Royal Wedding

[Davita]

I'm surprised no-one has yet made comment so may I start.....
The British are great in pomp and ceremony...and the Monarchy is central to this. IMO, this wedding has been instrumental to maintain the Monarchy as still relevant and modernised to the public perception of how it should be...but not ignoring British traditions and institutions.

I watched the choice of a Chicago minister making a sermon. How inglorious was that...he sounded like another snake-oil salesman that USA currently seems to adore. His message was clear, to those believers, but his presentation was so inappropriate.

 

[Puspawarna]

I watched the choice of a Chicago minister making a sermon. How inglorious was that...he sounded like another snake-oil salesman that USA currently seems to adore. His message was clear, to those believers, but his presentation was so inappropriate.

Interesting. I didn't watch the royal wedding - I have zero interest in such things, it was all I could do to make it through my own wedding. But, I did hear the minister interviewed on National Public Radio this morning. They played part of his sermon, talking about the importance of love. It sounded wonderful, and in the interview the minister seemed really grounded and thoughtful. He talked about how his sermon was based on scripture that the bride and groom chose, which he said was somewhat unfamiliar to most people and which reflected their beliefs and what they wanted their wedding to stand for.

In addition to the fact I didn't see the wedding, I'm not British, so I can't really take you to task for your reaction (hope you aren't disappointed ). But do keep in mind that the wedding is at least in part supposed to reflect the wishes and background of the bride. As Meghan Markle has American and black roots, it's hard to imagine how an expression of that - particularly one that emphasized love and community - could be "so inappropriate."

 

[Davita]

If you didn't see it then I suggest you should. He was rallying his crowd like a Trump sermon to his core voters. It wasn't the words that he said it was the flourishing presentation that was unseemly to the vast audience.
I was married to an Indonesian in a quiet government office in Hong Kong...then went and married again in a church in Jakarta. I'm sure you know Indonesians love to splash on a wedding ceremony and I complied for the sake of my wife and respect for her family....maybe Harry and Meghan should have done something similar.

 

[scouser59]

The preacher, in my view, went on waaaay to long , although his message, if shortened ,was relevant .

Pity he does not do a super sermon for the nra , might save a few lives and change the law.

 

[Puspawarna]

If you didn't see it then I suggest you should. He was rallying his crowd like a Trump sermon to his core voters. It wasn't the words that he said it was the flourishing presentation that was unseemly to the vast audience.
I was married to an Indonesian in a quiet government office in Hong Kong...then went and married again in a church in Jakarta. I'm sure you know Indonesians love to splash on a wedding ceremony and I complied for the sake of my wife and respect for her family....maybe Harry and Meghan should have done something similar.

As to the "flourishing presentation"...are you familiar with Black churches in the US, and the long history of eloquent, emotional speech-making by African-American preachers? Martin Luther King is the stand-out example, but there are plenty more - Jesse Jackson, Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan...(value-wise, I mostly loathe Farrakhan but his oratory is impressive so I'm mentioning him).

I think it is a cultural thing. What you saw as inappropriate, a lot of African-Americans saw as an embrace of their culture - and given the terrible racial divide in the US, anything that brings us closer together works for me.

 

[William King]

Besides which he was vetted by the Throne. All of that was orchestrated.

 

[Balifrog]

Agree on the typical US black priest style of his sermon. Had a look on it on BBC, and gave up after 3 min.
Not my style.

 

[Davita]

As to the "flourishing presentation"...are you familiar with Black churches in the US, and the long history of eloquent, emotional speech-making by African-American preachers? Martin Luther King is the stand-out example, but there are plenty more - Jesse Jackson, Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan...(value-wise, I mostly loathe Farrakhan but his oratory is impressive so I'm mentioning him).

I think it is a cultural thing. What you saw as inappropriate, a lot of African-Americans saw as an embrace of their culture - and given the terrible racial divide in the US, anything that brings us closer together works for me.

I am familiar but my inappropriate remark was this occasion was in Windsor, not Alabama, and why my suggestion in my last post.
Btw I thought the black choir sang beautifully and the black guy playing the solo viola was also a delight.

 

[harryopal1]

Growing up in a Church of England tradition my lingering memories are of how incredibly boring the sermons were. They were intoned int this rather high English manner that was inclined to send one to sleep. The Archbishop of Canterbury who installed Queen Elizabeth was renowned as a great flogger of little boys. Perhaps the wedding could have been made more entertaining if the present Archbishop of Canterbury had ceremoniously flogged a coupled of lads.

 

[brian@bekasi]

I thought the message was great when he talked about love but should have ended sooner when he suggest he was going to finish. However I thought the service was great and it was wonderful to see a number of the attendees being uncomfortable with the multicultural approach.

That fact that we will be in the UK next week and visiting Windsor probably increased our interest in the wedding.

 

[gemima]

I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it all. I have to admit to squirming during the American minister's sermon, but his message was a good one. I'm not a brit (but your next door neighbour so close enough), I think we just don't like overly dramatic oration. Since Megan is American and this was someone she choose to be at her wedding I don't think it was inappropriate in any way (but certainly unusual). I know the Queen got to vet it all but I'd love to know what she though of his sermon I'd say there was a bit of squirming going on for her too.

 

[Anglian]

Yes I’m afraid that type of sermon isn’t my cup of tea, but Windsor castle brings nice memories for me, I took a girl friend round the castle in my ill spent youth, going through a long gallery is some fine paintings by famous painters, as we walked along I said, Oh this painting is such and such by the artist name, the girl looked at me with stars in her eyes,and said Gosh you know a lot about art, I thought I’m in here, I never told her there was a small name panel at the top of the painting, with artist name, Bull shit gets you anywhere

 

[Davita]

Yes I’m afraid that type of sermon isn’t my cup of tea, but Windsor castle brings nice memories for me, I took a girl friend round the castle in my ill spent youth, going through a long gallery is some fine paintings by famous painters, as we walked along I said, Oh this painting is such and such by the artist name, the girl looked at me with stars in her eyes,and said Gosh you know a lot about art, I thought I’m in here, I never told her there was a small name panel at the top of the painting, with artist name, Bull shit gets you anywhere

Spoken with confidence by one of the "BRYLCREEM BOYS"....hahaha....

https://bespokeunit.com/articles/grooming/brylcreem-review-british-usa/

 

[vocalneal]

^ Used to sell well in Thailand in days of yore. Used mostly in massage palours or so I'm told.

 

[Davita]

^ Used to sell well in Thailand in days of yore. Used mostly in massage palours or so I'm told.

Ahah...that's where I lost my last jar of Brylcreem...now I remember!

 

[Anglian]

Well I did like the service, but I have to say when the sermon started I went and got a Guinness from the fridge, but I was impressed by the electric E-type Jag the pair used to drive off in, I notice it was left hand drive,
I’ve not been back in the UK for many years but could someone explain to me what multicultural really is, because all I see is two people in love

 

[Anglian]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but I recall Princess Di was on the downhill slope with the awful British tabloid press, dying enhanced her image, I just wonder how long befor they start messing with Harry and Megan, there life will be under a huge microscope waiting for the first slip

 

[Puspawarna]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but I recall Princess Di was on the downhill slope with the awful British tabloid press, dying enhanced her image, I just wonder how long befor they start messing with Harry and Megan, there life will be under a huge microscope waiting for the first slip

I know what you mean, I have had similar thoughts.

 

[waarmstrong]

Whining about the length and/or presentation quality of the sermon probably got its start at the sermon on the mountain. Petulance remains a well exercised tradition in Christendom.

 

[vocalneal]

When he gt to the bit about love thy neighbor i remembered where I left my bike?