And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

Revelation 19:9

I likely have two posts today. So be forewarned! First, I have more photos from the DC wedding, then a “must share” episode from the ongoing “Derek & Rebekah go to Church” series.

I experienced some technical difficulties in our hotel room and was, in consequence, unable to process the majority of the images from Saturday afternoon. Granted, the five pictures that made it into yesterday’s post (A Powerful Antidote to our National Deficit in Belief) did cover the story, but I have some more today that nicely round things out.

I’ll start with Alexandria. Rebekah and I arrived early enough Saturday to find some lunch on King Street in the heart of the historic center. We loved the flavor and the tone of what is known as “Old Town.”

Once we parked our car under the hotel we didn’t have to worry about getting around, as our hosts provided shuttle service to the church, on to the Army Navy Country Club, and back to Old Town at the end of the evening.

Then, and I couldn’t get this to load yesterday, here is a brief snippet of video from the end of the ceremony, showing the enthusiasm that followed the “pronouncement.”

It is always a lot of fun to see an old traditional sanctuary literally rock with energy and life! We returned Sunday morning, and the organ you can hear in the background was even more powerful and beautiful in the context of traditional worship.

First Class and More:

More about the church in another post, but the Army Navy Country Club is an amazing facility, located in Arlington Heights with an expansive view that includes the Washington Monument. From hors d’oeuvres on the balcony to dinner in the banquet hall, the experience checked all the boxes in terms of “First Class.”

Again – and I already detailed the heart of this point in yesterday’s post – this wedding told the story of love and faithful commitment in a profound and eloquent way. One way to explain this is the distinction between “fun” and “joy,” “party” and “celebration,” or “dinner” and “feast.”

So, yes, this was feasting in the sense of “not your average party but a celebration rooted in love and joy and so much more.”

So enjoy the balance of the photographs. And, while you’re at it, take advantage of this opportunity to be inspired to explore how your fun can morph into joy, your life into feasting and celebration.

In love, and because of love – DEREK