The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

• Headlines
• Sports
• Forums
• Weather
• Classifieds

• Help
• Log in
• Home

• E-mail story
• Post a comment
• iPod friendly version

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day may be a day for exchanging cards, chocolate and flowers with your beloved. But how about for exchanging vows?

This Saturday all married couples in Emporia are invited to do just that at The First Congregational Church.

For the first time in the church’s history — and in all likelihood, the first time in Emporia’s history — Pastor Andrew McHenry will officiate a public renewal of vows ceremony in honor of marriage and, of course, Valentine’s Day. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary located at 326 W. 12th Ave.

“This is a chance to celebrate the gift of love from God and a chance for couples to recommit to one another,” said McHenry.

Couples will enjoy a short ceremony including traditional wedding music, like The Wedding March, and inviting one couple at a time to come forward, a special time of renewal of vows, with Rev. McHenry officiating.

Bridal wear is not required.

“Couples can wear anything,” he said. “Blue jeans or a bridal gown.”

McHenry is expecting at least three to four couples already to be present that evening, but looks forward to even more couple from Emporia who would like to renew their vows to one another.

The ceremony may be in honor of Valentine’s Day, but it’s really in honor of marriage.

“It’s something that’s ordained by God,” he said. “Its a bedrock of society, of the family.”

But in today’s society, McHenry sees the institution of marriage being eroded.

“It’s very concerning,” he said, speaking of a distorted picture that some people have of marriage that often leads to divorce.

“People don’t understand the value of love as a long term commitment as opposed to feelings that come and go and change ... that rugged commitment is the important thing.”

Renewing marriage vows periodically, McHenry believes, is a way to remind and recommit to one another and to keep the marriage a priority.

In keeping with a traditional wedding ceremony, a cake and punch reception will follow the ceremony in the Williams room, adjacent to the sanctuary.