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Valentine's Day celebration of
married couples, Marianao Methodist Chruch, Havana, Cuba.
On the first Sunday of March 2000, the morning worship service at the Marianao Methodist Church in Havana, Cuba, was like many others. The sun streamed through the huge opened stained glass windows, and the sanctuary was filled to capacity with about 300 worshipers. But, there was also a special sense of excitement in the air.
The service began as usual. The hymns were a joyful chorus of standards with a decidedly Latin beat and conga drum accompaniment. The congregation prayed fervently, sometimes in silence and the Lord's Prayer in almost a roar. The Reverend Ricardo Pereira, bishop of the Methodist Church of Cuba, preached and called for those who had newly found Jesus Christ to come to the altar. And, they did—some young, some old, some obviously ill.
And then came the special point of the service. Because of the bishop's travel schedule, the special Valentine's Day annual event had been postponed until March. Bishop Pereira called on all married couples in the congregation to stand. Slowly they stood, hand in hand, arm in arm. Senior couples had to help each up from the pews. Some women were wearing what must have been their wedding dresses, all white and full of lace. It was time to renew their marriage vows in front of the entire congregation. Then the couples married in the past year were asked to come to the altar. Shyly, these young couples came to the front and the congregation applauded them and sent them forth, with God's guidance, on their journey together.
The service was followed by a special luncheon in a room decorated with red and white crepe paper streamers. Many couples continued to hold hands as they were served red beans and rice, roast pork, salad, and fruit. Young children ran around a room filled with love. The event concluded with prayers for the couples and their families, and a huge white wedding cake.
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URL: http://gbgm-umc.org/news/2001/feb/ValentinesDay.stm