Saying I Do, Again
Townsend church celebrates the sacredness of relationships
 Submitted by Rev. Mark Seifried Interim Pastor - Townsend Congregational Church, UCC
Townsend Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, like many Massachusetts churches in rural communities, sits on the Town Common in a busy part of town.
One Sunday in June, the congregation decided to use that very visible space to remind the community of the sacredness of relationships.
"Throughout the summer, we offer several special worship opportunities to demonstrate that God does not go away to Maine or Cape Cod as others who 'summer away' do," said Rev. Mark Seifried, Interim Pastor at the church. "God is still speaking throughout each season."
But this particular worship service was especially different. The Townsend church members sent out press releases and emails inviting everyone in the community to join the congregation on the common for worship and for married couples to reaffirm their wedding vows. They also planned to offer prayers for widows, widowers, and single people -- including divorced and separated -- so that all types of couples and families would be honored. "Come in formal attire or your shorts," Seifried wrote in his invitations.
According to Seifried, the service was well attended. Couples who affirmed their vows ranged in anniversary years from 1 to 63. The family celebrating 63 years of marriage included three generations -- each affirming their vows -- the youngest married less than 1 year. Several people who affirmed their wedding vows came in gowns and tuxedos. Quite a few people, both coupled and single, who have never been to a 'regular' Sunday morning service joined the church for this event.
"It was such a lovely day, with the weather being perfect, the service being outdoors in Townsend's ever so beautiful common, and the community of the church being present," said Gini King, a member of the church. "It was also a wonderful day to join in the ceremony with my parents as they renewed their wedding vows of a marriage of almost 61 years, as well as with my daughter and son-in-law who also renewed their vows of a marriage of almost a year. To have the service on the common with 4 generations of my family present was ever so special to me and the rest of my family."
When Seifried was asked by a reporter from the local newspaper why the church was doing this service, he told them: "It is my understanding that we are called to be the church to bless and celebrate the gifts of God. So today, we are celebrating and blessing the sacred marriages and other relationships among us."
"Every year on my ordination anniversary, I go back to the prayers and promises of the day. It means a lot to me. It's not that I need to or that I broke my vows. It's because I want the reminder of how sacred the vows I made were and still are. That's what today's service is about -- being reminded of how sacred our relationships are -- our relationships with one another and with God."
In addition, Seifried stated that he also wanted to lift up the reality that mainline Christians, particularly members of the United Church of Christ, do stand for family values -- despite what some members of more fundamentalist churches have said about the stances the UCC has taken on justice issues over the years. "We celebrate and affirm what is good and right: loving relationships, children learning Christian values, beautiful sacred music, the resurrection of our Lord, the birth of the church on Pentecost, and many others."
"The UCC works hard to change the world to be more just and loving. We also take time to examine what it is that we hold in common over time," he said. "What better way to do that than to stand on the Town green where people have been gathering, sharing the highs and lows of life in the church and wider community, for 275 years!"
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