my faux-pas at this wonderful WEDDING.
Thanks to my good friend and seminary colleague, The Rev. Barry Maberry, retired, for sharing this true story. My only regret is that you did not hear Barry tell it himself. Best of all, it would have been perfect to hear Audrey Maberry say, “You turkey.”
A SHOUT-OUT TO MY COLLEAGUE
Donnell Ann Bell is an award-winning writer (Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense) and author of two Amazon Best Sellers, Deadly Recall and The Past Came Hunting.
Donnell is my friend and across-the-street neighbor. Her blog, Help From My Friends Friday, features guest authors. https://www.donnellannbell.com/blog/. Take a Look at Donnell’s January 28 Blog. Guest blogger Bob Mueller links genealogy and stories. Really interesting.
MEMO FROM THE SHAMELESS PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT
The Girl in the Orange Maillot will be published March 15. To Pre-Order on Barens & Noble, go to their website. At the ALL menu bar, type The Girl in the Orange Maillot. When the cover image appears, just clidk on the blue pre-order tag. To Pre-Order on Amazon, at the Amazon.com website, click on books. In the books menu bar, type The Girl in the Orange Maillot. At the site, you may pre-order either a hardcover or a paperback version. You will be glad you pre-ordered. (So will I). Thank You!