Photographer John Dray / public domain
Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “As man and woman we were made” by Brian Wren from the ‘wedding’ section of the hymn book. The hymn is set to the tune ‘Sussex carol’ which (coincidentally?) was also used for a hymn that Linda and I had at our wedding, “As two we love are wed today” by John Bell and Graham Maule.
The first verse references God the life-giver who made us all in his own image and brings people together with the potential to make new life (although that’s not true for all of us). Verse 2 praises Jesus who gave his life for love and in the sign of water changed to wine at a wedding demonstrated the joy that his presence can bring. Verse 3 reminds us that he rose again to new life, presenting this as a sign of the hope that should inform a couple during their times of difficulty.
The final verse makes no mention of God; but then, after the ceremonies of a religious wedding are over, I imagine few people do as the party begins. It’s a celebration of the sheer joy of two families coming together as a new family begins. “Then spread the table, clear the hall, and celebrate till day is done”. God, though unacknowledged, is there in the love and joy.
This is, of course, the ideal. We all know of marriages, even those sealed in church, that end in hatred and abuse; and it’s not unknown for the wedding celebration itself to descend into violence where family feuds are reignited with drink. No wonder that the hymn urges “let peace go deep between us all and joy be shared with everyone”. But those are the exceptions, and no reason for a couple not to make their vows to each other in the hope that the joy of the wedding day will lead to a life that is mainly happy, and for those who do have faith, the hope that any difficulties they experience can be overcome with God’s help.