A letter to the best wedding creators in the world by Josh Withers
Kevin Simler's essay 'Here Be Sermons' reminded me of where I received my training to be a celebrant, in a Christian ministry college. I was that dude "training to be a pastor" but I took a different direction.
Kevin identifies that the difference between a lecture and a sermon is the former is speaking to individuals, the latter the audience as a community. A 'mass moralising' of the community.
Putting church, religion, faith, and preaching aside, I was struck by the idea that the sermon - as a format - is my method of communication at a wedding and how much I enjoyed it. I enjoy not lecturing the guests (or the couple) like they're in some weird marriage school, but instead, fanning the flame of encouragement, joy, and celebration among the witnesses so as to create a bushfire of a wedding overflowing with awesomeness.
A 'mass moralising' in convincing the couple's community to celebrate, protect, and uphold them.
A call to honest and joyful celebration.