On Saturday September 17th, at two o’clock in the afternoon, Dr. Joseph Eppink married his life partner Mr. Ralph Panelli at First Lutheran Church in Albany. Joseph is the beloved organist and choirmaster of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, and Ralph is the dedicated sexton at St. Andrew’s.
The officiant at their ceremony was Rev. John Knarvic, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Loudonville. Pastor Knarvic celebrated Eucharist according to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. John Knarvic is a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a denomination in full communion with The Episcopal Church. As well as a celebration of Joseph and Ralph’s love, the service was a symbol of Christian unity.
First Church in Albany is historically the oldest Lutheran parish in America, founded in 1649. I like to think that the Dutch Lutheran founders of the parish looked down in approval on the inclusive love and fundamental acceptance that their spiritual descendents showed that day.
Many members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal parish were present to witness the vows exchanged that afternoon. Unfortunately, the Rector of St. Andrew’s was not able to attend the wedding. Joseph and Ralph’s spiritual shepherd was barred from attending by canon law passed recently under the leadership of the current bishop of the Diocese of Albany. Still, as Joseph and Ralph graciously expressed in the service bulletin, “we continue to pray for our Episcopal Bishop and Diocese.”
Following the minister’s blessing of the union, Ralph and Joseph issued an invitation to “those who may wish to come forward and lay their hands in blessing” on the couple, to show their love and support for the marriage. Many members of St. Andrew’s and others in attendance came up to the kneeling couple and placed their hands on them as John White read the prayer on behalf of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
We prayed a prayer of blessing written by The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chase, Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C.:
Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of Ralph and Joseph in His name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing. Defend them from every enemy. Lead thenm into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship, in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrow; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
God grant Joseph and Ralph a long and happy life together!
With the Bishop's enthusiastic support, the DoA has painted itself into a canonical corner. This is one way to escape from that corner.
Bravo, First Lutheran! Congratulations, Joseph and Ralph!
Posted by: Robert T Dodd | October 06, 2011 at 06:29 AM