On Oct 3, 2020 - I married my forever friend during an intimate covenant ceremony with family & friends.
The trinity & final act of our ceremonial marriage journey!
Last year we traveled to Africa, where Aaron sought the blessing from my (birth) father, uncles, and elders in my life. During the final days of the trip, my father was so moved that he insisted on a cultural marriage ceremony to introduce Aaron to the rest of the family. We obliged and honored his wishes. A week later, he had a minor stroke. He encouraged us to move forward with the official ceremony but we still had marriage counseling classes to complete.
We had no clue what COVID would have in store for us...my father wasn't able to attend the wedding ceremony this weekend but to honor him, we decided to legally get married on the date of the cultural wedding ceremony we participated in Africa. Due to COVID, the only option was a zoom civil ceremony, so Chaplain Barry Black of the U.S. Senate who had been a mentor to both of us - agreed to officiate our civil ceremony in the U.S. Capitol.
Can you imagine? A year prior, we were on a West African Blessing Tour, experiencing the rich culture, tragedy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade & resilience of black people. A year later, we are standing in the Capitol before the first African-American Chaplain of the Senate affirming our love for each other under the dome built by slaves, standing boldly liberated & free in love! While the cultural ceremony was special (for the father) and the civil ceremony was beautiful (under the son), THIS covenant ceremony was for the HOLY SPIRIT, the final act of our trinity marriage ceremony, unique with GODs fingerprints every step of the way!
Marriage is a process between two people that can take place in many forms from elopements to cultural ceremonies, civil ceremonies to covenant ceremonies. There is no perfect blueprint for the journey but trust with GOD all things are possible! #JoyfullyJenkins2020
Civil Ceremony by Tony Brown
