My Nephew Joseph Morley's Wedding

The last weekend of January, we made a quick trip to Dixon, Missouri, to attend the wedding of my nephew, Joseph Morley. His family has been missionaries to the native American Indians in South Dakota and then North Dakota for a number of years. A little over a year or so ago, Joseph had made a trip to South Carolina to visit his best friend, and there met the girl he married on January 30th, Mariah.

Here Joseph's mom, Laurie, is lighting one set of candles.

Debbie Hatfield, who had been mom to Mariah since she was 13,  lit the other candles.

Mariah had dreamed of a winter wedding, and her dream came true. 

Jon and Rachel Linch, from South Carolina, sang two of the special songs. We had met Rachel here in Colorado a couple years ago, and we had worked with Jon's father, Tim Linch, at Fort Myers Rescue Mission two years ago as well. It was great to meet and see them again.

 This first song was called "A Parents' Prayer," which they sang as the mothers were escorted down the aisle by Joseph.

"Help us to let go of them,

so the two can become one."

Joseph escorts his mother, Laurie, to her seat.

I wasn't able to get pictures of each of the bridesmaids and groomsmen, as I couldn't use flash, I was seated way over on the side of the church, and the lighting was dim. 

I am grateful that my nephew Ezra Morley sent some pictures to relatives via email so I could download them and use them on my blog. 

My sister Kezia's little Elizabeth was the miniature bride, and she is hanging onto Mariah's little cousin

as if for dear life!

And then here came the real bride!

What a beautiful, modest bride!

We so appreciate modesty in weddings.

Mr. Hatfield stepped in as Mariah's father. We really liked Mr. Hatfield, who got to talking to Jonathan afterward, both of them remodelers. 

Elizabeth and the little miniature groom managed to make it through the whole proceeding.

       

 When Rev. Atwell asked who was giving the bride away, Mr. Hatfield took some time to regain his composure. He shared how the Lord had brought Mariah into their home at age 13. 

Almost everyone was in tears--including the bride and groom!

God had redeemed her life from a difficult situation, and she has become a beautiful young woman,

a radiant bride whose eyes just simply shone.

   

 

I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that the pastor of the Hepzibah Holiness Church where the wedding took place was Don Pietro, a pastor my family knew back when I was growing up in the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist circles. In fact, my family sang at his church many years ago. His wife is the sister of Helen Reiff (Glen Reiff's wife, Spanish missionaries). This Italian minister, Don Pietro, had recently battled throat cancer, losing his voice just after coming to this church to pastor, but God has amazingly healed him and he gave a brief and poignant wedding message.

 

 Rev. Archie Atwell read the vow ceremony. My brother Hoshea is the minister on the right.

 Lighting the unity candle

My brother prayed the wedding prayer, a deeply meaningful prayer.

He thanked God for redeeming the life of a precious girl,

and asked Him to help them both to love and honor one another. 

In the picture above, the bridesmaid furthest left is Katie, Joseph's sister. Standing next to her is Nathan Troyer, whose family (Andy and Shirleen and six children) has been long time friends of ours. I did not know many of the others. The other boy to the right of Nathan is Doug Strawn. I believe it was his parents that I went to college with at AWC.
All smiles!

Mr. and Mrs. Morley!

And so the first of the going-on-fifty Morley grandchildren became a husband to a precious, beautiful, godly young lady! May the Lord bless and guide this young couple as they try to follow Him! We couldn't ask for a  lovelier and sweeter girl to join the clan.

The bride and groom dismissed the guests pew by pew. 

We all gathered outside then, in the brisk cold, to wait for the bride and groom to come out. Here my little niece, Lydia, is being given a little silver bell to ring, which she promptly dropped!

I will try to hopefully add more pictures tomorrow.